May 12, 2008
Skittles Chocolate Mix
It’s pretty hard to do chocolate wrong, but every once in a while I come across a product that messes up what you think would be pretty easy. Skittles Chocolate Mix is such a product. What works well with Skittles’ fruit flavors just doesn’t work for chocolate. The creaminess you expect in a chocolate candy is missing, probably because cocoa powder makes up less than 2% of the candy. Their chewy texture and excessive sweetness doesn’t go well with any of the five flavors – s’mores, vanilla, chocolate caramel, chocolate pudding, and brownie batter – each of which is very artificial tasting and not very appealing. If you want some chocolate candies, just buy some M&M’s. I don’t recommend wasting your money on Skittles Chocolate Mix.
Phoood rating: 
May 7, 2008
Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light Caramel Cone Ice Cream
I’ve been a huge fan of Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light ice cream ever since it was introduced and have given good reviews to two flavors in the past. Caramel Cone, however, is probably the best one that I’ve eaten. I love anything caramel, so it’s no surprise that I loved this ice cream. It’s made with caramel ice cream with caramel swirls and chocolate-covered cone pieces. The flavors come together perfectly, and there is a good amount of cone pieces (although more wouldn’t hurt). The texture is so creamy and luscious that it’s hard to believe that it has half the fat of regular Häagen-Dazs ice cream. This leads to a question that every ice cream lover must ask themselves: With the huge improvements in light ice cream in recent years, is there really any reason (other than pure gluttony) to eat regular ice cream anymore? I don’t think there is, as long as there are products as good as Häagen-Dazs Extra Rich Light.
Phoood rating: 
May 3, 2008
Phoood Fight!: Gatorade vs. PowerAde (Lemon-Lime)
This is an epic battle between the original thirst-quenching sports drink, Gatorade, versus a relative newcomer, PowerAde. I chose to compare the lemon-lime variety, mostly because I consider it the “classic” sports drink flavor. In fact, I’m so old that I can remember when the only Gatorade flavor was lemon-lime. After doing some afternoon work in our front yard, I was sweaty and thirsty. Both the Gatorade and PowerAde were very refreshing and really hit the spot. Comparing them side-by-side, I was amazed as how similar they were in color. I was even more surprised at how similar they tasted. Their lemon-lime flavors were virtually identical, but there was a slightly odd aftertaste to the Gatorade. This is nothing new, Gatorade has always tasted this way to me. PowerAde, on the other hand, tasted better from start to finish, with no funky aftertaste at all. This was a very close match, but PowerAde comes out on top for its superior taste.
Winner: PowerAde Lemon-Lime
April 29, 2008
Gordon Biersch Dunkelweizen
Perhaps my least favorite type of beer is wheat beer. I’ve had some that I thought were good, but I’ve been underwhelmed by most that I’ve drank. They’ve been a little too light and a little too flavorless for my taste. Gordon Beirsch Dunkelweizen is a wheat beer that I can enjoy, because it’s a dark beer and it’s also unfiltered. As far as beers go, it still on the lighter side, but it has a nice malted flavor that typical wheat beers don’t have. I like the fact that it’s unfiltered because that means there is more flavor floating around in the bottle. Unfortunately most of the country probably won’t be able to try this tasty beer, as Gordon Biersch beers are only distributed in California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona. Also, it’s a seasonal brew available only from March to June. So, get some while you can (and also try their Märzen, which is very good).
Phoood rating: 
April 26, 2008
Combos Zesty Salsa Tortilla
I think that Combos are one of the most underrated snack foods out there. While other snacks get all the praise and admiration, Combos don’t get the accolades they deserve. I’ve really enjoyed every variety I’ve ever eaten, and new Zesty Salsa Tortilla variety is another delicious addition to the Combos lineup. They are intended to taste like chips and salsa, and they succeed. The outer shell, made from stone ground corn, isn’t quite as tasty as a tortilla chip, but its pretty good nonetheless. What makes them so good is the salsa-flavored filling. It really does taste like salsa, which is amazing considering that tomatoes are not listed in the ingredients. The filling is fairly spicy, which I really liked. When you want the taste of chips and salsa but don’t want to risk dripping salsa on your clean shirt, these are the way to go.
Phoood rating:
April 22, 2008
Strawberry Milkshake Oreos
Ever since I was a young lad, I have loved Oreos. I've tried all the previous variations, Double Stuf, Mint, etc., and they have never measured up to the original. Today, while wandering through the grocery store in search of bread, I discovered Strawberry Milkshake Oreos- Limited Edition. Absolutely delicious! The first thing I noticed was that they smell wonderful when you open the package, The brown and pink color is a little unusual, but I really didn't mind when I bit into one. They have a nice crunch, with a little softer "chew" than a classic. The strawberry cream mixes perfectly with the chocolate cookie halves, neither flavor overpowering the other for a taste reminiscent of Neapolitan ice cream. (If you leave out the vanilla part like I do.) My only gripe is that they are a limited edition. I hope Nabisco decides to make them permanent.
Phoood rating:
April 18, 2008
Red Robin Bacon Cheeseburger
The Red Robin menu describes their “gourmet” Bacon Cheeseburger as “the best bacon cheeseburger in the city, state, nation and all the world!” Now that’s setting the bar high. I ordered one with cheddar cheese, thinking that I just might get to eat one of the best burgers I ever had. When the burger arrived, I was immediately disappointed by its size. The photos on the menu suggested that their burgers were much larger. My disappointment continued as I ate it. Apart from the bacon (two slices, even though the menu promised three), the burger had little flavor. The meat was bland and the bun was forgettable. I expected much more for a burger described as “gourmet.” The bottom line is that most fast-food burgers are better, for about third of the price. By the way, my burger looked absolutely nothing like the photo to the right, taken from the Red Robin web site. The photo has to be one of the most ridiculously unrealistic and misrepresentative photos I've ever seen.
Phoood rating: 
April 12, 2008
Jolt Orange Blast
Being a fan of classic Jolt Cola, I was eager to try this new concoction; Jolt Orange Blast. After the first few sips the flavour (and scent) profile was something similar to Orange Jell-O, not bad but not super great either. It tastes a lot like a milder version of classic Orange sodas like Orange Crush or C-Plus, with a more laid back flavour and slightly less sweetness. Unfortunately after a few more sips from the playfully designed can the aftertaste of the "energy" type ingredients (guarana, ginseng, taurine, vitamin B complex) starts to come through, basically the taste settled at something like Orange Jell-O mixed with C-Plus and a splash of Red Bull, to some this might sound tasty or at least interesting, not to me however. As for the "energy" part of the drink, I went to bed 15 minutes after downing the can, my sleep was easy and uninterrupted.
Phoood rating:
April 11, 2008
Little Debbie Nutty Bar Singles
Of all the delicious Little Debbie products, Nutty Bars are probably my favorite. Sugary wafers and peanut butter covered in chocolate are sure hard to beat. Following the popular trend of reduced-size portions for those who are trying to watch their calories, new Nutty Bar Singles ares individually wrapped and are only 100 calories each. I compared a Nutty Bar Single to a regular package of Nutty Bars and found that the only difference is the thickness of the bar. They simply removed a layer from the bar to get it to that magical 100 calories. Otherwise, both the bars look and taste exactly the same. The only problem I can see here is that it’s very hard to eat just one, 100-calorie Nutty Bar. Nutty Bar Singles deserve Phoood’s highest rating because they are so delicious, with the caveat that you better have a lot of discipline and will-power if you’re going to try to eat just one.
Phoood rating:
April 9, 2008
Nestle Crunch Crisp
The new Nestle Crunch Crisp deserves the highest rating possible. We received these samples into our office the other day and they were devoured by my co-workers like they were a pack of rabid dogs. I am not a big chocolate eater, but these are exceptional. The mixture of smooth and crunchy textures are blended together in one candy bar, mimicking the layering effect of a Kit Kat Bar. I assumed it all but impossible to improve on the original Crunch bar, but this certainly measures up to the Crunch name. Be careful, you can eat a whole tray of these before you know it. Try not to attend business meeting with chocolate all over your face, it’s unprofessional.
Phoood rating:
April 7, 2008
Jack In The Box Spicy Chicken Bites
Most of the time, I want an Ultimate Cheeseburger or Sirloin Cheese Burger when I visit Jack In The Box. On a recent visit, I didn’t have as large of an appetite as I normally do, so I decided to go with something a little lighter (if deep fried pieces of chicken dipped in ranch sauce can be considered “light”). I ordered the large size of Spicy Chicken Bites, and was impressed by how much chicken I got in the order. I thought it would be just a snack, but it turned out to be closer to a meal. The chicken bites tasted great and had a thick, crunchy exterior. This crunchy goodness is what sets them apart from chicken bites/strips I’ve had at other places. As far as being spicy, don’t let this scare you away if you don’t like spicy food. I didn’t think that they were very spicy, and was a bit disappointed by this. They have a little bit of heat to them, but most of the spiciness I tasted seemed to be from an abundance of black pepper. It wouldn’t hurt to kick these bites up a couple of notches, Jack.
Phoood rating:
April 5, 2008
Tootsie Pop Drops
Interesting trivia from the Tootsie Roll web site: Tootsie Roll Pops have been around since 1931 and were the first lollipop with a soft, chewy center. They are also the number one selling lollipop. Tootsie Pop Drops are marketed as a Tootsie Roll Pop without the stick. That’s not exactly true, as the Pop Drops are more cylindrical shaped and smaller than a Tootsie Roll Pop. Otherwise, the flavor is pretty much the same. However, I am very disappointed to report that consumers are mislead by the image on the wrapper, which appears to depict a Drop Pop composed mostly of Tootsie Roll center, with a thin coating of hard candy. In reality, the Pop Drop is mostly hard candy with a very small amount of Tootsie Roll in the center. The center is the best part of the candy, in my opinion, and there’s not much of it in there. This, added with the deceptiveness on the wrapper, makes it hard for me to recommend Tootsie Pop Drops.
Phoood rating:
April 3, 2008
Reese’s Big Cup
I know what some of you are thinking, "it's just regular Reese's but bigger", I thought the same thing and despite the fact that I had seen the "Big Cups" around for a few months I hadn't tried them, preferring to stick to the classic. Curiosity got the best of me however and I picked up a couple packs. My first flavour impression was that they were great, with a slightly different flavour profile just due to the size difference, because the cup is larger you get a different mix ratio from chew to chew, I could see some people preferring this. An addition flavour thrill was discovered by accident (just like penicillin!) when I put the extra "Big Cups" package in the fridge overnight. Eating one of the chilled Big Cups was a revelatory experience, somehow the chilling down of the oversized cups caused a wonderful change in the flavour and texture. I also tested refrigerating a regular sized cup and found the experience was not really improved much so I highly recommend tossing your Big Cups into the fridge, sure it delays gratification but trust me, it's worth it.
Phoood rating:
March 27, 2008
Pringles Select Bold Crunch Jalapeno Ranch
Usually, when the word “Jalapeno” is included in the name of a snack food, I have fleeting thoughts of heartburn and bad breath. However I have always been an avid lover of Pringles Original Potato Chips, so I decided to give this one a try. The mixture of Jalapeno and Ranch flavors were perfectly united to create a taste bud sensation which I rarely find in the plethora of snack food options available today. The Jalapeno did not overpower the chip, and the crunchy texture was exactly what I look for when I am craving a salty snack. This is a snack I will definitely buy again and again. It’s true, once you pop, you can’t stop, especially when you have an entire bag of Bold Crunch Jalapeno Ranch in front of you at the office. No Tums necessary either, but perhaps a breath mint was still in order for the sake of my companions.
Phoood rating:
March 19, 2008
Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili
Here we go again – another Doritos flavor. It seems like they come out with a new flavor every other day, but I’ve found that many of them taste very similar. Not so with new Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili, which I saw for the first time in a local Long’s Drug Store. They have a unique flavor that isn’t like any other Doritos chips that I’ve eaten. The spiciness isn’t too hot, but does have a bit of a bite. Underneath the heat is a slight sweetness. The two flavors go very well together and create a final flavor that is both interesting and enjoyable. These chips definitely deserve Phoood’s highest rating.
Phoood rating:
March 16, 2008
Carl’s Jr. Chili Cheese Fries
Carl’s Jr.’s new chili cheese burgers are pretty good, but the same can’t be said for their new chili cheese fries. It’s no secret that Carl’s Jr. has perhaps the worst fries of any major fast-food chain (when are you going to do something about this, Carl’s Jr.?). Chili and cheese on top makes everything taste better, right? Adding some chili and cheese to the fries would definitely improve them, I thought to myself. Well, maybe it would if there was more than a tablespoon of chili on the fries. I’m exaggerating a bit, but honestly, there was hardly any chili on them. “Where’s the chili?”, I wanted to cry out, à la Clara Peller. The fries are advertised as being “smothered” in chili. This was definitely not what I got. I hate to do it, but I have to give the chili cheese fries Phoood's lowest rating for failing to deliver what they advertise.
Phoood rating:
March 14, 2008
Carl’s Jr. Chili Cheese Burger
Carl’s Jr. never stops coming up with great ideas for their burgers. It’s one of the reason’s I like them so much, even though their advertising is often juvenile and crude. The newest addition to their menu is the chili cheese burger, available with single, double, or six-dollar patties. I recently ate a double, along with an order of chili cheese fries and a diet Coke (I have to watch my caloric intake, you know…). I had hoped that the burger would taste like one from Tommy’s, and it wasn’t too far off. The American cheese was melted into gooey goodness by the heat of the chili. The chili itself was tasty, but there wasn’t nearly enough of it. It didn’t drip down my hands and all over my shirt like I hoped that it would. Also, I thought it was a little heavy on the mustard. Overall, the burger is pretty good. More chili and less mustard, however, would make it a near-heavenly burger.
Phoood rating:
March 12, 2008
G2 Fruit Punch
As if there weren’t already enough types of Gatorade (Gatorade A.M.???) now we have G2. Officially, it was designed for athletes off the field and has a different formulation than regular Gatorade. However, I have a hunch that the larger market is couch potatoes and others who don’t exercise much but still think they need a sports drink for some reason. G2 has half the calories of regular Gatorade, so I’m not surprised at all that it tastes like watered-down Gatorade. The fruit punch flavor of the G2 that I tried wasn’t necessarily bad, just very faint. Here's a tip: Take some regular Gatorade and mix it with an equal amount of water. Voilà, you just saved fifty percent. Clark Howard would be proud.
Phoood rating:
March 10, 2008
Cheez-It Duoz Zesty Queso and Cheddar Blanco
Hi. My name is Jim and I am a Cheez-It-aholic. I’ve had this problem for a long time, and new Cheez-It Duoz has made it even worse. The zesty queso and cheddar blanco crackers in the same box are a delicious combination and I found it hard to put the box down once I started eating them. The zesty queso crackers are very spicy and I’m not sure that I’d want to eat them by themselves. Mixed with the mild flavor of the cheddar blanco crackers, however, they are great. There’s still a lot of spice, so you may want to have your favorite beverage nearby to cool things down. I like all the varieties of Cheez-Its, but Duoz Zesty Queso and Cheddar Blanco have quickly become one of my favorite.
Phoood rating:
March 5, 2008
Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry Chocolate
When I saw Dr. Pepper’s latest “Limited Edition” Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry Chocolate soda at the AM/PM store, I couldn’t resist the urge to buy. I have bad memories of Diet Shasta Chocolate Soda (circa 1981); memories so bad, in fact, that I haven’t touched a chocolate flavored beverage in 25 years. I planned on hating it, but I was surprised. The first thing I noticed was the chocolate aroma, which translated to a deep, clean chocolate flavor upon the first pull. The sweetness of the cherry flavor kicked in next as an undertone to cut through the chocolate. There was little diet aftertaste, and the flavor of the soda didn’t change over the course of the 20-ounce bottle that I purchased. In all, I wouldn’t be averse to mixing this drink in to my rotation of beverages for a little variety.
Phoood rating:
March 1, 2008
A&W Float
The idea of a root beer float-flavored soda is a great one. But just how do you create the delicious ice cream and root beer flavors in a way that it can be bottled? Evidently, you can’t. A&W has tried with its new Float drink, but it tastes very little like a real root beer float. The components are all there – the root beer, the vanilla ice cream, the creaminess – but the flavor is overly sweet, heavy on the vanilla, and has an distinctly artificial aftertaste. It’s drinkable, and some may actually like it, but it’s no substitute for an actual root beer float. The shapely bottle would earn the Float extra points if Phoood gave points for packaging, but we don’t. At Phoood, it’s all about the flavor, which is exactly where the Float sinks.
Phoood rating:
February 24, 2008
Orbit Mint Mojito Chewing Gum
This product was quite literally handed off to me by my girlfriend's brother along with the statement, "Do you want this? It's nasty." So perhaps I indulged into this travesty with my own set of expectations, or perhaps it was just honestly the most uncomfortable sugar-free chewing gum experience my taste buds have ever had the misfortune of becoming involved with. Orbit usually has creatively eccentric flavor compilations the likes of which induce a mild curiosity in the chewer. However with the "Mint Mojito" flavor I personally believe Orbit allowed its innovative spirit to wander a bit too far away from the flavor consistency which we come to expect from chewing gum. A stick of "Mint Mojito" Orbit gum has a strange milky lime flavor fused with a hint of mint. I noticed myself removing the piece of gum from my mouth almost immediately after beginning to chew it. Let's just say I won't be handing this gum box to anyone else, its fate lies at the bottom of my office trash can.
Phoood rating:
February 19, 2008
North Fork Cheddar Onion Potato Chips
The nice folks at North Fork Potato Chips recently sent me a couple bags of their chips to try. I had never heard of the company, which is located on Long Island. Their products are distributed primarily on the East Coast, so I may have never had the pleasure of eating their chips if they hadn’t sent them to me. Each of the flavors I tried was good, but I especially enjoyed the Cheddar Onion variety. The chips are “kettle cooked,” but they are much thinner than other kettle chips I’ve eaten. They also have a very fresh taste, as if they were just recently cooked. I usually don’t like onion-flavored food, but I really like these chips. The cheddar flavor is very nice and the onion flavor is mild. Most importantly, the delicious flavor of the potato chip is not obscured by the cheddar and onion flavors. They are really tasty chips, and I’m sorry that I probably won’t be able to find them in my area easily. But for those of you on the East Coast, give them a try.
Phoood rating:
February 9, 2008
Wanchai Ferry Kung Pao Chicken Dinner Kit
A few months ago, I happened to notice some products on the shelf of my local supermarket, low on the shelf in the Chinese food section. It must have been the “sale” sign on them that caught my eye. They were Wanchai Ferry Dinner Kits, in Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Spicy Garlic Chicken, and Cashew Chicken varieties. I was looking for something new to try for dinner and the price was right, so I bought one of each. Since then, they have become a staple in our pantry. Of the four varieties, the best tasting is Kung Pao Chicken. All it takes is about 20 minutes, one pound of chicken breast, some oil, and some water. Using the ingredients included in the kit, you get a delicious dinner that will serve two to four people. Preparation is so easy that anyone should be able to do it. I don’t doubt that many people would say that the food is not “authentic” enough, and this is probably true. However, it’s far better than the last Chinese take-out I had. And, I get the satisfaction that I cooked dinner (even if did come from a box).
Phoood rating:
February 3, 2008
DiGiorno Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza
Super Bowl Sunday is a great time for pizza, so I cooked up a new DiGiorno Ultimate Pepperoni pizza to eat while I watched the game. I am a huge fan of DiGiorno Rising Crust pizzas, so I assumed that the Ultimate pizza would be very tasty. The pizza is very similar to the Rising Crust pizza, but the crust doesn’t rise as much as doesn’t have the dusting of corn meal on the bottom, which I really missed. DiGiorno refers to the crust as “pizzeria style.” No one is going to mistake the crust for one that came from a pizzeria, but it is pretty good nevertheless. The sauce has a fresh tomato flavor and is less sweet than on the Rising Crust variety. However, I found it to be a little bland. I didn’t have a micrometer to measure them, but the pepperoni slices seem to be a little thicker than those on the Rising Crust. Overall, the DiGiorno Ultimate pizza is one of the best frozen pizzas I’ve eaten, but falls just short of deserving a top rating.
Phoood rating:
