October 31, 2012
McDonald's Angus Cheddar Bacon Onion
McDonald’s has just released a new addition to its lineup of Angus burgers—the Cheddar Bacon Onion, or CBO for short. Just imagining these three ingredients coming together was enough to whet my appetite, although it can probably be attributed to the fact that it simply has the word “cheddar” in it. For this review I opted for the Angus beef variation of the CBO, though it’s available with either grilled or crispy chicken as well. Leading up to the taste test I remained cautiously optimistic as McDonald’s has proven to have a pretty decent track record in the past. Unfortunately the CBO could be best described as either run-of-the-mill or conventional. The cheddar was fused together with the patty pretty nicely, but lacked sharpness and depth of flavor. If they had used American cheese instead, it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. I had no problems with the bacon, which managed to be crispy yet flimsy at the same time. The onions could’ve easily gone unnoticed, were it not for the fact that some pieces were able to retain that distinct onion texture. Flavor-wise, the onions were simply dominated by the rest of the ingredients. The best part of the sandwich to me was the Dijon mustard, which had a bold zest and acidity to it. Ultimately I felt as though the CBO was something I've already had many times before. Some originality and better quality ingredients would go a long way in ensuring McDonald’s is able to keep up with its competitors.
Phoood rating: 
October 20, 2012
Cheetos Crunchy XXTRA Flamin’ Hot
Spicy is very popular these days, and I’m all for it. I enjoy food hot enough to clear my nasal passages. Cheetos Crunchy XXTRA Flamin’ Hot snacks claim to be twice as hot as regular Cheetos Flamin’ Hot. That may be true, but XXTRA Flamin’ Hot really aren't that hot. Sure, they have some heat. I felt it in my mouth and in the back of my throat long after I had finished eating them. But, they don’t have that immediate burn of the tongue and lips that really gets your attention. I’m not sure what type of peppers the folks at Frito-Lay, Inc. used for the heat, but I’m pretty sure they weren't habanero or ghost peppers. My (unscientific) description of the heat level is “moderately hot.” When I see the word “XXTRA” in all caps, I expect something over-the-top. Something that I will remember eating for a long time. Something that I may regret having eaten. Frito-Lay, you left me a bit disappointed.
Phoood rating:
October 10, 2012
Dairy Queen Pumpkin Pie Blizzard
It is now officially fall, and that means Dairy Queen has gone ahead and released their Pumpkin Pie Blizzard once again. This is unquestionably one of the better Blizzard varieties out there, with the primary reason being that it tastes incredibly similar to an actual pumpkin pie. Speckles of powdered nutmeg can be found resting upon the dollop of whipped cream that acts as a crown to this decadent dessert. Underneath it was a thick yet still creamy concoction with a pale orange hue. The pumpkin taste was quite bold, with certain areas of the Blizzard standing out more than others. I'm not exactly sure how this was constructed, but it tasted as if pumpkin pie filling was simply mixed in with vanilla ice cream. There were tiny graham cracker pieces embedded throughout, which were reminiscent of Apple Jacks cereal due to the cinnamon flavor they contained. The vanilla soft serve came through as an aftertaste, so that component of the Blizzard wasn't completely subdued. All I have left to say is that I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. If you like pumpkin pie, there's no doubt that you'll love this as well. Better go out and get one while you still can!
Phoood rating: 
October 4, 2012
Arby's Grand Turkey Club
I think it's safe to say that turkey is one of the least popular meats to the general public. It has a tendency to be not only dry but also lacking in much flavor. I guess that's why you don't see people clamoring for it like they do with beef or pork. However, Arby's continues to be one of few fast food restaurants to prominently feature this peculiar poultry on their menu. As a part of their new line of Turkey Roasters, it's clear that the Grand Turkey Club won't get very many points for originality. It wasn't exactly the most visually arresting sandwich I've ever seen, but I do commend Arby's for making my Grand Turkey Club out to look somewhat similar to the ones seen in the ads. Now moving on to how it tasted: the bacon was crisp and almost crunchy, the vegetables were fresh by fast food standards, and the bun was durable enough to hold everything together. The thinly-sliced meat proved to be fairly moist, giving way to a noticeably sweet and savory turkey flavor. There was a massive glob of cheese which stuck to the turkey like glue and although there was a lot of mayo, I didn't particularly mind as it didn't detract from the sandwich in any way. One thing I have to note is that I was surprised by how small it was, which is a downer given the amount you have to pay for one. The bottom line is that the Grand Turkey Club does a lot more right than it does wrong. Now I'm even more interested in trying out some of the other turkey-centric items at Arby's.
Phoood rating: 