November 29, 2015


Taco Bell Mobile App

tbmobileapp.jpgTaco Bell may just be my favorite fast food restaurant these days. Not because of anything having to do with the food, the menu, or the service. No, it's all because of the Taco Bell mobile app. The app makes food customization, ordering, and payment as easy as tapping on my phone's screen. I love that I can peruse the menu without annoying the people in line behind me, or the Taco Bell employee who is standing there, tapping their foot as they wait for me to choose between the Cheesy Gordita Crunch or the Doritos Cheesy Gordita Crunch. I can take as long as I want. I can also customize the menu items – add black beans, bacon, and chipotle sauce to a Beefy Fritos Burrito, and have the burrito grilled, for example. I could probably do the same thing without the mobile app, but with the app it's fun to do and the app shows the prices of the extras (some are actually free). Once I have assembled the perfect order, I just tap a couple of buttons and that's it. Because Taco Bell has my credit card number, I don't even have to get out my wallet. At the drive-thru window, they just hand me my food and I drive off like I'm some kind of fast food royalty. The app is well designed, easy to use, and the entire process works smoothly (other than a couple of hiccups the first few times I used the app). The future of fast food is here, and Taco Bell is leading the way.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (0)

February 19, 2009


Baker’s Edge Brownie Pan

bakersedge.jpgIf you are like me and prefer the crispy, chewy goodness of brownie edge pieces, then the Baker’s Edge brownie pan should be in your kitchen cupboard. Its ingenious design allows each brownie piece to have at least two edges, and you get three delicious edges on the end pieces. The design also allows the brownies to cook evenly throughout. I received the pan as a Christmas present and have used it several times. Each batch of brownies I made cooked perfectly. The edges had the crispiness and chewiness I love and the centers were just right. Another great feature of the pan is the non-stick coating. The brownies came out easily and the pan was extremely easy to clean. The pan is made from heavy gauge cast aluminum and is extremely sturdy. I suspect that it will last a very long time. The only potential shortcoming of the pan is its price. It currently sells for between $35 and $40 depending on where you buy it. If you can afford it, or you can convince someone to give it to you as a gift, the pan is well worth the price.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (15)

November 7, 2008


Taco Rack

tacorack.jpgIf you enjoy making tacos at home, the Taco Rack is a tool worth considering. It keeps your taco shells upright when you cook them in the oven, which prevents the shells from closing in when you bake them on their sides. When taken out of the oven, the upright shells are easy to fill with your favorite fillings and toppings. I used a Taco Rack recently to make some tacos at home and found that it worked as advertised. The rack itself if made in the USA from stainless steel and looks like it would last a lifetime. Check out the Taco Rack web site to see the several different versions they make. My only minor quibble with Taco Rack is how expensive it is. I’m sure that being made in the USA is probably the reason why, but still, twenty bucks for a couple pieces of metal seems awfully high to me.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (3)