getyourgoodnews/fastfoodfanatics

By Emily Heise

Only one sandwich franchise has invited our taste buds to savor its fresh
baked bread and crisp veggies on its $5 foot-longs created by its sandwich
artists.
When it comes to the art of subs, Subway has tackled everything from
traditional cold cuts to a Meatball Marinara. It has topped its freshly baked
bread with Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki and even pulled pork.
Whether toasted or cool, fit or hearty, the endless possibilities of flavorful
combinations satisfy taste buds and please the tummy. However, when
Subway decided to embark upon the art of breakfast, it should have left that
to McDonald's or Hardee's.
The Double Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwich looks delicious in
advertisements. However, my eyes and taste buds had a difference in
opinion.
Loaded with American and Monterey cheddar cheeses, strips of bacon and
egg, the hungry morning muncher is able to choose from the traditional
omelet with the yoke or opt out for a healthier version with just the egg
whites. There is also the choice of flatbread, six-inch bread or a light wheat
English muffin.
Once toasted, it can be topped with a variety of veggies or sauces to make
it your way.
I decided to try the flatbread and the traditional omelet. I withheld from
adding any extra veggies or sauces thinking the taste would be similar to
the Bacon, Egg and Cheese biscuit from McDonald's.
After taking my first bite, I was disappointed and left thinking Subway
should have stuck to subs.
Though toasted, the flatbread was soft, lacking the slight crunch after being
hugged in the toaster. My mouth was consumed with the creamy taste of
melted cheese clinging to egg, however, there just wasn't enough hearty
bacon to compete with the mixture of egg and cheese.
Maybe I should have added some fresh peppers or onions, but there was
nothing in the sandwich to give it pop or crunch. The taste was bland and
the bacon drooped, almost ashamed it hadn't matured into that crispy,
crunchy strip.
Unsatisfied, I tried the Egg and Cheese, this time on the English muffin
with the egg whites. I even topped it with some peppers and onions.
Though the sandwich had the added crunch of the vegetables, my taste
buds were overpowered by cheese and even blander egg. The sandwich
sagged in my hands and the taste was boring, dull.
Even the hash browns were bland. Though the dark seasoning stood out
among the pale potato patties, no spice was able to send my mouth into a
tizzy of flavor.
Subways' prices can start the day off right with 99 cents for hash browns.
The sandwiches follow suite starting at $1.75 for the Egg and Cheese
muffin, $3.00 for the Double Bacon, Egg and Cheese flatbread or six-inch
and topping $3.50 for the Steak, Egg and Cheese on the six-inch or
flatbread.
You could even be humming "Good Morning Sunshine" with calories
starting as low as 150 for the Egg and Cheese muffin with egg white,
almost half the calories of McDonald's Egg McMuffin. Yet, the more you
add and the bread choice can soar calories into the 400s.
However, even though the Egg McMuffin tops out at 300 calories, I'd rather
spend my money on calories and taste, leaving my breakfast to the golden
arches.

There's no stink about Wendy's Bacon and Blue Burger
By Emily Heise

Midnight snacks are not something to be taken lightly. With Wendy's
Bacon and Blue Hamburger, the pajama wearing, fluffy bunny slipper
muncher can "eat great, even late."
The fresh, never frozen beef patty is wedged between a layer of crisp
lettuce and ripe tomato on the bottom and four strips of Applewood smoked
bacon on top. The burger is smothered with sautéed onions and a creamy
steakhouse sauce topped off with real blue cheese crumbles.
After the first bite, the burger's juices mix with the tang of the steakhouse
sauce, sending your taste buds into a swirl of flavor and your tongue will be
licking your lips for more.
As the juice rolls around the taste buds, they are pricked with the bitter to
almost sour taste of the blue cheese. The crumbles do not overpower the
sandwich and blend in harmony with the sauce and sautéed onions.
The vegetables and bacon add texture to the sandwich amid all the sauce.
Without the crunch, the burger would be far too mushy.
Though blue cheese has a distinct smell, the crumbles do not overpower
the smell of the burger. The salty crumbles add a bitter tangy substance to
the burger that is balanced well with the flavors of the meat and sautéed
onions.
The burger would have been too messy and soggy had a blue cheese
dressing been used. Also, I'm not quite sure my nose would have allowed
me to bite into something that smelled like a stinky gym sock.
And even though crumbles are used, you still might want to eat this burger
with a few extra napkins as the crumbles jump off the burger with each bite
and the creamy sauce dribbles down fingers.
This delicious balance of meat, sauce, cheese and veggies might leave
your wallet a little unbalanced at $4.29 for the sandwich and $5.99 for the
combo which includes a drink and choice between fries, a garden side
salad, Caesar side salad, chili or a baked potato loaded with sour cream
and chives.
And along with your wallet, the scale could go tipping at 680 calories but
the Bacon and Blue Burger has one traditionally stinky cheese you just
have to try.

PREVIOUS: Battle of the Blended Beverages

By Emily Heise

As the summer heat saunters in, starting the day with a sizzling cup of
coffee makes me feel like I'm warming up to star as the Heat Miser.
Needing that jumpstart to my day with a morning jolt of coffee, I also want
something a little less steamy with a lot more chill.
Starbucks, McDonalds and Dairy Queen battle for "my me time" with their
blended and iced coffee beverages suitable to tame the heat and energize
the body.
Starbucks offers a variety of Frappuccinos that can boost your day with the
blended coffee or just be a sweet indulgence with the blended crème
beverages.
The Caramel Blended Coffee Frappuccino is a mixture of rich and creamy
as the coffee blends with the caramel sauce, milk and ice. The buttery
sweetness is topped with whipped cream and a touch of caramel sauce.
However, the strong taste of coffee slightly overpowers the rich, velvety
caramel, which might spike some hairs on a non-coffee drinker.
But if you want a cooling treat without the shock of coffee, the Double
Chocolaty Chip or Strawberries and Crème Blended Crème Frappuccinos
might be more suited for your taste buds. Even tea drinkers are counted in
the Frappuccino census with the Tazo Chai Crème and the Tazo Green Tea
Blended Crème beverages.
And if you still don't see the Frappuccino you crave, Starbucks offers the
"However-you-want-it Frappuccino blended beverage," allowing the drinker
to customize their chilled treat with more coffee, less calories, more flavors,
milk options or extra toppings.
Starbucks offers three sizes, tall (12 ounce), grande (16 ounce) and venti
(24 ounce) with prices ranging from $3.65 to $4.65. And when the succulent
caramel mixes with light whipped topping creating a creamy bliss, I might
be opting for no whip or soymilk to balance out the 290 calories consumed
in a tall drink.
Since Starbucks offers personal customization, the calorie count can be
as high or low as the drinker desires. Yet if the drinker is ordering the
blended crèmes or blended coffees offered on the menu, the calories can
soar well into the 200s and 300s.
Though Starbucks knows how to handle it's coffee, for a fast food joint,
McDonalds' Frappes could be considered a Frappuccino rival.
Though offering only two flavors, caramel and mocha, their caramel coffee
Frappe base and ice is the perfect ratio of coffee to caramel. The frosty
drink topped with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle is much thinner
than Starbucks, however, with each sip your taste buds encounter the
equal blend of sweet caramel and tart coffee.
Similar in its attractive appearance, yet offering a more well balanced taste,
the 12, 16 and 22 ounce drinks are slightly cheaper than Starbucks,
ranging from $2.29 for a small to $3.29 for the large. But while price may be
lighter on your wallet, calories are heavy on the body rocketing between 450
to 680 calories.
Dairy Queen offers it's own take on the Frappuccino/Frappe battle with
their MooLattes. Mixing its creamy soft serve with Colombian coffee, ice
and mocha, caramel, french vanilla or cappuccino flavoring, the drink is
almost as thick as a Blizzard or shake.
And while coffee is Starbucks business, ice cream is Dairy Queen's as the
MooLatte has very little coffee flavor and a strong taste of ice cream. Even a
little bit more mocha or caramel flavoring could be added to balance out the
ice cream. However, topped off with whipped topping and caramel sauce,
the drink is as sweet as a sundae.
Unlike Starbucks and McDonalds, the MooLattes are only offered in 16 and
24 ounce cups costing $3.29 and $3.69. The calories begin as low as 500
in the 16 ounce Cappuccino MooLatte and top the charts at 870 calories in
the 24 ounce Caramel MooLatte.
After test marketing the product, I'd rather spend my money and calories
on a Blizzard and leave the coffee to Starbucks and McCafe.
Yet whether you like your coffee strong or would rather add sweetness to
your cup of joe, I'll leave the drinker to decide which establishment they
would rather spend their money and indulge in "me time."

PREVIOUS:
Review of the KFC Double Down

By Emily Heise

While Kentucky Fried Chicken covets its secret blend of herbs and spices,
its secret to the new Double Down is right in plain sight, no bun.
You can't help but stare at the two pieces of bacon peeking out between
the two thick chicken filets and contemplate the game plan to eat the
awkward looking sandwich.
However, after one bite, any thought of awkwardness disappears as the
melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheeses mix with the
Colonel's sauce creating a creamy coating over the chicken.
Who needs the bun?
The velvety mixture compliments the moist, juicy flavor of the Colonel's
original recipe, filling your mouth with an explosion of flavor. The spices mix
with the sauce leaving just the right amount of kick to nip at the taste buds.
The bun would just be a waste dulling the zing of flavor.
Though the sandwich boosts the macho idea of double meat with the
bacon and all white meat filets, there just isn't enough bacon. The saucy
blast overpowers the taste of the bacon, more needs to be added to stand
out between the original recipe and the other condiments.
And while your taste buds won't miss the bun, your fingers might. The
Double Down is one messy beast that left my fingers shinning from the
grease.
However, I ate the Double Down like a normal hamburger, despite the fact
it comes half wrapped like a hash brown from McDonalds stamped with the
warning - Caution: Hot!
After my overly excited bite I realized the wrapper soaks up the grease
leaving fingers just the right amount to be licking good and the warning
protects an extremely hungry girl from burning her mouth. Woops!
Even though the commercial makes the sandwich appear mighty and
masculine - a meal for the hungry man - a petite, 100 something pound girl
was left wanting more to bite into, so maybe my stomach missed the bread
too.
But while the $4.99 sandwich might not be as burly, the 540 calories and
1,380 milligrams of sodium just might send the mighty running towards a
salad bar.
And though I still think there needs to be more bacon, I'll leave it up to the
reader to decide if there's no room for the bun.

PREVIOUS: Some Like It REALLY Hot: Hardee's Jalapeno Burger

By Emily Heise

Embracing the life of a beach bum, a man reclines outside a seaside
house preparing to gulp down a rather large and colorful burger. Waves
crash and birds screech creating soothing music to the man's first crunchy
bite of sandwich. However, these tranquil elements are overpowered by
yelling erupting from inside the villa.
The bum's girlfriend, looking ready to start the day at the beach, is upset
her boyfriend just wants to watch the game all day and ditch her parents.
Walking onto the patio, she finds him nibbling on his sandwich, tears
pouring down his cheeks.
Why could this guy possibly be crying? He's sitting in what looks like an
island paradise in a furnished villa with his gorgeous girlfriend. Is it the fact
his girlfriend is upset and stirring an argument or perhaps it's because he
just popped a slice of jalapeno into his mouth and forgot to grab a glass of
milk.
I'm assuming the sandwich is the reason for the tears, since he is decently
good looking and possibly the owner of the beach bliss. What else could
make him cry besides the sandwich?
The Hardee's commercial for the Jalapeno Thickburger says sometimes it's
okay for a guy to cry, so this must be one of those times. However, a
sandwich being so hot and spicy it can bring tears - lets be realistic. I had
my doubts and after tasting the marketed meal, I will never underestimate
the Jalapeno Thickburger ever again.
As soon as I opened the boxed burger I could smell the heat as it tingled
my nostrils. The 100 percent charbroiled Black Angus beef stood majestic
topped with melted Pepperjack cheese, lettuce, tomato and red onions.
Mixed between the layers of veggies was Hardee's Santa Fe sauce which
resembles Thousand Island dressing and the jalapeno peppers. The work of
art is topped off with a sesame seed bun.
After one bite I was a believer the commercial completely overdid the
concept of heat and spice, but then I swallowed.
Instantly the heat consumed my tongue and mouth, spreading down my
throat and into my chest. Some advice, don't lick your lips searching for
something to sooth the spicy tingle, it just spreads the heat.
Though it felt like taking a bit out of the sun, I couldn't help but keep eating
it. The heat doesn't overpower the taste of the meat and there is just the
right amount of condiments to spice up the flavor.
The Santa Fe sauce and melted Peperjack cheese compliment each other
and you get an equal taste of both, creating a rich, creamy texture that
coats the beef. The jalapenos are scattered throughout the sandwich so
you don't know when you are going to get that zesty explosion of heat on
your tongue.
Even though I picked off a few of the jalapenos, my face turned a slight
color of red and I had to remove my sweatshirt after breaking into a mild
sweat.
I can't tease the guy in the commercial for crying since a little water welled
up in my eyes and my taste buds were left screaming for milk. I had to
drink four tall glasses before I could tolerate the heat.
However, I rarely eat spicy food so my reaction to the burger may be
overdone just like the commercial. After tasting the burger with someone
who enjoys spice, he wasn't affected by the heat and said if you enjoy hot
food, the burger has a mild heat level.
Just a little warning for those daring enough to try the burger -Remember
how I said I picked off the remaining jalapenos? He took them off my plate
and ate them without drinking a sip of liquid, so he is fond of heat.
For $2.99 the burger won't burn a hole in a spice lover or non-spice lovers'
wallet and if the spice doesn't leave you in tears, the whooping 600 calories
just might leave some with something to cry over.

previous column: THE BIG BURGER BATTLE: WHICH MEATWAD WILL
CRY VICTORY?

By Emily Heise

The Big Mac has been the traditional champion of burgers with its two
all-beef patties, special sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickle, onion on a sesame
seed bun. However, Hardee's has risen to the challenge creating the Big
Hardee.
Claiming to be better than the Big Mac, the fast food chain strives to create
the mouth-watering burger while competing in taste and physical appeal.
While each capture the attention of a rumbling stomach, which will have
you racing to the nearest drive thru?
Flipping open the boxed Big Mac it stands tall, daring you to dig in. The
zesty aroma fills your nostrils and it's impossible to stop the humming of
the popular slogan as you reach for the first bite.
The tangy sauce and tart pickles overwhelm the taste buds overpowering
the thin, slightly dry patties of meat.
Where's the beef?
The three slices of bun are thicker than the sear-sizzled beef, leaving the
mouth searching for the taste of beef in a swimming pool of condiments and
bread.
The Big Hardee doesn't come anywhere close to the physical beauty of the
Big Mac, flattened in its wrapper but the burger tastes better than it looks.
Like McDonald's, Hardee's uses lettuce and its own Big Twin sauce but
adds a piece of cheese and removes a slice of bun. However, the added
piece of cheese smoothers the sauce so it's barely detected.
Though the sauce isn't as dominate as McDonald's, the three patties of
charbroiled 100 percent Black Angus beef are thick and juicy, just like a
burger off the grill during a summer barbeque. The powerful taste
compensates for the lack of condiments, including the missing crunch from
the onion and pickle.
Even the buns make a statement as they are buttered and grilled, making
the Big Hardee slightly more greasy then the Big Mac, but adding to the
rich taste.
To set the sandwiches apart even more, the Big Mac totals 540 calories
while the Big Hardee weighs in at 730 total calories.
And if your taste buds or calorie count don't seem to favor one over the
other your wallet might. The Big Mac will leave your wallet slightly lighter
costing $3.09 compared to $2.49 for the Big Hardee.
So while cows don't wander a pasture flaunting their beef, McDonald's and
Hardee's does it for them, competing for the taste and look America is lovin'
the most.