GrubGrade

If you gaze upon the Taco Bell menu board, you will come across a ton of choices but none more simple than the Cheese Roll-Up.  This seems like an item for those either short on cash or looking for something without meat.  If you’ve got less than a buck, this 79¢ item will do the trick.  For someone like me, the Cheese Roll-Up is merely an add-on to a meal.

The Cheese Roll-Up isn't important enough to get it's own packaging label so they used a Grilled Stuft Burrito wrapper.

Taco Bell describes the Cheese Roll-Up like this:

A warm, soft flour tortilla rolled up with a blend of three real cheeses and melted to perfection.

Since Taco Bell has a Why Pay More? value menu with over 10 items for 99¢ or less, it’s a no-brainer that this basic snack makes an appearance.  I can see the Cheese Roll-Up being a hit with little kids, but for a grown kid like myself, it’s not so bad either. (more…)

Anyone that knows me, knows that I do not like spicy food.   Popeyes is famous for their Louisiana-style of cooking with an array of Cajun seasoning and spices.  A visit to Popeyes for me has always been a very rare occasion when I am in the mood for the Popcorn Shrimp meal.  I do love the flavor of Popeyes breading even though it lights my mouth on fire (I know, I’m a wimp).   Because of the spiciness, Popeyes has never been a preferred place for me. I tried the Loaded Chicken Wrap recently and it quickly became a reason to stop by Popeyes more often.

The Loaded Chicken Wrap is on the Popeyes “Big Deals” menu. (more…)

Most fast food restaurants now serve some type of chicken wrap.  The Colonel is no exception and a cheaper version of the KFC Twister is a headliner for under $2.00.  Among the many expanded menu items that Kentucky Fried Chicken offers, their Toasted Wrap will appeal to those looking for a quick grab-and-go snack.

The Toasted Wrap is described by KFC as:

A perfect on-the-go snack, KFC’s new Toasted Wrap features a flour tortilla filled with a crispy all-white meat chicken strip, crisp lettuce, pepper mayo and topped with a three-cheese blend, grill-pressed for a warm toasted taste.

The first thing that is noticable about this wrap is the packaging it comes in.  KFC goes above its competitors with the Toasted Wrap “sleeve”.  It makes grubbing on the go a breeze.  The tortilla is definitely toasted (unlike the McDonald’s warmed Snack Wraps) and holds together in a way that there is nothing becoming limp and falling apart.  Check out those pressed grill marks…it’s a compact package with a slight crispness to the tortilla.  This wrap isn’t overly stuffed, but the ingredients are decent in the taste department. A good example of the wrap not being too packed would be 2 inches of bare tortilla on your first bite…but what would you expect from $1.49. The crispy chicken strip is all-white meat and is tender but a little dry.  The lettuce isn’t as fresh and crisp as I’d like and the the three-cheese blend is melted into the other ingredients for a mouthful of flavor.  The pepper mayo stands out, it gives the wrap a little bit of a kick without being too overbearing.  This pepper mayo could be a deal breaker for some because it does sort of take over the flavor of the wrap.

Overall, I would choose this wrap over McDonald’s Snack Wraps.  The wrap itself may be a little lighter, but the quality is a tad better…(as is the packaging).  This really isn’t something to fill up on.  It’s a value menu item that will be a decent snack when short on funds.  If you are in need of a quick and cheap grub fix, the KFC toasted wrap is worth a try.

• Pros: Great packaging for grubbing on the go.  I liked the pepper mayo.
• Cons: One wrap alone is not very filling.

Taste:  6.75/10

Value:  7.00/10

Grubbing on the Go:  8.50/10

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GrubGrade:  6.75/10 (Average)

(Overall GrubGrade is not an average)

Price:  $1.49

Nutrition Info - KFC Toasted Wrap

Calories – 360

Total Fat – 20 grams

Saturated Fat – 6 grams

Cholesterol – 40 milligrams

Sodium – 730 milligrams

Carbs – 27 grams

Sugars – 2 grams

Dietary Fiber – 2 grams

Protein – 17 grams

The Big Mac has always been my favorite sandwich at McDonald’s.   At 590 calories and 29 grams of fat, I rarely get it anymore.  Back in March, we posted that the Big Mac Snack Wrap was making it’s debut in Cananda.  It has finally made its way to my local McDonald’s (and apparently Nationwide), so I decided to give it a try.

I have to say that I was apprehensive about the Big Mac being served as a snack wrap.   After all, the Big Mac jingle is:

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

And its actually a triple-dose of bun.  But this review is about the snack wrap version, not the original.  This item is so new that it isn’t even on the McDonald’s website, so here is how the  Big Mac Snack Wrap was described in our recent post:

Delicious 100 percent pure beef, Big Mac special sauce, lettuce, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, pickles, and onions on a warm flour tortilla

The ingredients are accurate of the original Big Mac (of course substituting the bun with the tortilla) but in much smaller portions.  You get two sad slivers of beef patty in the Big Mac Snack Wrap. There is a little slice of what appeared to be American cheese (no Monterey Jack or Cheddar to be found), a few pieces of shredded lettuce and of course, the Big Mac “special sauce”.  The “special sauce” was a little off.  It didn’t seem to have the same tangy flavor of what I’m familar with on the original Big Mac.  Honestly, it’s probably the same sauce but it came across a little funny with the wrap.  Of course the standard sour McD’s pickles are also present.  The flour tortilla is pretty average and thankfully didn’t fall apart on me…but there really wasn’t enough in it to be an issue.  The Big Mac Snack Wrap is the same size as the chicken snack wraps McDonald’s carries but on the inside, I felt that it just wasn’t stuffed enough. I guess it’s hard to complain about a “snack” as they’re only $1.59 each.   But as you can see from the pictures…it’s pretty sad and small.

With a snack wrap taking the Big Mac name, I was at least hoping for the same flavor and satisfaction. This attempt fell short of average and dipped into the realm of mediocrity.  I would rather pay a little extra and get the classic Big Mac (which is currently at a special rate of 2 for $4.00).  I’ll stick to grilled chicken versions of the snack wrap and when in the mood, I’ll splurge on the Big Mac.

• Pros: Only $1.59.  Might satisfy a Big Mac Attack without all the calories and fat.
• Cons: Not enough meat.  Special sauce was a little off.  Made me want a Big Mac instead.

Taste: 5.50/10

Value: 6.00/10

Grubbing on the Go: 6.50/10

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GrubGrade: 5.50/10 (Mediocre)

(Overall GrubGrade is not an average)

Price: $1.59

McDonalds.com

Nutrition Info – Big Mac Snack Wrap (not yet available)

There is no shame in the fact that I love Chick-fil-A.  It is by far my favorite fast food joint and I probably average a weekly visit.  I can only imagine how many extra dollars I am saving from the “Closed on Sundays” practice that makes Chick-fil-A  a truly unique quick-serve restaurant.  A place that is more than just delicious chicken sandwiches, Chick-fil-A has a line of three Chicken Cool Wraps that I’ve been grubbing on for years.  It’s time to share my thoughts…

From Left to Right: Chargrilled, Caesar and Spicy (in halves)

• Let’s start off with the traditional Chargrilled Chicken Cool Wrap. (more…)

What has happened to the bacon at Burger King?  When I reviewed the Tendercrisp Bacon Cheddar Ranch Sandwich, I complained of a lack of flavor from their bacon.  I hoped it was just a one time thing.  I really wanted to get that salty, bacon goodness when I purchased the Cheesy Bacon BK Wrapper.  I walked away disappointed.  The bacon flavor was weak.  Very weak.

The Cheesy Bacon BK Wrapper has been on the BK breakfast menu for over a year now.  It started out being advertised as a limited time offering, but it’s been enjoying a decent run on the menu boards.  It seems relatively simple to throw together and tortillas must be dirt cheap.  With the ongoing “Wraps” trend and consumers leaning a lot on value, it’s no surprise this breakfast wrap has stuck around.  The BK Wrapper features cheddar cheese, a cheese sauce, bacon, hash browns, and egg all inside a soft tortilla. If you couldn’t tell by the double dose description, cheese is the dominant flavor here.  The sauce is gooey and tastes great.  I really enjoyed the combination of the cheese sauce with the hash browns.  The egg is similar to the bacon in this specific case where I know it’s there, but I can only really taste it if I make a conscious effort to do so.  The hash browns and cheese flavor are definitely stronger than anything else and they have a way of making you forget that there is also egg and bacon in the mix.  When I compare the shell to the Wake-Up Wrap from Dunkin Donuts, I enjoy the tortilla from BK better.  It also could be that I prefer a softer shell over a toastier shell.

After having this breakfast wrap, I’m convinced that Burger King is using a different, weaker flavored bacon than what was used in the past. It just isn’t as strong as it used to be and as a result the sandwiches are losing points.  If the bacon flavor was stronger, this could be a great breakfast wrap.  I’d suggest purchasing the Ham Omelet Sandwich if you are looking for a slightly cheaper option that tastes a lot better than this disappointment.

• Pros - Nice cheese sauce.  Hash browns taste great with the cheese sauce.  I prefer this soft tortilla shell over Dunkin’s toasty Wake-Up Wrap tortilla.
• Cons – Where’s the bacon?  That’s really my only complaint, but it’s a biggie.

Taste:  5.00/10

Value:  8.50/10

Grubbing on the Go:  8.75/10

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GrubGrade:  5.75/10 (Mediocre)

(Overall GrubGrade is not an average)

Price:  $1.39

BurgerKing.com

Nutrition Facts – Cheesy Bacon BK Wrapper

Calories – 390

Total Fat – 24 grams

Saturated Fat – 8 grams

Trans Fat – 0.5 grams

Carbs – 29 grams

Cholesterol – 150 milligrams

Sodium – 1060 milligrams

Protein – 14 grams

Jamba Juice had many other writers taste their new items. Here is a list of those involved and links to their reviews if they’ve posted them:

Ken Kuhl – Fast Food News
www.foodfacts.info/blog/
http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2009/06/jamba-juice-announces-new-food-menu.html

Jessica Simmons – Epic Portions
www.epicportions.com

Taylor Corner – Food Beast
www.foodbeast.com

Leng Touch – Fat Cat Who Created a Vegetarian
www.lengslog.wordpress.com

Abby Abanes – Pleasure Palate
www.pleasurepalate.com

Stephanie Stiavetti – Wasabimon!
www.wasabimon.com

Wandering Chopsticks
www.wanderingchopsticks.blogspot.com

Carol Green – Uncovering Food
www.uncoveringfood.com
http://www.uncoveringfood.com/2009/06/blended-bliss-adds-bite-jamba-expands.html

Mari Suzuki – Secrets of a Kitchen Wizard
www.kitchenwizard.wordpress.com
http://kitchenwizard.wordpress.com/2009/06/13/food-is-coming-to-jamba-town/

Denise Lee – Denise Does Dessert
www.denisedoesdessert.wordpress.com
http://denisedoesdessert.wordpress.com/2009/06/12/jamba/

Ryan’s prediction in the comments section of ‘Food News: Dunkin’ Donuts Wake Up Wraps’ proved correct.  These wraps are quite small.  I was close to asking the cashier if she was joking when she handed it to me, but then I remembered I only paid $1.29 (with bacon) for the thing.  My expectations weren’t too high, but I was still a bit excited because I’ve been searching for a new staple sandwich at Dunkin’ Donuts other than a sausage egg and cheese on a croissant.  I’m getting tired of it.  I need something else!

Let me say, I’m really glad I got the wrap at two locations.  The first time I bought the wrap, it looked good.  The second time (where these pictures are from)… not so much.  They tasted just as good, but they just didn’t look so visually appealing.  I think it boiled down to how they toasted the wraps.  The first location used this cover that looked like a blanket and they put it over the wrap.  They then placed it in the toaster.  The result was a nice light toasting.  The tortilla was still flexible, and had a light buttery flavor.  The second location… I noticed no blanket, and it appeared that the wrap became crispier and wasn’t so easy to control.  That buttery note was missing as well. 

Overall, the ingredients were what you would expect.  In the  egg and cheese wrap (99 cents), the most dominant flavor was the cheese.  There seemed to be more of it, and it was even more gooey which I like.  When I got it with bacon ($1.29), the cheese tended to loose it’s gooey-ness, and the bacon flavor takes over.  That’s not to say the bacon overpowered the other ingredients, it was just the most noticeable.  The egg was your standard egg from a Dunkin Donuts sandwich.  Nothing special.

The problem with the wrap is that it just isn’t filling.  When I made the first purchase, I only bought one.  After finishing it, my stomach needed more.  It’s really just a tease.  So on my second trip, I purchased two wraps and an iced coffee.  (By the way, for those of you who dislike that sugar at the bottom of your Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee, ask the cashier if they have ‘liquid sugar’.  Most locations that I have been to carry it.  You can now avoid sucking up grains of sugar!)  I think two wraps was a perfect breakfast.  I don’t want to over eat in the morning, so two of these wraps provided just enough.  I still walked away paying less than if I had purchased a sausage, egg, and cheese with an iced coffee.  However, I feel like the egg and cheese wrap could have cost less, and perhaps they could have charged 99 cents for the wrap with bacon.  I know, it’s not that much, but it’s still a difference!

Will this be my new staple breakfast sandwich?  Unfortunately, no.  The price was OK and the ingredients weren’t awful, but it just couldn’t beat my staple sandwich.  Perhaps their next item will be able to top the sausage sandwich.  I definitely suggest you try it at least once.  It won’t break your bank, so give it a try!   

• Pros – Cheap.  When wrap is toasted properly, gives a nice flavor.  Easy to eat on the go.
• Cons – When the wrap is not toasted properly, you’re getting tortilla crumbs everywhere.  Not filling. 

Taste:  8.00/10

Value:  8.25/10

Grubbing on the Go:  9.00/10

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GrubGrade:  7.25/10 (Decent)

(overall GrubGrade is not an average)

Price:  $0.99 for Egg/Cheese, $1.29 for Bacon/Egg/Cheese

DunkinDonuts.com

Nutrition Facts – Wake-Up Wrap (Bolded numbers represent the wrap with bacon)

Calories -  170/190

Calories from Fat – 90/100

Total Fat - 10g/12g

Saturated Fat – 4g/4.5g

Trans Fat - 0g/0g

Carbs - 14g/14gCholesterol – 105mg/110mg

Sodium - 450 mg/540 mg

Dietary Fiber – 1g/1g

Protein – 7g/9g