Grade: C-
You can find flyers for KFC's new wings taped on fire hydrants - maybe that's a wise move, because they are seriously hot. Folks who want to feel the burn won't be disappointed. Nevertheless, no amount of heat could make us overlook the nasty tendon-y gristle of the actual wing.
Fast Food Reviews
KFC Fiery Grilled Wings
Grade: C-
You can find flyers for KFC's new wings taped on fire hydrants - maybe that's a wise move, because they are seriously hot. Folks who want to feel the burn won't be disappointed. Nevertheless, no amount of heat could make us overlook the nasty tendon-y gristle of the actual wing.
Wendy's Spicy Chicken Nuggets
Grade: A
If you're a fan of Wendy's Spicy Chicken Sandwich, consider these a bun-less, reduced-scale counterpart. You get five for 99 cents, and this is one of the few new fast-food items our panel of tasters happily finished and wished there was more. All white meat with a crispy exterior and a kick of heat at the end, even the foodie snobs of the group admitted they'd order them again (at the drive-thru window, of course . . . can't tarnish those haute cuisine reputations).
Starbucks' Chicken Sante Fe Panini
Grade: B+
In an effort to appeal to the dieting masses, Starbucks is upping its hot lunch ante without upping its caloric count too: the Chicken Sante Fe panini is only 380 calories. The claim is that it's "cheesy, melty and creamy" -- and it does actually achieve all three. The sour cream green-chile spread: a tad messy. The flatbread: toasty and tasty. The bell peppers and Pepper Jack: definitely invoke a Sante Fe vibe. A quick and delicious sandwich that isn't from Jared? We'd eat it again.
Starbucks' Ham and Swiss Panini
Grade: D
This sandwich could have been a melty version of a typical ham and Swiss sandwich -- if the mustard hadn't issued the kiss of death. Starbucks sadly uses a tangy mustard that our panel of tasters found nauseating -- they actually uttered the words "it tastes like nail-polish remover." If only condiments were optional . . .
Starbucks' Roasted Tomatoes and Mozzarella Panini
Grade: B-
Fromage fiends beware: Starbucks vegetarian-friendly sandwich would be more appropriately named "Roasted Tomato and Basil Pesto Panini" as the pungent pesto decimates any trace of mozzarella. Otherwise, this sandwich aptly incorporates all of the flavors of a mediocre Caprese salad into hand-held form.
Dunkin Donuts Low-Fat Cranberry Orange Muffin
Grade: C
This behemoth is a tad better than the Low-Fat Apple Caramel Muffin that we deemed a "very dry, crumbly monster," but sadly the texture is still of the low-fat synthetic variety. The cranberries were plump and tart but the orange flavoring was so overpowering, one might question whether they were eating a muffin or gnawing on a bag of potpourri.
Starbucks' Sparkle Donuts
Grade: B-
Dunkin' Donuts dared to infiltrate the world of coffee, and now Starbuck's bites back with their newest doughnut offering. (Don't worry, the "sparkle" refers to coarse sugar granules sprinkled on top.) If you're in need of an afternoon pick-me-up and have a mean sugar tooth, these are for you -- they're not exactly "mini," but they are small enough to be a perfect snack. We preferred the vanilla ones, as the sugary-sweet icing seemed to conflict with the chocolate flavor. For true doughnut aficionados, get them hot.
Burger King Funnel Sticks
Grade: B
Yet another "stick" from Burger King -- first chicken fries, then apple fries, now funnel sticks! They capture the general spirit of their carnival cousin as long you eat them while they're hot. Missing the crunchy exterior of a true funnel cake, they're more churro-like with a pillowy interior.
The icing is intensely sweet and somewhat reminiscent of glue-one dunk was enough for us; powdered sugar topping alone does the trick. Only thing missing? The tilt-a-whirl to ride after.
Dunkin' Donuts Tuna Bagel
Grade: D
Yikes! One commenter said the tuna salad looks more like hummus than "chicken of the sea." Despite the questionable appearance, we took a bite. At first the tuna merely seemed overly salty, but not terrible -- definitely edible. But wait . . . just wait for it. The rancid after-taste is so overpowering that no amount of minty gum could get rid of it. We'll stick to their breakfast sandwiches and donuts, thanks very much.
New Domino's Pizza Recipe
Grade: B+
The chain has reformulated its crust recipe with an herb-heavy formula. Our tasters liked it better, though it got many "It tastes like Papa John's" comments. It does taste like a garlic bread stick. The cheese was better in the new Domino's pie, but tasters were mixed on the new sauce formulation. Some thought it was too sweet, while others said it hit the pizza sweet spot.
