"WhiteCastle" news and stories

For five years, we've been reading about White Castle's most successful marketing campaign: Valentine's Day at White Castle. On this day, lovers walk into a transformed chain restaurant: red tablecloths, waiters, candles and roses. Well, enough reading; last night we went to see for ourselves.

Walking into a New Jersey-based location at around 7 p.m., we were greeted by a smiling manager who happily showed us to our seats. Sitting at our red-plastic-covered table, we couldn't help but laugh and smile. Our tea-candle was lit and the faux smell of roses filled the air as our waitress came over to hand us the menus. Yes, menus! She, too, had a huge smile on her face and was excited to tell us that this was her first Valentine's Day with the company. She explained the menu to us and even promoted the "Sweetheart Special," which consisted of 10 hamburgers, two fries and two regular drinks. Priced at just $12.49, it was a deal. However, I decided to go with three classic cheeseburgers and take a chance on the Surf & Turf burger with cheese, the fish sandwiched between two burger patties, served with tartar sauce.

After ordering, I took a moment to look around. Every seat was filled with happy people, enjoying their burgers and getting a kick out of the décor. More than half the room was dressed in their date-night best -- women in red sparkling sweaters and men in suits with Valentine's Day-themed ties. There was one group of eight that had been coming to the chain for five years during this special promotion and they were pros -- they even brought their own wine. Who knew White Castle was BYOB?

Food writer/author Robert Sietsema certainly knows food (fast and otherwise), so his article for the Village Voice on the 10 fast-food items that are actually enjoyable is right up his alley. To make the list, Sietsema and colleagues polled friends and spent two weeks (too long) actually tasting the stuff -- from Wendy's to White Castle to KFC to Taco Bell.

Since the Village Voice is New York based, you won't find favorites like an In-N-Out burger on the list, but you will find a chicken biscuit from Popeyes.

Head over to the Village Voice for the remaining nine items.

Starting this Thursday Burger King is extending hours at its U.S. locations into the wee hours, specifically 2 a.m. or later. Don't get too excited night owls; the late-night munchies friendly sked only runs from Thursday to Saturday. It makes me wonder whether BK's looking to compete with White Castle, long the late-night go-to meal for drunks and stoners alike. I can't remember the last time I ate at a Burger King. Sadly, I can remember the last time I ate at a White Castle.

Folks who are creeped out by the plastic-faced King will be glad to know that he's not the point man for this campaign. BK has appointed Sean "Diddy" Combs as its new late-night ambassador. I don't watch much television these days, but according to the press release the first TV spot, "Diddy's Way," has begun airing. I wonder if the commercial features an urban-contemporary take on the Burger King song. One thing's for sure. Since it's directed by Spike Lee, the content has got to better than the stuff on Diddy's BK-sponsored Youtube channel.

Do you have a White Castle in your vicinity? If you do, you should get yourself over there today because 2 pm and and 3:27 pm. During that hour and 27 minute window, you can score up to 10 of their classic sliders for a mere $.27. They are offering this deal in honor of National Hamburger Month. Sadly, I won't be able to partake, as they don't have a single restaurant in Pennsylvania, but it should be a fun and cheap way to get an afternoon treat.

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Once more, an intrepid home cook has taken a innocent food item and elevated it to a place of crunchy, fried goodness. Today I offer you the battered and fried White Castle slider! I find this concept disgusting and yet there's a part of me that is whispering, "You could try that at home, you have a deep fryer!" Mostly, I just want to try a single bite, in order to be able to say, "Yes, I tasted that!"

Okay folks, I must ask. What's the craziest thing you've ever fried?

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