KFC Double Down

So I broke and finally tried it.

 I'm not going to talk about the fat content. I'm not going to talk about the sodium. I'm not going to talk about how unhealthy or how it may not be as bad as other sandwiches. The Internet, the media and people all over have talked about it already. Because people have gone crazy over this sandwich. It's either the greatest food gift from the gods, or the anti-Christ come to wipe us all out.

This is one of the most hyped food items I have ever seen. When it first came out in the US, it sounded like a unique creation. Everyone was talking about it. Alas, Canada was not to have this. Many months later, KFC changes their mind, and it arrived in October. People flocked, bloggers blogged, health fiends died a little inside. And I stayed away. Yes I was partly busy, but also I hate getting swept up in fads. So just a few days before its reign in Canada ends, I decided (because the opportunity presented itself) to try it for myself.

I have actually seen very little of KFC's advertising of the Double Down. They didn't need it. Word of mouth and the media spread it for them. But what I have seen are quotes are "Take One Down" or "Think You Can Take It Down?" - not focusing on taste or flavour, but a food challenge. They were creating some food accomplishment like something Adam Richman would compete against on Man vs Food.

I was in a mall passing by the food court when I figured if I was ever going to try it, it was now or never. There was a line up, but it moved along quickly. I listened to other people's orders and it seemed like about every other person was ordering the Double Down.

Ironically, Fit for Life next door with its promotion of healthy food was abandoned by customers. As in the entire time I was there no one went there. But KFC/Taco Bell's line remained consistently busy. I guess the Double Down is a social reaction to the healthy eating movement.

I will start off by saying I was not impressed with the price of the combo. $10. $10 dollars for all that you see here. So here it was after all the hype. I had heard it was tiny. This wasn't tiny, but it wasn't huge either. I think it was just the right size.

If somehow you are unaware of what a Double Down actually is, it is a piece of boneless fillet chicken, Colonel's Sauce, a slice of pepper jack cheese, bacon, another slice of cheese, more Colonel's Sauce, then another peice of chicken. And no bun. The chicken is the bun.

I didn't know what to make of the sandwich. I mean I was being told so many things by so many people, I had to try and wipe that away and make my own call.

Immediately my hands were greasy picking this thing up - fortunately it wasn't too hot to pick up. I took a bite - it was good. The chicken was crispy, juicy and full of 11 herbs and spice goodness. I could taste the Colonel Sauce and the cheese and the bacon (the tiny strip that was in there somewhere). Nothing wasn't coming through. But bite after bite it was becoming too much.

The cheese and the sauce made for too much creamy richness. Colonel Sauce was a mayo based sauce with some spices thrown in. I would have had  less sauce, and one less cheese slice to make it better. I did also find that with each bite the sandwich seemed saltier and saltier. Eventually I finished the sandwich. But in the end it got the best of me. I did not feel good. I felt drained, and dirty.

Is it the worst sandwich ever? No. Is it an interesting idea? Yes.Would I get the Double Down again? No. The concept sounds delicious, but the execution for my liking wasn't there. The chicken was good but the Colonel Sauce and the cheese was just too much together. I took down the Double Down, but there are better food challenges out there I'd rather attempt.

kfc.ca