Sunday 14 November 2010

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

7 comments:

indianguy said...

Yes? Hi! We made the bets with Vashi that if had the two of them every day for the one week he can play guitar hero again. After the 3 days he had the bleeding lips but

Teena in Toronto said...

Just the thought it makes me sick. Ha! But I'll probably try one just to try it.

Lord of the Wings said...

@indianguy - I have no idea what you are talking about

@Teena - did you try it before it left? If not, you didn't lose out.

Anonymous said...

I mean what's so special? Just buy two of their chicken sandwiches...ask for bacon and cheese if they have it...and then ditch the buns and f'in giv'er. While you're at it, get a gallon of their coleslaw and you're in heaven!

Lord of the Wings said...

@Anonymous - the novelty of chicken as bread . . . don't know why it took so long to try. I like your McGyver'd DD concept . . .

Chris said...

I haven't had one of these but I did succumb to the hype of the McRib and tried one of those.

It was pretty much what I expected it to be. Don't try one of those either and I won't try the double down. We got each other's backs.

Lord of the Wings said...

@Chris - Thanks for you sacrifice!