Check out the Hungry Jerks Restaurant Review Blog

I've been reading a new restaurant review blog that focuses on cheap recipes and local restaurant reviews. I have asked the owners if I can do some guest blogging and am going to try some of my recipe ideas over there. You should check out their food blog. For example, here is one of the types ofposts you will find: They did a post with a review of the Taco Bell XXL Chalupa. Then they posts when the Taco Bell XXL Chalupa was discontinued. They post about fast food new menu items, quick service chain reviews, and local restaurants.

 

 

Taco Bell Volcano Taco is too Spicy for Some

Apparently there are some things blogger "The Random Villain" can't handle. He recently tried the Volcano Taco from Taco Bell. According to him the Taco Bell Volcano Taco is too spicy.

Now, I've never even heard of the Volcano Taco, but as you know from my frozen burrito burrito reviews, I like trying fake Mexican convenience food.

And the type of taco that is just so spicy that someone reaches for their drink after one bite and can't handle it?

That sounds like something I need to try!

The L.A. Food Nannies and The Fast Food Ban

It seems that the Food Police have become more mainstream, at least in places like New York, Chicago, and LA. Personal Choice is no longer an option- with anything. Intelligent people like Drew Carey and Anthony Bourdain understand the stupidity behind things like a foie gras ban. However most people seem to be pretty content to allow incompetent governments to run their lives, cradle to grave.

Of course this includes what food you can put in your mouth. Now I'm not saying I find gluttony an admirable trait, but people should be free to choose.

Speaking of which, one of the biggest hypocrites is Governor Arnold of California. This is a guy who used to praise Milton Friedman's "Free To Choose" series and embodied the idea of the immigrant who was successful by making the right choices in life and being personally responsible. Now Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to ban trans fats. Maybe instead he should use his personal success as an example ( even if it means acknowledging the use of steroids as a practical choice) and explain how he CHOSE a life of physical fitness which included regular exercise and intelligent food choices. He didn't need the government to tell him what to eat back then and he shouldnt use his power to shove it down our throats now.

Now in Los Angeles they want to ban new fast food development for at least a year. Perhaps they should allow consumers to decide. The fact that they are even considering a ban means that there is big demand for the fast food services. Why is that? Perhaps most of the regular people out in L.A. can't afford to eat at the trendy expensive restaurants or shop at price inflated snobby groceries. This is a government that wants to ban fast food but also works overtime to ban supermarkets that sell affordable food. If your government makes it so you can't afford to grocery shop and then tries to eliminate cheap prepared food, where the hell are poor and middle class people supposed to eat?

The Winner of worst Frozen burrito

Judging the worst frozen burrito may seem pointless. They are all pretty bad, right? Not really. I have found a few that are pretty tasty including 2 different types at Wal-Mart.

My local Meijer store was going out of business so I decided to take some chances on a few different things, including a few frozen food items I don't normally buy. At 30-70% off it seemed worth it.

Well, I picked up a frozen burrito from Skyline Chili, a chili cheese bean burrito. The thing was horrible. Microwaved according to directions, the burrito came out half soggy and half dried out. It had no taste and was barely edible. Even with the discount it was also more expensive than the Wal-Mart frozen burrito.

I don't even know the brand ( maybe Patio?) of the frozen burrito, but Wal-Mart has them for 33 cents. And after 2 minutes in the microwave they are actually pretty good. They also offer a fresh ( not frozen) type in their sandwich/salad area. It's near the excellent Chinese tv dinners that you can also only find at Wal-Mart. The fresh type is 99 cents and a very substantial portion. When it comes to food like frozen burritos, you can actually find some cheap tasty ones. And some of the more expensive brand name ones just suck.

Steak N' Shake Wins Fast Food Breakfast Review

I have always been a breakfast person, and when it comes to eating out I'd rather eat breakfast than any other meal. This is especially true of fast food and casual dining restaurants. I would rather have a breakfast sandwich, potatoes,and coffee over a greasy burger with fries and Coke any day.

I had a coupon for Steak 'n Shake's new breakfast combo and decided to give it a try. I went with the Bacon sandwich, which is a bagel with eggs, bacon, and cheese. They also offer sausage or a steakburger instead of bacon. This breakfast combo comes with hash browns and coffee.

I have decided to compare this food to similar offerings from McDonald's and Tim Horton. Steak n Shake does have sit down dining with waiter service. So it might be more casual dining than "fast food." However, I use the drive through window and the wait time and price is comparable to McDonalds and other fast food. Steak n Shake cooks food to order but does it quickly.

1. McDonalds: Bacon, Egg, and Cheese bagel Value Meal- Like all breakfast value meals, this comes with a hashbrown and coffee. Other drinks may be substituted at an additional cost. The bagel is always rubbery. I suspect this is from the microwave nuking. There is also an undefined sauce. The egg and bacon is decent, though it really has that "manufactured" quality. The sandwich is like the microwave Jimmy Dean sandwiches you can find in your grocer's freezer case. The hashbrown is adequate. It can be a little soggy at times, but it has that salty addictive McDonald flavor. The winner here is the coffee. McDonald's has good coffee that is comparable to any franchise. Overall the meal is alright. It's the type of thing you can eat on the run for three bucks and fill your stomach.

2. Tim Horton: Bagel B.E.L.T. Combo: BELT= Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato on a bagel. Tim Horton's is known for donuts and other baked breakfast goods. And coffee, of course. This sandwich is satisfying. Tim Horton's actually sells bagels, which is a good sign when it comes to bagel sandwiches. It's not like anyone would go to McDonald's for a rubbery microwaved bagel. People do go to Tim's just for a bagel, with or without cream cheese. It's a nice breakfast bagel, and the lettuce and tomato are a good touch on a breakfast sandwich. They always serve fresh coffee, and it's very good. They probably win the coffee category. Their "hash brown" needs some work, a lot of work. The hashbrown is an afterthought. Their meals come with a donut by default. Or you can get a muffin or other baked good. I can't see eating a donut with an egg bagel. No thanks. And when I say " I am a breakfast person", that does not include donuts. Donuts are not breakfast in my book. They are a dessert, at best. it is only natural that a breakfast combo comes with breakfast potatoes. So Tim Horton's now offers a hash brown. I don't really know how to describe it. It is roundish and like cardboard. There is pepper or some other seasoning that seems like a good idea but just doesn't work. I am not sure how it is prepared, but it seems like some frozen patty that is ironed and dropped in a toaster. It definitely does not have the value of a donut ( which is only 75 cents), and I could not see anyone ordering it a la carte. Overall I think the meal is "OK" but they need a better side.

3. Steak n Shake ( My Winner): The Bacon Bagel Breakfast Combo- I had a coupon for $1.50 off but the regular price of $3.99 is a good value. The first thing you notice about the sandwich is that it has the taste and texture of normal food- you know, the kind of food you would cook on the stove at home. The bagel is fresh and not chewy. The bacon is nice and crispy. The egg looks like a normal sandwich style egg ( scrambled without the scramble- omelet-ish). It is obviously cooked to order, but takes only a few minutes. The hashbrowns are also a category winner. It comes with hashbrownS ( as in more than one). I got five substantial potato patties. They were crispy on the outside and light on the inside, not soggy like McDonalds or hard in the middle like Tim Horton. The coffee is pretty good also. A nice taste, not too weak or too strong. It goes down well. Steak and Shake wins this round of my bagel sandwich combo competition.