OMG Orange Leaf!

Okay for you ice cream lovers out there, twist soft serve ice cream is no longer the hot thing to do.  Neither is chocolate covered cones or slushies, today it's frozen yogurt!  Something that ice cream lovers feel that they can indulge in without feeling guilty, is it really healthier?  Probably not, but I'm going to continue to tell myself that it is.  It tastes almost the same as regular ice cream but it's a little more tart and has flavored yogurt as its main ingredient.  Today there are thousands of frozen yogurt places around the U.S., including my personal favorite the leaf that's orange or ORANGE LEAF! There are 150 stores open in the U.S. and 93 coming spoon (get it spoon lol).  They even have Orange Leaf in Australia, damn if it's there then this place has got to be good!

But when you walk into Orange Leaf it's a new experience for sure, the interior design scheme seems like some sort of 22nd century kind of thing. Customers can choose from among 16 different flavors of frozen yogurt! A few flavors include Cheesecake, Wedding Cake, Cookies&Cream, Brownie Batter, Peanut Butter and Snickerdoodle plus probably 20 more flavors (different locations have different flavors available).  You can mix and match however much you want of each flavor because the price of your froyo depends on the weight of it!

Customers choose either a 16- or 24- ounce cup and fill it with as much yogurt and toppings as they please, it's .49 cents an ounce! I don't know if that's a good deal or a very smart scheme to make customers believe the froyo is cheap, but they make it work.  There are also a ridiculous amount of toppings, I mean it's insane almost overwhelming.  You name it, they probably have it; Butterfinger, Marshmallows, M&M's, Graham Cracker, Dried Fruits, Oreos, Fruity Pebbles, Gummy Bears, Brownie, Blackberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, and any other berry there is.  ITS SO GOOD! The line is usually crazy and out the door, but so worth the wait. So basically if you haven't been there you have to go, and it will become an obsession believe me.

Secret Restaurant Menus?!

So we all know of typical menus such as, Mcdonalds (Big Mac, Chicken McNuggets), Burger King (The Whopper), Wendy's (Frosty's and Natural Sea Salt Fries), and Subway (Healthy Subs/$5 Footlong), BUT I'm sure that some people are unaware that these fast food chains actually have secret menus that they do not advertise to the public.  This could be because 1. they are probably extremely unhealthy and you will die on the spot if you eat some of these items 2. they are for holiday events only or 3. they would possibly disgust customers and cause them to run out of the restaurant instantly.  So here are some of the items that have been kept secret on the menu's of the following places:

Wendy's
Barnyard: Spicy chicken sandwich topped with ham, bacon and beef, seperated by cheese... yum...
Grand Slam: A large burger with four meat patties (shown below)

Burger King
Frings: This order will give you half french fries and half onion rings (the decision is made for you!)
Rodeo Burger: A large double cheeseburger with onion rings and smothered in bbq sauce
Suicide Burger: Four meat patties with four slices of cheese, topped with strips of bacon throughout the sandwich, and a secret sauce that is unknown to the general public

from top to bottom: Suicide Burger, Rodeo Burger

McDonalds
Pie McFlurry: A pie blended into a McFlurry... hm...
Land, Sea & Air Burger: A beef patty, chicken patty, and fillet-o-fish patty all piled high onto a bun
McGangBang: A double cheeseburger with a chicken patty in between the two beef patties EPIC
Monster Mac: OMG a Big Mac composed of eight beef patties and extra cheese (heart attack after a bite?)
Mc10:35: half egg McMuffin and half double cheeseburger.
From top to bottom: McGangBang, Monster Mac, Mc10:35

Subway

Pizza Sub: A sub which combines cheese, pepperoni and tomato sauce (not healthy like most of their menu today, but hey why not splurge at a healthy alternative place)

I don't know if peoples' minds are blown like mine was, but crazy how these chains have secret menus.  Now when you go to any of these places I know you will feel the urge to order these items.  Give it a go!  If the worker looks at you like your crazy, keep trying and convince them to make you this product, if they refuse you can always say "Can I speak to your manager." BOOM now they gotta, so get out there, do your thang, and go a little food crazy.

PS if you try the products beware of heart attacks on the spot

If you are looking for more secret menus check out http://blog.couponsherpa.com/secret-restaurant-menus-revealed/ 

Why Is Wendy's So Damn Delicious

Burger King, McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, you know what, what about Wendy's?!  Wendy's seems to be forgotten sometimes which breaks my heart because almost everything on their menu is absolutely delicious! Burger King and Mcdonalds are the most well-known fast food chain in the world, but lets talk about my favorite food chain, Wendy's.  Lets start with their burgers, THEY ARE SQUARE! I believe this is a key secret to why they are so delicious.  The meat is always fresh with refreshing toppings, and they don't just have one good burger, they have many, and they have been stepping up their game with recent products such as the Baconator.  Their chicken premium sandwhiches, just great.  Plump and juicy, two words to describe their chicken sandwhiches. I especially love the Spicy Chicken Sandwhich which has a special zing and dipping it into their delicious honey mustard.  Some people may or may have not noticed that honey mustard usually differs in taste and texture from place to place, but the kind that Wendy's uses, I would give it an A+ in both taste and texture.  I highly enjoy dipping their delicious french fries into the sauce, and making the taste that much better.  Speaking of fries, their new Natural-Cut French Fries with Sea Salt... YES PLEASE.  I don't know what it is about them, but they are perfect in their crispiness, saltiness, and flavorness, and the fact that they are perfect to dip in a Chocolate Frosty is another story.  But not only does Wendy's have fries like every other fast food restaurant but they have baked potatoes, BAKED POTATOES. How cool is that, that a fast food place has baked potatoes.  Personally I have never tried them for the fries are too delicious to pass up, but they look yummy and have three different types of baked potatoes, including a Bacon Cheese one... yum.  I could talk about their meals forever, but their Frosty's are too important to skip and I must move on.

Wendy's Frosty's have to be one of my FAVORITE things in the world, condsidering I am a huge milkshake/ice cream fan.  They have for sure, stepped up their game.  Yes, their classic chocolate, vanilla and strawberry milkshakes are thick and delicious for some fry dipping, but now they have so much more... Frost Parfaits, Frosty Shakes and Frosty Floats are all options now.  UHM how exciting this stuffs so yummy.  Wild Berry Frosty Shake is so good I mean just look at it, it has the taste of a milkshake, but yet makes your mind think you're being healthy because the shake title includes "berry." They also have the Caramel Apple Frosty Parfait... more fruit at Wendy's?! YES so good with its caramel covered apples mixed in with thick vanilla ice cream. And lets not forget about the classic Oreo Frosty Parfait, every fast food place has to have Oreo's and don't worry Wendy's has it (as you can see it's very aesthetically appealing).  Overall, Wendy's is so yummy and suprisingly does not give me that "slob-like" feeling after eating a meal, like that of Mcdonalds.  They have stepped up in the fast food chain competition and have created a ton of new commercials that I actually enjoy to watch.  So people, get off your couch and get your bootay to Wendy's because it's just that good.

Oh Em Gee Something New is Brewin' at Dunkins'

    Yes, Dunkin Donuts has a new drink to warm your heart and your head.  A drink that will remain permanent on the Dunkins' menu.  You may have heard of the delicious warm drinks at Dunkins' such as, Vanilla Chai, the White Hot Chocolate or the AMAZING Dunkaccino (a personal favorite of mine).  Sigh, the Dunkaccino, the unique blend of coffee and hot chocolate, in my past I may have a had a slight addiction to the drink, as it is absolutely fantastic and makes me smile. BUT, as it is tough for me to talk about my past love with the hot beverage, I have had to move on.  And boy have I moved on... my new love is for Dunkin Donuts new MINT HOT CHOCOLATE, yes people I said mint.  It is so scrumptiousdelicious, and everyone out there has to try this new product, but hey no rush, as it will be there for a long time.  This products reminds me of when you go to Olive Garden and they give you those super-duper mint chocolates at the end of your meal, you know what I'm saying? It is just like this but, in hot heaven form!

     Okay, maybe I am obsessed with mint products, as I will give a little history of my likings.  My personal favorite ice cream flavor has to be Mint Chocolate Chip as it is nice and cold, the mint flavor cools your mouth down but the chocolate chips are still in there to give some depth.  One my favorite candies has to be the traditional York Mint Patty, the dark chocolate enrobed peppermint confection which is just the perfect snack to light up your mouth.  And last, but not least, LifeSaver Wint-O-Green mints, they not only freshen your breath to a heavenly scent, but they are also fun to eat.  SO, if you like any of these products or even peppermint candy canes that just happen to complete your Christmas season, then try Mint Hot Chocolate.  Holiday spirit is brewing and if you aren't doing then you are missing out!

The Big, Bad, Burger Debate

      It is finally time for me to address a very controversial rivalry and which one in my opinion is better.  Yes, it is in fact Burger King vs. McDonalds.  As a child I grew up with McDonalds, my parents rewarded me with a Chicken McNugget Big Kids Meal everytime I succeeded in a sport or school, the one thing that motivated me to do good as a child.  But now that I am a college student and have experienced both worlds I feel as though I am ready to make a decision.  Well lets start off with the burgers, the main course, the king of the castle.  We have the Big Mac, "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun" against the Whopper "flame grilled quarter-pound beef patty, sesame seed bun, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and sliced onion."  To me the winner is the Whopper.  I first tried the Big Mac in 7th grade and loved it, however I was overwhelmed with the size of it and fitting it into my mouth was a challenge like no other.  The third bun in the burger, confused me, why do I need this?  While the Whopper's flame grilled patty was juicy the condiments on the burger made me feel a sense of joy, this is my home I thought.  It also allowed the selection of a Jr. Whopper in case I decided to be healthy ;).  But we all know this debate will go on forever.

      So in the mean time there are also many categories to be debated with the two fast food restaraunts.  The next big thing is the fry debate.  This round goes to McDonalds.  French fries at McDonalds are everything I want; thin, salty, usually crunchy and had just the perfect flavor.  I would always go with the delicious sweet 'n' sour sauce to dip them in, which I could never find the same sauce anywhere else.  Burger King fries kind of freak me out.  They seem soggy to me and lack the ideal thing of something I like to call flavor.  In other realms, chicken nuggets, McDonalds wins again.  Their nuggets and chicken selects are perfect, I can snack on those puppies all day.  Burger King's nuggies have a weird spice to them, making them taste a little funky, HOWEVER they do have the cutest little crown-shaped nuggets which does make me smile.  McDonalds also has snack wraps which makes me feel healthy in a fast food restaraunt (not sure if they are healthy, but just let me think so) and who can forget their 39 cent ice cream cones, yes people that means three vanilla soft-serve cones for just a little over a dollar! Maybe I am too young and have not experienced the other wonders that Burger King supplies, but as of now McDonalds is the winner of the two burger joints.  Although Burger King does have better commercials, but that's a story for another day...

The Awkward Crunch..

      11:47 p.m. and my next class starts at 12 p.m., crap I am starving right now, but definitely don't have time to eat and sit down.  I have to take food to go and eat it during class.. hm... okay I have to go with my favorite food in the Callahan Dining Hall the panini... duh.  But when having a panini, it's a must to get Cape Cod chips with it.  Here we go, my Media Class begins and the only noise that I hear is my professor talking, but I'm so hungry I have to eat, even though the whole class will probably hear me eating.  Whatever, I begin to eat, doing my thang, thinking I'm being pretty quiet... until I look around and the whole class is staring at me... damn you awkward crunch.  The crunch cannot be avoided, you can't hide from it, chips are going to make a crunching sound in your mouth, sometimes you can't hear it because of the noise around you, and sometimes, such as in class, you can. 

     
So here is my advice on how to avoid.. the awkward crunch:

• when selecting classes make sure to schedule them between eating times; for example I enjoy eating lunch around 12 because my school only serves lunch from 11:30 until 1:30, unfortunately, I have class at 12.. awkward
• try to get your teacher off topic, talk about Snooki's recent drunk endeavours, therefore creating the sensation of making other students want to participate and create some havic/distraction in the class! who doesn't like that!
• you should probably avoid getting chips for an in class snack, maybe go for jello or soup, then again you may start drooling or the food may drip from your mouth.. not a good way to attract the men yah know?
• just starve yourself! why not join the anorexic group in your college! sounds like fun right?
• you could just eat after your class, but when you're hungry, no class will stop you!

Overall, no one wants to be that person munching in the middle of a class with everyone staring at them, possibly making a mess. Everyone has been that person or has witnessed the horrific event. Then again it can be fun to make everyone feel as awkward as possible with your loud food condition!  Do your thang and satisfy the tummy.

The Ultimate Questions: Dunkins or Starbucks?

    As I go to the mall and off of Endicott's campus for the first time in a few weeks, I initially think of one thing that I have to get, coffee. During my high school years I would get iced coffee about one or two times a day, every day. It was usually Dunkin Donuts bright and early before school started, but occasionally I would stop at Starbucks for my all-time favorite, caramel Frappuccino, mostly on Fridays to treat myself. Dunkins iced coffee was good, it was cheap and it was something I was accustomed with. Starbucks was classy, it was expensive, but when I would take a sip of an iced coffee or Frappuccino, I knew it was worth the money and it made me feel sophisticated. So the question is, is Starbucks worth the $5 delicious drinks, when you can get your average joe coffee at Dunkin Donuts for about $2?

    Well, there are many positive aspects of both Dunkins and Starbucks, but there are also negative aspects of both. Let’s start with the negatives. Dunkin Donuts can for the most part be very unreliable. It's 7am, and all I want is my caramel swirl iced coffee with just milk, BUT (shocker) they have given me no caramel swirl and accomplished the task of making my coffee taste as bad as orange juice after brushing you teeth, c'mon people! There goes my day... Or it's 7pm, I just want an iced coffee on my way home from the gym to get me through my homework... I get home and taste my coffee, its burnt.. GREAT, well now I definitely can't do my homework and it looks like I'm going to be watching Jersey Shore all night, to cheer myself up. As you can tell Dunkins cannot be trusted for quality coffee. I would get the coffee coolata (how can they mess that up), but I think I'll pass on the 400 calories in a small. Now, let’s talk about Starbucks. It's Friday and I am on the road to Starbucks (a good 20 minutes away from my house, but so worth it), and I just notice I only have four bucks... oh crap Frappuccino’s are $4.85, ugh. The prices are ridiculous, but it's just so good and I know you may think a lot of calories but a Grande lite only 140, hell yes I will take it. But should I really spend this money on a medium frapp, when 1. The size of a Starbucks medium is the size of a Dunkins small and 2. I could really be spending my money on something important like 2 Dunkins iced coffees. Also, the coffee is a little strong for me and I know because of the strength I will be walking around with the beautiful coffee breath that scares even little puppies away. 

    So, we can both agree that both of the coffee shops have their negatives, but now let’s get to the good stuff, what is good about Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin Donuts just presents that average joe feel, a place that you are comfortable sitting down, where you can just chill instead of having a laptop out and feel the need to look smart when you go there. The food is comforting at Dunks. If you are running late you can grab a quick, delicious, chocolate frosted donut for less than a dollar, nom nom nom. The coffee is good at Dunkins for the most part, and isn't as strong, so it is a great place for coffee new comers to get a jolt of energy/caffeine, instead of doing some kind of drug for energy! There is also a good flavor selection at Dunkins and the ability to mix something like caramel and french vanilla is pretty awesome, a sugar rush for sure. With Starbucks they do have a few flavors, but not as many. However, new flavors at Starbucks are fantastic. It's winter time and you want to grab a peppermint latte to put you in the Christmas mood, hell yeah, you can do that, so delicious. The quality is always spot on at Starbucks, they will almost never mess your order up and their branding is sophisticated and clean. When I used to walk into class with my Starbucks cup, I just knew people where thinking, "Damn, Amanda looks really chic today, she must of done her hair differently today." Starbucks equals a new view for you! You are no longer an average joe, class clown, you are Donald Trump and perceived as someone in the stock market.

    After all of these facts, I have come to a conclusion.  It was most definitely tough because I do love Starbucks, but I feel like I am committed to Dunkins because of my frequent trips there.  Dunkins is uncommitted to you sometimes as a customer and Starbucks rips you off.  Which one would I rather go with?  Drum Roll Please… it just has to be Dunkin Donuts.  It’s classic, and America really does run on it.  As much as I love Starbucks I see it as more of a treat, like a Christmas present because there is no way I can afford the stuff every day.  But who knows this debate could go on for decades; there will really never be a clear decision.