Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun

Remember my previous post about In-N-Out Burger's "secret menu"? Well look what my new roomie, Kristin, sent me. This is a clogged arteries dream! This list comes from another blogger who loves food.

10 Secret Menu Items from Fast Food Restaurants

1. In-N-Out Burger’s “secret menu” isn’t so secret these days – in fact, they’ve posted it on their website. But in case you’re not in the habit of surfing fast food sites, here’s the skinny on the rather un-skinny items: ordering something “Animal Style” at In-N-Out means you’re going to get it with lettuce, tomato, a mustard-cooked beef patty, pickles, extra spread (it’s sort of Thousand-Islandy) and grilled onions. You can even get your fries Animal Style. “Protein Style” is a burger wrapped in a lettuce leaf instead of a bun. A Grilled Cheese is two slices of American cheese, lettuce, tomato and spread on a bun (grilled onions if you so choose). And you can get just about any combo of meat and cheese that you want if you order it like you’re ordering lumber: 3×3 gets you three beef patties and three slices of cheese, 4×4 gets you four of each, and so on. It doesn’t stop there – one gluttonous patron requested a 100×100 at an Las Vegas store a couple of years ago. One item not listed on the website secret menu: the Flying Dutchman, which is two slices of cheese sandwiched between two patties, hold the bun.

2. If you’re at Starbucks and in need of just a little caffeine, don’t worry – there’s a tiny option for you. It’s the Short size, and they don’t advertise it. It’s like a little baby cup of coffee.

3. It’s a good thing we don’t have Jamba Juice here in Iowa, because I would be all over candy-inspired smoothies. Because it’s considered a health-food chain, Jamba Juice doesn’t officially list these on their in-store menus, but Mighty Foods assures us that the secret flavors exist. The ones they confirmed with the company’s headquarters include Strawberry Shortcake, White Gummy Bear, PB&J, Various flavors of Starbursts, Fruity Pebbles, Push-Up Pops, and Skittles. Other tantalizing flavors that are rumored to exist: Chocolate Gummi Bear, Apple Pie, Sourpatch Kid, Tootsie Roll, Chocolate-covered strawberries, and Now and Later.

4. Chipotle has a whole secret menu that is limited only by your imagination – they have a store policy that says that if they have the item available, they will make it for you. Things that have been tested include nachos, quesadillas, taco salads and single tacos.

5. If you’re at Wendy’s and you’re really hungry – like, three-patties-just-won’t-cut-it hungry, go ahead and order the Grand Slam, which is four patties stacked on a bun. It’s also known as the Meat Cube.

6. Several places, including McDonald’s and In-N-Out, will serve you the Neapolitan milkshake. It’s just what it sounds like – chocolate, vanilla and strawberry shakes layered in a cup.

7. Feeling a little health-conscious at Popeye’s? If you are, you really should have gone somewhere else. But there’s a little hope for you – ordering “naked chicken” will get you breading-free poultry. The word is that this is on the menu at some Popeye’s, but not all of them, although it is an option at all of them.

8. FAVORITE: Like Chipotle, Taco Bell will make you just about anything within reason as long as they have the ingredients for it. Since most of the food at Taco Bell is made out of the same basic items, that means you can probably ask for most discontinued items and get them. One “secret,” though, is that they have a not-advertised green chili sauce at most locations, and apparently it’s excellent.

9. Some Subways will still make you the popular pizza sub from the ‘90s. Once the chain decided to make their focus healthy eating, the pizza sub disappeared from most menus. Just make sure Jared isn't standing behind you in line when you order.

10. At Fatburger, you can order a Hypocrite – a veggie burger topped with crispy strips of bacon.

In-N-Out Burger...How Does It Measure Up?

One cannot make a trip out to the West Coast without giving this much talked about burger joint a try. Even though I was in LA for work, I easily convinced my collegues to join me for my fast food feast. My first philosopy on where their name "In-N-Out Burger" came from, was that their food is so cheap it goes right in...and right out, if you know what I mean. My whole meal with a vanilla milkshake was only $7. Not to shabby for a fast food restaurant that has been compared to 5 Guys where a burger and fries costs around $12. It seems that my second philosophy was correct...it's fast food...you're in-n-out with your burger faster than you can look up their "secret menu" on your iphone.

I heard about In-N-Out's "secret menu" (well not so secret anymore, but they still don't post it at their locations) but shied away from getting the animal fries (w/cheese, bacon, & secret sauce). My waist line says thank you.

I have to be honest and say that I prefer 5 Guys to In-N-Out. However, for the price I think it's pretty darn fantastic. Oh, and not to mention, they toast their buns!!! On a side note, I am not sure if I will ever find a fast food burger place better than Braums, which I will blog about on another day.

Yours foodly,

Toasty Buns

Yo Quiero Gidget Back

I am saddened today by the news that the Taco Bell Chihuahua, Gidget, died at age 15 of a stroke on Tuesday. He was famous for his saying "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" which means I want Taco Bell.

Taco Bell was my favorite food growing up...I mean obsessed. I would bring it to restaurants with my family. I always ordered a bean burrito and a pinto a cheese w/lots of mild sauce of course.

My friends favorite Taco Bell story of mine:

I was about 8 yrs old and living in Surrey, a suburb about an hour outside London. It was my birthday and all I wanted to do was take the train into the city and go to the only Taco Bell in England. We make the long trip out there. When we arrive, I turn the corner about to pee in my pants from excitement...all I see is an empty building where you could still barely read the washed out letters T A C O B E L L on the facade of the building. I just stood there, looking up at the letters bauling.

Years later I asked my parents if they were cracking up at me crying over Taco Bell. They said they have never felt so bad for me and started calling information to see if there was ANY other Taco Bells in the country...unfortunatly there wasn't. Probably because no other place eats as much crap like fast food as Americans do.

So, here is a video tribute to Gidget, to Taco Bell, and to childhood memories.

Yours foodly,

Toasy Buns