The internet was different from 2010 to 2014. We didn’t think about cringing or anything like that – everything was cringing, my brother. We’re running an online quiz about which House of Hogwarts we belong to, and it’s innovative.
The culture of online food at that time was also different. Basically, this can be characterized by the term “epic bacon”. However, a decade ago, the biggest thing was the Epic Meal Time YouTube channel, which made huge meals that were often centered around or topped off with massive amounts of strips of bacon.
KFC Double Down – a fried chicken sandwich with two pieces of chicken as “bread” – was the highlight of the evening. This is a fried chicken sandwich consisting of only fried chicken, cheese, bacon, and mayonnaise. That is, no bread. It’s gluttonous, tasty and a little rough, all rolled into one. Now, after a nine-year hiatus, Double Down is back.
KFC has announced that it will re-release the sandwich from March 6 for just four weeks. KFC sent a sample of the sandwich before the release date and we tried it. As Mashable’s chief junk food correspondent, I’m required to review Frankenstein Fried Chicken, and I take my job very seriously.
Fun fact: did you know that 2010 was different from 2014? Me. I am a young man with an appropriate appetite and metabolism. I can scarf Double Down and play basketball for two hours without missing a beat. Now, as a grizzled adult, I can go a third to a half of a double down. Two fried chicken breasts, a spoonful of mayonnaise, strips of cheese and bacon – not the best work lunch. I chew on it and look off into the distance, wondering how my life has brought me to this moment. I mean, look at that horn.
As for the taste, it was good. I haven’t eaten KFC in years, you know? The chicken is crispy and juicy. Sure, it’s salty, but it’s fast food, and that’s the point. I don’t mind mayonnaise, but I could have had less. A few pieces of mayonnaise outweighed all other flavors. The bacon was thin but good. Cheese is warm, but softer than processed cheese. In general, the sandwich is very bad. It’s fried chicken, fried chicken kicks ass.
But this is, of course, highly impractical. All scales are off. Eating is a chore. Fingers instantly get fat. You basically have to hold on to the damn thing to keep it together, which means the wonderful crumbs get your hands dirty. People on a carnivore diet today might like it, but it probably won’t become the sandwich of choice for the general public. Here’s what a college student should eat after drinking too much light beer.
Would a regular chicken sandwich be better? Certainly. The bread will contain the filling, soak up the fat, and spread the mayonnaise evenly. The bread also adds a slight difference in texture, making the sandwich easier to eat.
But unfortunately Double Down was not designed to be useful. This is a great trick food of the 2010s. It’s epic bacon, baby, and for that matter, it’s still a pleasure.
Post time: Mar-07-2023