Hardee's does it again -- The 920 calories, 60 grams of fat breakfast burrito ...

[PaulF]

Heard on the radio today about this breakfast burrito and then found a description on the web.

"Hardee's on Monday rolled out its new Country Breakfast Burrito -- two egg omelets filled with bacon, sausage, diced ham, cheddar cheese, hash browns and sausage gravy, all wrapped inside a flour tortilla. The burrito contains 920 calories and 60 grams of fat."

I like the fact that they added country gravy.

Just to remind you all, Hardees also has a "Monster Thickburger (with) ... 1,420-calorie sandwich (and) is made up of two 1/3-pound slabs of beef, four strips of bacon, three slices of cheese and mayonnaise on a buttered bun" and a "Hardees' chicken salad -- topped with onion rings and crispy chicken (and) has 1,100 calories and 83 grams of fat."

Here is the link:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.f...

[PaulF]

Super Taster has his review:

http://www.chow.com/stories/10792

"The only thing more surprising about this burrito than its three kinds of pork products is the fact that it’s surprisingly edible, texturally smooth, and soothing in a “hot breakfast” kind of way."

[Chowtimore]

I should have been tipped off by my order number. Number 666. The mark of the beast. Indeed.

http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0813ym1.jpg

Without warning, country gravy spewed forth from the burrito with the fury of Montezuma's Revenge. Salt, "eggs", lips, assholes - this baby had it all. But in the end, it was somewhat anti-climatic. There is no taste revolution here. I did not see God. It's just like every fast food breakfast burrito rolled into one... with gravy.

In fact, it appears that Hardee's has the exact same thing on the menu without gravy - the Loaded Breakfast Burrito. Kudos, however, to the folks who finally perfected it as the Country Breakfast Burrito.

I'd say I was able to down about 60% of this monster before my survival instincts kicked in.

How do I feel? Well, just look at the picture of the thing. That pretty much sums it up. Two hours later, I'm almost off my Hardee's high. This is what was left, the insides:

http://img99.imageshack.us/my.php?ima...

In the end, I think the quote on my soda cup says it best...

"Hardee's knows what America wants."

[PaulF]

You are a true Viking!!!

[Shayna Madel]

So pleased you survived to tell the tale and love the fact that you washed it down with a DIET coke at 9 a.m..Congratulations!

[shallots]

I was enjoying the heck out of this thread, with a smile on my face, until I read your receipt.
First, the medium hashrounds. Medium? Restraint?
But I totally lost it with the Medium Diet Drink.
I laughed so loud that I woke up three sleeping cats in two adjacent rooms.

Many thanks, for your report.
I luv the frekin' internet.

[PaulF]

On closer inspection, I think Chowtimore went with the ... drumroll ... Country Breakfast Burrito COMBO.

(I feel like Grissom on CSI.)

I'm suggesting that the combo came with medium rounds and a medium drink and had Chowtimore gone a la carte, they would have gone with the large rounds and a chocolate shake.

It's an common issue in fast food purchasing. Do I run with the crowd, go combo, keep things simple ... or do I jump the track, do my own thing and go item by item.

In this case, considering the danger involved in simply holding a paper sack with a Country Breakfast Burrito inside, not to mention attempting to consume said burrito -- Chowtimore did the right thing by playing it safe and going the combo route.

[Chowtimore]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Paul - and excellent detective work. ;) I imagine the bag could implode under it's own weight and gravity, so I was playing it safe.

I did indeed get the combo. As far as I'm aware 'medium' is their smallest (or default) option, as I ordered the combo without specifying any size. And by the way, the medium soda must be at least 32 oz.

As ambassador for the Chowhound community, I thought it appropriate to get the typical order - "run with the crowd," as it were. Of course, a typical Hardee's patron would probably go with a coffee or regular coke, but I'm not really a coffee fan - and come on, is 1000 calories in the burrito alone not enough for you people?!?

I couldn't even eat lunch today. And I still feel full.

[PaulF]

I understand the extra value combo comes with its own crash cart.

[MSPD]

My God Man. That photo looks like what happens when my in-sink disposal backs up (minus the coffee grounds and/or things that actually qualify as "food").

(by the way, you did eat the leftover 40% right?)

[PaulF]

It's not because I wrote the original post ...

But, really, this might be my favorite thread on Chowhound of all time.

[MSPD]

Similar to this thread which brought me to tears laughing after even the first reply:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/337621

[PaulF]

Classic - remember this:

Ribwich mascot: Hey, hey, the Ribwich is back.
Homer Simpson: (Gasp!) The Ribwich! The commercials have come to pass.
Ribwich mascot: Try the new Ribwich. It's so good you'll croak.
Homer Simpson: You seem like an impartial observer. But I've been fooled by so many people in costumes.
Ribwich mascot: Try the sauce. I'm soaked in it.
Homer Simpson: Oh, I could lick you all day long.
Ribwich mascot: And yet my children think I'm a failure.
Homer Simpson: One Ribwich, please.
Squeaky-voiced teen: Uh-huh.
Homer Simpson: ''Now without lettuce.''
[Homer eats Ribwich after Ribwich after Ribwich and then becomes delirious.]
squeaky-voiced teen: Sir, are you all right?
Homer Simpson: I have eaten the ribs of God.
squeaky-voiced teen: Drool clean-up at Register 4.

[MSPD]

Mmmm....ribwich.

[PaulF]

Someone in Hardee's territory needs to take one for the team.

You don't even have to finish it ... just take a few bites and report back after you get out of the emergency room.

[nypb]

Serioulsy, I just had to wade through 60 posts and there's not one about how it tastes?

At least I got a chuckle out of a post or 2.

For my money I love the Super Sonic burrito for breakfast. Or lunch for that matter though I haven't had one in months since I changed jobs (and the Sonic near my home closed).

[kindofabigdeal]

sadly I'm 215 miles from the nearest hardee's.

[MSPD]

So you could walk there, eat one of these suckers, walk home and essentially break even on calories.

[Shayna Madel]

Only 132 miles from the nearest Hardee's for me, but I'm a weenie. I'll put up the walking shoes.

[asiansensation007]

i live across the street from hardees. im not sure if its my lack of money or plain fear...

[Shayna Madel]

Come on, as Paul F says, take one for the team, or at least see if you can catch someone else eating it and ask them about it...

[PaulF]

I think 007 owes it to the board. C'mon 007, you don't even have to finish it -- though I'll respect you more if you do.

If it's lack of money, we can all chip in.

I'm down for a buck ... who else is in?

[Shayna Madel]

In.

[MSPD]

Wait 'til they unveil the Country Breakfast Chimichanga.

Just plop one'uh them burritos in batter, deep fry it and slather the sum'bi*ch with sour cream. Wee ha!

[Shayna Madel]

Is that a cousin to the fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwich I shared earlier this month at the Texas State Fair?

[summeranne]

Pretty much but, you forgot the cheese sauce on top with the sour cream for extra heart attack goodness!

[Shayna Madel]

Nothing like dairy products to boost the liklihood of a trip to the hospital.

[Shayna Madel]

So I figure that Sonic must have something almost as poisonous as the Hardee's/Carl's Jr. offering and was wrong. The SuperSonic breakfast burrito, which has sausage, egg, tomato, jalapeno, tater tots, cheese, all wrapped in a tortilla has only 550 calories, 34 grams of fat and 47 carbs. After trying one of these, I cannot imagine the Hardee's item. Scary.

[ccbweb]

It's all those vegetables that are messing the thing up. They need to swap the tomato and jalapeno out for bacon and ham if they want to compete. And maybe a maple syrup dipping sauce.

[Shayna Madel]

Oh, right, thanks for setting me straight. What was I thinking?

[KevinB]

Isn't that a McD's "McGriddle" you're describing?

[MSPD]

Chipotle has been offering 1,300 calorie burritos with over 40-60 grams of fat (depending on guac. or no guac.) for years. Each standard meat burrito with pinto beans, corn salsa, sour cream and cheese comes out roughly the same.

Why is the Hardee's one noteworthy?

[Shayna Madel]

Slow news day.

[monkeyrotica]

It's times like these I wish Chipotle served breakfast.

[kindofabigdeal]

go do some calorie counting on Chipotle's items.

[monkeyrotica]

Been there. It's a chore to keep a Chipotle burrito under 1,000 calories, but it can be done: go for a bowl (the burrito skin has around 300 calories), hold the cheese/sour cream, extra beans instead of rice, but keep the guac since it's a "superfood." And save half for later.

http://www.cspinet.org/new/200309301....

[kindofabigdeal]

Well once you remove the tortilla you're comparing apples to oranges. How about the Hardee's burrito, hold the tortilla/cheese, extra ham instead of bacon and sausage.

If you ask me, sausage gravy is a superfood so I'm going to keep it.

[monkeyrotica]

I wonder how much they'd charge for a milkshake cup full of sausage gravy? Maybe with some biscuits for dippin.

[Shayna Madel]

Don't know, but I bet they post the nutritional info on their site...

Ah, the posters here are so much more fun than the ones who obsess over the perfect meal at the best Manhattan restaurants.

[kindofabigdeal]

Why don't we deep freeze a block of gravy and run it through a pacojet. That way it'd have it's place in that fancy restaurant.

[Janet from Richmond]

I usually get the bowl, sans meat or sour cream, but keep the cheese and quac. For my big blowout I get a burrito with the pork, and loaded and have them cut it in half. I was surprised at at well it reheated the next day.

[Tay]

MSPD
Remember: Not all parts of the country have access to Chipolte's

[MSPD]

Same goes for Hardee's.

[Tay]

MSPD
Very true
I'm just responding to your previous posting as to why people would think anything about the Hardee's version when Chipolte's already has something similar.
If they don't have access to the latter they would see it as something brand new at the former.

[Glencora]

I'm guessing that the Hardee's burrito seems particularly awful because it's a breakfast item. I've never been to Hardee's or Chipolte's but I do have a monster burrito from High Tech maybe once a year. I know it's over 1,000 calories, but at least it's dinner and at least it has beans, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce... real food in it. Nothing in the Hardee's breakfast thingy has any fiber or nutrition. Pretty scary.

Edit: I bet plenty of non-chain restos have burritos that are just as high- calorie. The fact that Hardee's brags about it is...strange and sad.

[nosh]

Carl's Jr. is Hardee's in the west. Same menu, ownership, and even the yellow red-rimmed star emblem.

[rworange]

Does Hardee's have the same obnoxious commercials as Carl's Jr? The type that makes fun of the average Carl's Jr customer and tries to appeal to teenage boys? Eating them breakfast burritos isn't going to leave its customers with flat buns, if ya get my drift.

[deibu]

Yep, they run the same ads...

[aynrandgirl]

Did they change the recipe for their burgers? Having moved from the west coast to the east, I've found that Carl's Jr has much better burgers than Hardees. Hardees also doesn't sell "crisscut fries" like Carl's does, nor do they have a co-location deal with Green Burrito. Carls also had a more extensive menu with more variety.

[PaulF]

But Carl's biggest breakfast burrito has only 830 calories.

I think they're using salsa instead of gravy.

I personally won't rest until Carl's breakfast burrito tops 1,000 calories and includes both salsa and gravy.

This is clearly another case of East Coast bias.

[MSPD]

Nomination for post of the month right here. Way funnier than the crap I've been writing lately. Go get 'em (salsa and gravy...nice).

Thanks for the laugh PaulF.

[kindofabigdeal]

Oh... I thought he was serious. That's the beauty of Texas. Part Southern, part southwestern. Gravy and Salsa is totally appropriate.

[MSPD]

It's a culinary concept too sophisticated outside of Texas I'm afraid.

[NE_Elaine]

I think this is genius marketing. They could not pay for the advertising they are receiving from the media because this sandwich is considered over the top. I just have to wonder if this is much worse for you than any breakfast you get from IHOP or Dennys.

[mojoeater]

It seems to be the same stuff you'd get at a casual breakfast joint. It's just rolled into a big tortilla. And we are all responsible for what we eat. Hardees/Carl's Jr. is just providing what their customers want, even if the majority of Chowhounds think it's gross.

[monkuboy]

True, a burrito is a three-course meal rolled into one. If you take the "separate" stuff you get at a restaurant (like a meat course, rice and beans) and add up the calories in each, it would be the same as the burrito, plus the tortilla. We're not as horrified when we see the calories in each component - like oh, this taco only has 300 calories. But when you add the rice, the beans, the soda, etc., then you are up there with the Hardee burrito.

[ccbweb]

As I noted above and as mojoeater will almost certainly know, it's exactly what one could (still, I don't know since Lyle sold it) get at the White Spot....the one hell of a mess in a tortilla.

[Bob W]

Hardees = Taco Town??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZdKk0...

[wino22]

But why the gravy? I think they are just trying to inch it as close to the 1,000 calorie mark as possible, because gravy on ham? no. Gravy on bacon? no. Gravy on eggs? no. Gravy on a tortilla? no. I guess it's a nifty way to sneak in those extra 200-300 calories.

For what it's worth... I think it's hilarious, and marketing genius.

[ccbweb]

Well...gravy on eggs...in the right context. A place in my college town served a breakfast called "one hell of a mess." Eggs, hashbrowns and toast, all topped with sausage gravy.

Accurately named and quite tasty, too.

[spellweaver16]

If anyone tries this breakfast monstrosity, I wanna hear about it! On a side note, I wish Hardee's still had their steak biscuits. Me and my dad would go get a couple on Saturday mornings.

[Emm]

I miss those biscuits with raisins and frosting they used to have. Not health food (duh), but they sure were a tasty treat. When I used make an out-of-town drive to visit my shut-in mom once a month, I'd always stop and take fresh ones for a treat.

[deibu]

When did they get rid of the steak biscuits? I had one about 4-5 months ago... Maybe it's only a Southern thing though. They also have a pork chop biscuit.

[spellweaver16]

I'm in Iowa and I haven't seen the steak biscuits for a while. I had to settle for the ultimate omelet last time. A very pale and sad replacement.

[rworange]

Here's a recent Chow article about the burrito.
http://www.chow.com/grinder/3980

-----
Hardee's
National, USA

[chileheadmike]

Add some fried chicken strips and corn and its a KFC stoner bowl in a wrap.

No way I'm eating one of those things

[PaulF]

Speaking of stoner bowls ...

Did anyone notice you can get it in a combo with something called "hash rounds" on the side ...

[Tay]

It gets betterer and betterer...:-}

[nosh]

Butterer and butterer!

[Tay]

nosh
lol! Good one!

[Bobfrmia]

I absolutely love these people. At least they don't try to hide what they are.
There's no eating a couple egg Mcmuffins, and trying to convince yourself it wasn't that bad for you here.
I have to try one. It just sounds so good. I think it's the gravy part. Yup, try one. One. Ever.

[PaulF]

I absolutely agree.

It's the gravy that completes the whole thing.

Just take a look at the picture. It's oozing!

[Tay]

Me too.. They are what they are and they do what they do. No apologies,
I like that...

[paper_bag_princess]

Disgusting is all I have to say. Its no wonder so many Americans have a weight problems.

[Shayna Madel]

Love that unpologetic, hand-held heart attack. Anyone watching his or her weight or health wasn't going to eat this monstrosity anyway...

[ccbweb]

Egg McMuffins aren't nearly as bad as I thought they'd be when I clicked over to check the nutritional values. 300 calories and 12 grams of fat per. Yes, cholesterol and sodium are a bit high, but not stratospheric if one has a cup of coffee and then other reasonable food throughout the day. It's the combo that gets you...2 egg McMuffins and some hashbrowns and it gets scary fast.

[summeranne]

Now I don't feel so bad, the Egg McMuffin is the only offer McDonalds has on either the breakfast or normal menus that I can manage to choke down without feeling ill.

[Emm]

From the link above, quoting recommended caloric intake: "...2,800 calories for teenage boys and active adults. Hardee's sees its core customers as young men ages 18 to 34..."

So, it's one of three meals a day for people in that category, albeit not a balanced one but also probably not an issue for people who don't suffer from diet-related medical conditions.

Actually I'm in more like the 1,600 calorie category also mentioned in the link, and the thing sounds like it would be enough to keep me satisfied for an entire day if split into several portions and supplemented with a few servings of fruit and vegetables.

So I guess I fail to see what's wrong with the item itself--just how people might choose to fit it into their overall nutritional plan.

[Shayna Madel]

Not going to happen. Whoever eats this is likely going to have a massive coronary on the spot and spend the next six weeks recouperating. And Emm, would you really want this thing sitting around all day,just so you could fit it into your "overall nutritional plan." Sounds like my kind of rationalizing, however.

[Emm]

LOL, Shayna! Nah, I doubt if it's something I'd actually buy, because it doesn't sound like it tastes good. But I'll stand by the notion that if it WAS something I'd want to eat, there's probably enough volume there that I could nosh on it all day.

I have to admit that all the complaining about high caloric content in fast food items kind of annoys me. People aren't helpless robots or victims. Barring some kind of eating disorder or serious money problems, most of us have quite a bit of control over what we choose to put in our mouths.

[Shayna Madel]

Agreed.

[Bobfrmia]

Oh please. There needs to be some kind of Federal Mandate on how much fat and how many calories a food item can contain.
It's not like we should be expected to take care of ourselves.

[monkuboy]

I agree. If people didn't buy it, then the fast fooders wouldn't sell it, would they? As much as "consumers" say they want healthy foods, when a fast food place puts it on the menu, no one buys it. Same as all these people talking about how they want to help out the environment - so when the car manufacturers put out an economy car, people still keep buying their Hummers and SUV's. Action speaks louder than words. If people REALLY wanted healthier stuff from restaurants, then the restaurants would supply what was demanded. As it is, that is exactly what they are doing right now - just giving the majority what they really want, not what they say they want because they feel guilty abouyt telling the truth.

[rockycat]

And they haven't gotten Paula Deen to endorse it yet?

[monkeyrotica]

Seems more like a Rachel Ray endorsement. She does Dunkin Donuts, right?

Great picture, though. I don't know whether to eat it or have sex with it.

[Spiritchaser]

Disgusting. The sooner they are out of business the better. Fast food is bad enough but what they do seems to be a deliberate slap to the face of reason.

[PaulF]

No such luck:

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/st...

Hardee's sales on the rise!!!!

[monkeyrotica]

I'm pretty sure the last of the downtown DC Hardees have folded. They're only in the suburbs now, and hard to find. I miss the Thickburger. One of the tastier chain burgers.

As for the breakfast burrito, they've basically taken what you'd order at a sitdown place like IHOP or Dennys, made it portable, and charged a premium. Can't imagine driving and eating one, but I've seen wierder "multitaskings" happen on the road. Makeup/cellphone/reading-a-newspaper combo, anyone?

I can't wait until this fastfood arms race results in five-figure calorie counts and toxic levels of meat and cheese.

[PaulF]

One of these days I'll start a "Create Your Own Hardee's Menu Item" thread.

[wabbitslayer]

a good move for them, I guess. How many times has the word "Hardees" been uttered on radio and TV today?

they need the free advertising too...all the ones around here (eastern Atlanta area) areeither already closed or are closing.