KFC Double Down? For Real?

[OneSonTwoCats]

The ad said this is coming April 12th. Appears to be two breaded chicken breasts with bacon, cheese and mustard (?) sandwiched inside. In other words, a week's worth of cholesterol in one sitting.

My son thinks it's an April Fools Day prank. Anyone else heard of this yet?

[Bob W]

It's a flop.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/14/news/...

[Firegoat]

I just saw on the TV this morning that KFC has announced they plan to keep it on as a regular item.

[Lixer]

Huzzah! As a low carber the (grilled) double down was a welcome newcomer to the limited options for food on the run (burger sans bun). It's certainly not something I'd want to eat everyday but I am glad to know that it is there for occasions such as road trips.

[Firegoat]

Yay! Another low carber! I like their grilled chicken... but hard to eat in the car if I'm in a time crunch

[ilikefood]

"If it were slapped between a bun there'd be no controversy." - Monku
Monku's on the right track.
It's a gimmick created entirely to get attention, create buzz and increase traffic to KFC.

I guess it's easier than improving their quality control, cleanliness, and customer service.
I can only speak of KFC's in my area (Pasadena Ca) and my experiences over a year + ago.

[Firegoat]

Rachael Ray dissed them on Joy Behar's show this week.... (she of the hotdog salad and other caloric horrors) therefore i must fully support these.

[goodhealthgourmet]

gotta hand it to KFC for getting everyone's attention and stirring up the discussion...and free press! Mario Batali & Jon Stewart were talking about it on the Daily Show last week.

[Firegoat]

Imagine if McDonald's had the moxy to take the bun off the double cheeseburger!!!

[Firegoat]

After Rachael Ray dissed the KFC Double Down, I was sure she'd have a healthier alternative. And I found this.....
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ra...
Yes... a double-decker chicken, bacon and waffle sandwich..... with maple syrup gravy. KFC has NOTHING on her.

[rockycat]

Do as I say, not as I do?

[Davwud]

It doesn't even sound good.......but it has bacon on it so it probably is.

DT

[BubblyOne]

I broke down yesterday and picked up a couple of these for lunch (the meal), since a friend wanted to try it. It was NASTY. The fried chicken seemed to have steamed in the wrapper and the sauce/cheese was horrible. And expensive, $15.05 for 2 with tax. I usually only do fast food a couple times a year- In-N-Out. I don't care what the calorie/sodium/fat is, when something is tasty. This was not.

[monku]

So which is it?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/703643

[BubblyOne]

Well, I'll defer to ipse as the "senior" CH, lol.

[monku]

I'm with you.
Nothing at KFC has ever been tasty to me.

[BubblyOne]

When I want a quick/fairly cheap lunch and don't feel like cooking, I go down the street to Gelson's, which is what I normally would have done yesterday. For the same $15, I could have gotten a huge salad from their salad bar for 2 and a LaBrea baguette.

[monku]

You must live in the LA area.
$15 for two fast food sandwiches is a little steep. Lots of better options at that price point.
Thanks for taking one for the team.

[BubblyOne]

OC/Laguna. Agree about the $15 and I'm not cheap in the least. It's about the value at whatever price point- especially right now, there are too many deals at good restos.

[Davwud]

Let me try to bring a little perspective into things here.

Lots of people have been jumping on the DD. Seeing it as all that is wrong with American nutrition. So, lets compare it with something that gets favourable reviews on here and is seldom criticized for it's nutritional profile. A slice of Costco pizza.

The (fried) DD v CP

Cal: 540 v 717
Cal from fat: 290 v 301
Tot fat: 32 v 33.5
Sat fat: 10 v 15.4
Trans fat: .5 v 0
Col: 145 v 60
Sod: 1380 v 1634.2

I doubt many people would condemn someone for eating a slice of pizza but are all over them for the DD

Anyway, food for thought.

DT

[shanagain]

I've been thinking about these types of threads.

I trust myself to know when something is an everyday food, a once in a while food, or a hot mess on a bun. I trust "you" to know the same.

So really, who gives a damn about this thing? I mean, it's not like it's a school lunch. Or the only option on the menu.

And as ipsedixit pointed out, it is essentially a fast food version of a food most people (and by that, 'hounds) would instantly relate to - Chicken Cordon Bleu.

On top of all of that... Am I the only heifer that eats two - or more if there are wings - pieces of fried chicken when I do eat fried chicken?

[Firegoat]

If that is the criteria to be a heifer, then let me join your herd.

[Davwud]

Moooo

DT

[joonjoon]

Just got me a double down...it was more like a double let down.

The price is 5.99, which is too much IMO.

The worst part about it is that it's way worse than regular KFC chicken. I'm a big fan of KFC in general - but between the cheese and sauce and bacon, this 'sandwich' becomes significantly less than the sum of its parts. I love KFC chicken just the way it is, and the double down ruins the chicken with the nasty goop in the middle.

If I were to make a double down, i'd do chicken with mash potato, gravy, and mac and cheese in the middle. :)

[Fibber McGee]

$5.99? Seriously.

I'm guessing one particular Hound in this particular forum will be particularly disappointed.

[ipsedixit]

$5.99.

How many KFC chicken littles would that buy ... back in the day?

Not *that* was a sandwich!

[Fibber McGee]

$6.99 for the combo meal.

[KaimukiMan]

that is six-mcchickens.... today

[howlin]

at least you guys down south get a chance to try it.canada is sol again

[Firegoat]

Oddly enough I'm doing a low carb diet at the moment and saw the grilled version and instead of gross thought.... hm...... potential yummy. The only thing off putting to me is the sodium... but I wonder if the sauce was skipped and replaced with some horseradish mustard instead if it would take the sting out a bit.

[RCTRIPLEFRESH5]

what kinds sauce does it have? im really hoping it has peppermayo that is the best sauce!

[MandalayVA]

Actually the breaded version isn't bad carbwise either--11 grams per what I've read.

[ipsedixit]

Isn't this just a fast-food version of Chicken Cordon Bleu?

[shanagain]

How dare you compare this foodstuff to acceptable foodstuffs!

[KaimukiMan]

I've been avoiding this thread until i finally got around to trying one, and that was exactly my thought.... chicken-cordon-blue 2010. And i've had some pretty awful stuff claiming to be chicken cordon bleu at banquets of one type or another. i'm not saying i'm gonna rush back any time soon, but its all much ado about nothing.

[Sooeygun]

Funny article about making a vegan version

http://vegansaurus.com/post/498511783...

[Davwud]

Pretty funny.

I don't understand why people have to pass judgement on something they've never eaten.

Obviously they'd love it or they a) wouldn't have tried to copy it and b) wouldn't have loved the fake.

DT

[nachosaurus]

tried this today - grilled and fried. i liked the grilled better. the problem was the sauce. it was sharp and salty, yet bland. it was just vile and kind of ruined the sandwich. i would try it sans sauce - just cheese and meat and see what that did. this was my first time having the grilled chicken and i actually liked it quite a bit. kfc may have been on to something going national with the double down. i haven't been in years - but might go back for a grilled chicken meal if i was hungry and desperate.

the overall take from the double down was that i felt sooooo salty afterwards - as if my blood pressure had skyrocketed.

[Cynsa]

sodium (mg) 1380 for the KFC Original and 1430 for the grilled
(1500 to 2300 is the daily requirement guide)

[majordanby]

man, you might as well just get some morton salt and down it.

[Cynsa]

Mark Morford in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

[Fibber McGee]

The self-anointed has spoken. Us mortals can rejoice he is leading us toward perfection, as well.

Somehwre there's a guy wondering who found out about his off-campus impromptu dinners when no one else was around . . .

[Davwud]

I love people who crap all over something they've never tried.

Secondly, I'll decide what I eat, not him.

DT

[visciole]

Hyperbole much?

Seriously, I am one of those snobs who generally turn their noses up at fast food, but this is so over the top it's hilarious.

[Cynsa]

I am lol
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/04/16/notes041610.DTL
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

[Davwud]

"A few oxygen-deprived souls dared to write in to say, "Aww c'mon, it's not all that bad? There are far worse things out there, for sure."

So basically, if you don't agree with this guy, you've go brain damage.

DT

[al b. darned]

OMG!! It must be tough to be so perfect! I can't wait to see him part the waters.

In the immortal words of Squidward, "Never had a Crabby Patty. Never will."

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

It's about time KFC added bacon to their menu.

[Servorg]

Can you get the bacon both grilled and original recipe? ;-D>

[deibu]

I think they are trying hard to outdo the "Famous" Barf-Bowls a few years ago.

[Bob W]

I was going to mention those. KFC has cornered the market on disgusting-looking menu items (I don't like to call these things "food").

[majordanby]

isnt this an atkins approved menu item?

[shanagain]

I can't see how, considering the breading.

Oh, wait.. went to their website - they do offer a grilled version.

[vttp926]

sounds similar to outback's alice spring chicken except between bread and it uses honey mustard instead of regular mustard. but yikes...definitely not something im going to let me heart try.

[mrbigshotno.1]

Just another ridiculus offering developed by a bunch of "suits" brainstorming with a dry erase board in some meeting room who consider food "product". Isn't the colonel's sauce that jive they put on the snacker sandwiches? Yeeeech!

[Emm]

I like me some fried, greasy fast food as much as the next person, but seriously, this thing doesn't even look appetizing. To paraphrase Clara of the old Wendy's commercial, WHERE'S THE BREAD???

[malibumike]

Depending on which version you get it's not much worse than a Big Mac, which by the way is not Big!

[Jason1]

Yeah, I just don't understand why blogs and newspapers are hyperventilating about this. I was shocked at how low the calorie and fat count turned out to be. Panera just introduced a Cuban Grilled Chicken Panini, which sounds pretty mundane compared to this. It has 860 calories and 37 grams of fat. But the Double Down is the poster child for obesity while people don't even think about the other foods they eat.

[Vexorg]

Looking at the KFC website, it looks like two of their little Snacker sandwiches would have almost as many calories.

[Davwud]

Didn't they have them before??

DT

[Fibber McGee]

I thought they were discussed them here a llittle while ago.

Mustard? That is just odd. Considering how rarely fast food places offer mustard on sandwiches, it's an odd choice. Guess that's the silver lining for the health conscious.

[OneSonTwoCats]

I stand corrected. Following the link given above, the description reads:

This one-of-a-kind sandwich features two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce.

32 grams of fat. No kidding!

[goodhealthgourmet]

@Davwud, i think it may have been a test product in specific markets last year and they're now rolling it out nationally.

[Davwud]

Is it gonna be part of the menu or just a limited time special??

DT

[RCTRIPLEFRESH5]

OMG ITS FINALLY A MENU ITEM? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[goodhealthgourmet]

i saw a commercial for it yesterday, and nearly had a seizure. sadly, it's not an April Fool's prank...
http://www.kfc.com/doubledown/

if this thing shows up as an entry in any of my clients' food journals, i'm firing them ;)

[Samalicious]

I want one. Too bad the sodium content would make my heart valves explode.

[rockycat]

What if you sat down to a dinner plate with two grilled chicken cutlets, each with a strip of bacon and some melted cheese, and a serving of cole slaw or green beans? How is this any different from the Double Down? So why the reaction?

(Full disclosure: I haven't eaten one of these and I don't intend to, solely because I don't like KFC. I still see no reason to have a cow over something that would cause no outrage if it were served on a plate rather than in a paper wrapper. If the diner down the road served this it would be "authentic" and "homey." Since a chain is selling it, it must be evil. Doesn't compute for me.)

[raleighboy]

I find it really interesting that Chowhounders in general are much less opposed to the Double Down (in theory) than the general tone of media and blogs right now.

[Jelly71]

well said!!

it's like people's knee jerk reaction to Domino's pasta in a bread bowl. everyone said it was a horrifying fest of carbs. how is different than being given a bread basket at an Italian restaurant?

[Bob W]

For me at least, things like this and the Domino's thing just look disgusting. I have no problem with chains. I have young children, so I can't. 8<D

Other examples: That hideous bowl o crap KFC tried a couple years ago, the McGriddle, and that oversized BK breakfast sandwich monstrosity.

[Fibber McGee]

The McGriddle is actually not bad, a nice combination of sweet and savory. The others, well, I'm sure other people like them somewhere.

[Davwud]

I don't like the McGriddle. I do however like their Cinnamelts.

DT

[jgg13]

As logn as we're talking the sausage one, I like the mcgriddle. I never cared for the other ones though

[coney with everything]

I like the McGriddle too, although it's pretty specifically a road trip treat.

The bowl o'crap at KFC looked completely like a dog's breakfast.

[jimwormmaster]

The mcgriddle isn't that bad, really, at least the sausage one. Not the best, my favorite breakfast thing there is still the bacon/egg/cheese biscuit, but it's still pretty good. As far as the KFC "bowl o crap", think about it, it's basically fried chicken, with mashed potatoes and corn. And a little cheese to tie it together. As they're saying about the double down, is it really worth having a cow over, just cause it's all in one bowl? I think they're decent, if somewhat over-salty.

My dad, though, took the double down one step further...he gave it a bun again...with a Krispy Kreme doughnut...that's just too evil.

[goodhealthgourmet]

"how is different than being given a bread basket at an Italian restaurant?"
~~~~~
the bread basket at a restaurant is a side item/add-on intended to be shared by the table. the bread bowl is part of a single diner's entree, and comprised of more servings of bread than a couple of rolls from the basket.

[goodhealthgourmet]

rockycat, apologies for the delay - i just saw your question. to clarify, my initial reaction was to the *fried* Double Down, which was the one featured in the first commercial i saw. however, for the sake of comparison if we're talking about the *grilled* Double Down versus the meal you proposed, to be perfectly honest i'd have a similar reaction to both...because no matter whether it's served on a plate or in a fast-food wrapper, it's still an excessive amount of food for *most* people to consume in one sitting.

KFC isn't a special case - my visceral reaction is the same regarding ALL these super/mega/double/triple/extreme creations - people have a completely skewed concept of what constitutes appropriate portion size and this only makes it worse. in light of the obesity epidemic in this country, i take issue with ANY company that chooses to perpetuate the problem just to make a buck.

[ipsedixit]

ghg,

Have you actually seen a double down? It's really not that big. Over the top in terms of ingredients, maybe. But not over the top in terms of size or quantity.

[goodhealthgourmet]

according to the nutrition info on KFC's website, it weighs in at over 1/2 lb. to me, that's excessive.

[ipsedixit]

But it's only 540 calories (or 460 for the grilled version) ... at least according to KFC.

Certainly not excessive.

[goodhealthgourmet]

the nutrient breakdown is still ugly. 1400 mg of sodium (sure, someone like you who works out so much can afford it because you need to replenish what you lose through sweat, but most Americans aren't nearly that active), more than 50% of calories from fat for the fried one, and still almost 50% calories from fat for the grilled version. in my world that in no way represents a balanced, appropriate meal. but that's just MHO.

[ipsedixit]

Well, no one (at least not me) was saying that the double down was healthy.

Only that it was not one of those traditional "mega" fast food items in terms of size and quantity of food.

[Servorg]

"Only that it was not one of those traditional "mega" fast food items in terms of size and quantity of food."

Everything is relative. When you compare it against those mega ff items this thing actually comes in on the "healthy" side of the ledger. Really pretty sly on the part of KFC. Get everyone talking and then point out they are trying to help the fight against the obesity of the American diner. ;-D>

[monku]

If it were slapped between a bun there'd be no controversy.

Look at the nutritional information on The Carl's Jr. Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger
http://www.carlsjr.com/menu/charbroil...

[Davwud]

It's good too. I've had it at the Hardee's incarnation.

DT

[monku]

I was afraid you'd say that.
I'll have to check it out.

[Servorg]

The "death defying" monku goes mano a mano with the Carl's Jr. Grilled Cheese Bacon Burger! Film at 11:00... ;-D>

[monku]

They did a good job with The Big Carl.

[Servorg]

I had one (Big Carl) for the first (and probably only) time last week and thought it was okay for a "promotional" effort, but not something I would seek out to eat...Carl's has better burgers than that. I am still partial to their double chili cheese burger (even more than their $6 chili cheese burger) for instance.

[goodhealthgourmet]

"If it were slapped between a bun there'd be no controversy."
~~~~~~
oh, i bitch about all of them equally - this one just happened to have a thread dedicated to it ;)

if anyone's interested, Chow posted a story the other day that contained this link - it compares the calorie-for-calorie nutritional impact of various fast food items...
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/0...

[malibumike]

goodhealth, I agree with you in general, but all companies are in it to make a buck and dont really care about you or me only just enough to keep us alive to make another buck.