Interesting fact: On average, a Friday the 13th occurs once every 212 days (about every seven months). The longest stretch of time that can pass without having a single Friday the 13th is 14 months.
Item #25: MEXICAN PIZZA
Having never tried it prior to this visit, the Mexican Pizza seemed to me like something that had a chance to taste pretty damned good if it was executed well -- i.e., not half assed into some form of fast food mediocrity. Calling it a "pizza" is probably a bit of a misnomer, but I'm not sure what else it could be called that would convey the concept of it just as well.
The official Taco Bell website description:
"Two crisp pizza shells filled with seasoned beef, hearty beans and then topped with pizza sauce, a three cheese blend melted to perfection, and topped with diced ripe tomatoes."
Price: $3.19
Taste: 8.0 (out of 10)
Value: 6.0 (out of 10)
Overall Score: 7.5 (out of 10)
I am not sure how best to describe the crispy shells that comprise the underlying architecture of Taco Bell's Mexican Pizza; they are tasty, but they are definitely different than the crunchy taco shells on offer at the Border. A little heavier, perhaps, more sturdy. Overall, the Mexican Pizza is a solid success on the flavor front. The tangy red sauce masquerading as "pizza sauce" here is probably more successful than in any other menu application; it cuts the acidity of the diced tomatoes quite nicely, and the always pleasing crunchy shell-beans-beef combination really shines here.
However, the bottom line is that this is not that much food for the price. I am guessing the higher menu price is related to the relatively complicated (thus, probably more time-consuming) construction process of the Mexican Pizza. There are a lot of ingredients that need to be stacked and arranged, then the whole thing is quartered for ease of consumption. While it is a nice change of pace, there are many other items at Taco Bell that taste just as good (if not better) that offer superior value.
Item #26: CHICKEN BURRITO SUPREME
And now we arrive at the aforementioned unpleasant Friday-the-13th happening. While I haven't had much luck with the varieties of Taco Bell burritos that I have consumed thus far, this one would take Live Mas disappointment to its absolute nadir.
Per the Taco Bell website:
"A warm, soft flour tortilla wrapped around marinated all-white-meat chicken, hearty beans, tangy red sauce, crisp shredded lettuce, real cheddar cheese, diced onions, diced ripe tomatoes, and reduced-fat sour cream."
Price: $3.19
Taste: 4.5 (out of 10)
Value: 5.5 (out of 10)
Overall Score: 4.8 (out of 10)
First of all: Lettuce needs to breathe. Everyone knows this. Why doesn't Taco Bell know this? When you stuff lettuce into a rolled up tortilla with piping hot chicken, said lettuce is going to mutate into something horrific. Its texture is going to become the grist of nightmare mills. And that is exactly what happened here. Second of all, and perhaps a corollary to first of all: Who the hell would want lettuce on a burrito anyhow? Not this guy.
Secondly: (Or thirdly? Not sure.) I have arrived at the conclusion that Taco Bell's grilled chicken is far superior to their marinated, shredded chicken. (I fully realize that this is a reversal of my initial opinion regarding Taco Bell's chicken.) At any rate, the chicken is rather difficult to detect in the Burrito Supreme. The red sauce, melted cheese, beans, sour cream and chicken "marinade juice" combine to form an unpleasant-tasting orangey sludge. The overall texture is extremely off-putting. (Perhaps this would be less of an issue with the beef or steak versions of the Burrito Supreme, but you'd still have the lettuce to deal with.)
This was my most disappointing Live Mas menu selection to date. It can only go up from here, dear reader! (I hope?)
My ripoff slip -- I mean, receipt -- for today's meal:
Peace out.
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