Burger King's Bacon Sundae is as gross as it sounds

It’s hard pinpoint exactly the war started between fast-food chains over could gross customers out more with new monstrous food creations. I’m inclined say it was KFC its notorious Double Down back in 2010, it probably goes back than that.

There’s little doubt the “sandwich,” to use term loosely, garnered KFC a ton of media attention wherever it was released. Most of that attention wasn’t of the good kind—just every story noted how incredibly unhealthy the DD was—but Ozzy Osbourne used to say, any press is good press.

then, other chains have followed KFC’s lead by creating their own nasty concoctions hopes of grabbing some headlines, they must believe could ultimately lead to new customers.

The latest of these is Burger King its Bacon Sundae. Yup. It’s an ice cream sundae, with bacon.

The chain announced the new offering last week and, predictably, the media ate it . Many even condemned it without trying it.

luck would have it, I was in New York over the weekend (the sundae is thus only available in the U.S.). As a self-appointed arbiter of good food from bad, I felt a duty to try it.

Usually, I’m quite excited to try new fast-food abominations. I psyched at creative new attempts to repackage the same stuff in slightly different ways. I was really jazzed, example, to try the Doritos taco at Taco Bell, features a shell made out of Doritos chips (it was excellent, by the ). I must admit, , to a certain level of trepidation when it to the Bacon Sundae. Yes, I love bacon and, yes, I love sundaes. But I also love skiing and drinking beer, those two don’t belong together. The same for some foods.

I hit the Burger King near the World Trade Center site and ordered it. The fellow the counter looked confused—he thought I might putting him on. He called a manager , who then confirmed that Burger King was now serving Bacon Sundaes.

She led him to the sundae stand and proceeded to demonstrate to make one. A crowd of employees gathered to watch. I the distinct impression that I was the first one to order a Bacon Sundae this particular location.

I watched as they dribbled chocolate and caramel sauce the ice cream and thought, “Okay, so far so .” But my enthusiasm turned to cringing as first the bacon bits were sprinkled , then a large strip of actual bacon was hauled and placed on the side like the meaty garnish it’s intended be.

The monstrosity—clocking at 510 calories, or more a quarter of the recommended daily allowance—was complete and the counter guy proudly brought it .

My wife I headed upstairs to eat it (well, I was going to eat it, she was going to watch horror). A manager guarded the stairs—at a busy location, he was to ensure only paying customers used the seating. He quickly parted seeing me clutching the sundae in both hands some perverted trophy.

After a picture for posterity, I dove in the same sort of nervous dread usually reserved for jumping a lake that you know is going to be painfully freezing.

The first bite was familiar—the sweet, soft goodness of ice cream. But lo! There was a crunch as , like a spoonful of Rocky Road; first, the ooey-gooey goodness, followed by the satisfying crunch of walnut.

But it wasn’t walnut, the aftertaste so clearly illustrated—it was the unmistakeable saltiness of bacon. I to admit, it completely snuck on me. At , I thought it might be a regular sundae, but that blast of sodium banished thought.

The first contrast wasn’t so bad, but every successive bite, the incongruity of the flavours became increasingly apparent. there was the bacon slice garnish.

As all fast-food bacon, it was cold, stiff and dry. Its typical characteristics made it fit better the context, but I mean that as of a statement against fast-food bacon’s other uses than an endorsement of its function on the sundae. As a side, it was gross. Plain and .

Getting through the Bacon Sundae was tough, a labour of duty than anything. I couldn’t wait to get the bacon chunks of the way so I could enjoy the sundae underneath, which reminded of being forced to eat my vegetables as a child before I could any dessert.

But it didn’t end —ice cream tends to have no aftertaste, but bacon does. For the first hour or , I was reminded of the incredible thirst I felt after eating Double Down. I can’t say I’ve ever felt thirsty after a dessert before, makes the Bacon Sundae even more freakish.

While I’m generally in of trying fast-food monsters at once, just for their novelty, I can’t say I’d recommend the Bacon Sundae even a one-time thing. These food items have business being together. Bacon and ice cream lovers are sure to be dissatisfied.


Adapted from: canadianbusiness.com, June 20, 2012.