Fast-Foods to Eat Before You Die
Sure, fast food has a bad reputation, what with all those health studies going around the media circuit, so perhaps a backlash to the backlash is in the works. And it seems the upcoming TV series Fast Food Mania is just that.
Click here to see 10 Fast-Foods to Eat Before You Die
As we've mentioned before, this Discovery series will be touring historic fast-food destinations with host Jon Hein, a self-proclaimed fast-food aficionado.
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"So many of these people associate these places with warm childhood memories when they pull up to a Dairy Queen or a KFC," Hein told us over the phone. "In this show we sort of illustrate what provokes that emotion, and how the fast-food restaurants have become part of the American landscape."
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Hein's show will delve into the Taco Bell headquarters, the Five Guys kitchen, and go behind the scenes at a Sonic, where Hein himself straps on some roller skates.
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"One of the places I loved going to was Corbin, Ky., where the original KFC is," he told us. "You learn all about Colonel Sanders, and they preserve the history of it all. Where they came up with the secret recipe, how they developed it and rolled it across the country. It's something special."
Of course, Hein is aware of the backlash against fast food, especially with Bloomberg's latest ban proposal on large soft drinks. His mantra? Everything in moderation.
"I mean, it's like drinking almost," he said. "If you drink a lot every day consistently, it's not good for you. But I think when you're in the mood you should go, and you should do it right."
McDonald's French Fries
"When you go to McDonald's, there's so much stuff you can get," Hein said. "But when you get those perfectly salted fries from McDonald's, whether you're in Tucsan, Ariz., or Little Rock, Ark., you know what you're getting when they hand you that red container."
Dairy Queen Blizzard
"We're ending on a high note here. When I say Dairy Queen Blizzard, immediately you get thirsty and you want one," Hein said. "It's a classic. Mix up whatever you want in that cup, that soft serve melts so right, and as it melts it just tastes even better."
Chipotle Chips
"A lot of times you get your burrito, and the perfect complement is the Chipotle chip," Hein said. "None of them are folded, they're all pretty close to flat, and that gives you a lot more chip to eat. They're always crunchy."
White Castle Slider
"Sliders are sliders, they slide right down. When you get a slider fresh off the grill it's delicious," Hein said. "And there's no place better to go at two in the morning other than White Castle."
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
"I mean, Chick-fil-A invented the chicken sandwich," Hein said. "They do a great job and the way they toast the bun adds to the flavor. You hand-roll and hand-bread all the chicken fillets then you put them in a cooker, which is just like it was made back in the day."
Wendy's Frosty
"Wendy's Frosties are unique because it's not a shake. You can't slurp a Frosty, I don't care how strong your lips are," Hein said. "And by the end it's melted down a little bit and it becomes more of a liquid. It's a true fast-food dessert."
Krispy Kreme HOT Glazed Donut
"This is another secret of those who are Krispy Kreme fanatics," Hein said. "If you see the 'HOT' sign lit up in red, that means the donuts are literally coming off the conveyor belt. And Krispy Kreme donuts regularly are fantastic, but the hot Krispy Kreme donut is orgasmic."
In-N-Out Burger Well-Done Fries
"In-N-Out cooks all their stuff fresh, and their secret menu? I'm like a little kid there. I won't order anything off the regular menu," Hein said. "For well-done fries, they'll cook the fries longer and it makes a big difference in the taste of them. The well-done makes them a little more brown, a little more crispy, and the oil that they cook it in melts it a little bit more."
Click here to see More Fast-Foods to Eat Before You Die
- Jessica Chou, The Daily Meal
