Tag: Food Review

Reviewing Bojangles 

By: Anna Kate Coker

Bojangles is a beloved fast food restaurant, catering towards chicken fingers and fries lovers. It is an easy choice everyone loves, and will never disappoint. 

Bojangles Chicken Fingers: 

They are so delicious and are cooked so perfectly. If you pair it with their honey mustard sauce, the flavor is the most amazing thing you have ever tasted. I will always rate them a 10/10 and will continue to buy them. When someone asks me what I want to get from Bojangles, you can best believe I am asking for three chicken tenders. It is a blessing to catch the scent of them from my kitchen. My sister values this food more than anything else and will gladly tell anyone.  “Oh my gosh Bojangles chicken fingers are my favorite food” -Ellis Coker. 

Bojangles Fries:

Their fries have the best ratio of seasoning, matched with the superior potato taste. Along with my chicken tenders, I love to eat some of the fries also with my honey mustard. “Yeah if I had to pick a side to go along with my meal, fries are my number one” -Logan Mims. “You can’t get chicken tenders without the fries, it’s like eating a pb&j sandwich without the jelly.” -McKenzie Gray Mills. I rate their fries a 10/10 and they are a taste of heaven.   

Bojangles Sweet Tea:

This is the ultimate thirst quencher. It flushes down the rest of your food, leaving your mouth with the most delicious taste ever. They keep the ice to sweet tea ratio very nice, making sure you don’t end up with your drink watered down. I rate their Sweet Tea a 10/10, it never falls short of being cold and sweet. “I will get my kids a Bojangles 3 Piece Supreme anytime because I know they love it!” -Cary Coker. The whole Coker family praises this restaurant all day and all night. 

Best Cereal

By: Bryce Hanson

      What is the best cereal? The answer to this question is extremely simple and non debatable. To answer this you must consider some factors just like my past articles. These factors include dry taste,mixed with milk flavor, and the flavor the milk turns to after the cereal is gone. 

       Dry taste means how it tastes if you just take the cereal out of the box. A lot of cereals come to mind when I think about this such as Trix, Reese’s Puffs, and Coco Puffs. But we all know there is only one right answer which is Fruity Pebbles.. I know that some people may disagree on that front, but I am a professional cereal eater, so I would know. 

        Next is mixed with milk flavor, and this just basically means what cereal tastes the best when you combine it with it’s dynamic duo milk. I could argue that Cookie Crisp get better with milk, but like my previous comments on dry taste, Cookie Crisp just lacks the taste before milk. Now it does turn into a whole new Cereal when you mix it with milk. But the best milk/cereal combination is going too be Fruity Pebbles yet again, with its combination of candy like dry taste combined with rich milk,  there’s nothing that can stop this cereal from being the best. 

         Lastly, the fatter flavor of the milk that the Cereal leaves, and all my cereal eaters know that drinking the milk after your done with your Cereal is a vital part to every bowl that you consume. Now I know you’re  expecting me to say Fruity Pebbles again, and I’m seriously considering it m, but no. There is only one cereal that does this right. Yes there are som copy cats of this Cereal like Coco Puffs but that Ceral just lacks the energy we need to be brought to the bowl. The best Cereal milk flavor is Coco Pebbles. After you’re done eating the amazing flavored Cereal, it leaves you with a complimentary glass of chocolate milk to enjoy to leave you with a memorable bowl of cereal. 

            After analyzing which cereals have the best dry taste, best combination with milk, and best milk flavor. There can be only one right answer which is Fruity Pebbles. The one that leaves you wanting more after you’re done.

Ranking Fast Food Resturants

By: Olivia Cogswell

When looking for a quick and easy meal, many people drive to their local favorite fast food restaurant. In the US alone, there are over 200,000 restaurants and over 50,000 different fast food chains for people to pick from. Here are the top five best fast food restaurants:

Fifth, Whataburger. In this restaurant you can get cheeseburgers, french fries, or chicken. Many people compare the burgers from Watarburgers to Whoppers from Burger King. However, these burgers tend to be a much more appropriate size topped with more fresh ingredients. They provide other selections like chicken nuggets and french fries, and tend to be less expensive than other fast food restaurants. The downside of this chain is that they do not provide very many healthy options and are not at wide variety in states.

Fourth, Sonic. Sonic provides many options on their menu from burgers to pretzels, and even mozzarella sticks. They also have a wide variety of drink selections and ice creams. They have slushies, milkshakes, sundaes, and all kinds of fountain sodas. However Sonic tends to be on the pricier side, and their sides tend to be the better part of their menu while the main courses, like their burgers, are not very good. They are dried and topped with not so fresh toppings. 

Third, Taco Bell. This restaurant provides a wide variety of food selections from tacos, burritos, nachos, and even fries. They have frozen drinks and fountain drinks, and even have desserts. However Taco Bell is very unhealthy, and does not provide any healthy options. The service also tends to be on the slower side. 

Second, Raising Canes. Canes are known for their famous sauce, which makes their meals. Many people go to Canes just for their sauce. They have chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, and are served with fries and Texas toast. Their fries are crinkled and are always crispy and their Texas toast is always made just right. They also are pretty cheap for the portion sizes.  Although their menu selections are good, they do not provide many other varieties, and tend to be more on the unhealthy side. 

First, Chick-Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A has so many options to choose from. They have chicken nuggets, tenders, and sandwiches. The sandwiches can come in many varieties like: original, spicy, deluxe, and even piminto. They have a variety of sides to choose from, and even have some healthy options like salads, soups, and fruit. While also having a wide variety of sauce options for customers to choose from. They even provide a full breakfast menu, with their well known chicken minis. CFA has some of the best services with the most welcoming employers. That is why Chick-Fil-A is the superior fast food restaurant compared to the other fast food chains.

This week’s lineup of Crumbl Cookies are (October 14-19)

By: Morgan Aycock

My ratings are:

  1. Cookie dough

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A brown sugar cookie topped with creamy cookie dough buttercream and chunks of cookie dough pieces.

I have never tried this cookie, but I think it would be really good. I like that they added chunks of cookie dough pieces and chocolate chips on the top, but I think it would be better if the cookie was regular vanilla and not brown sugar, but I would have to try it to decide that. Most people that have tried this cookie say that it’s a 10/10, and I think I would like this one a lot.

  1. Double fudge brownie

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A decadent brownie loaded with semi-sweet chocolate chunks and creamy milk chocolate drops, topped with luscious fudge frosting.

I think this would be pretty good, but I think it would be better if it was served warm and not bakery temperature. I think the straight up chocolate could be a little overpowering, but overall, I think this one would be pretty good.

  1. Cornbread cookie

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A warm cornbread cookie smothered with honey butter glaze, then topped with a dollop of thick honey buttercream frosting and a drizzle of honey.

I have tried this cookie before when they had it on the 4th of July lineup, and it is very good. Most people that have tried this say it’s one of their favorites. I like that they added the honey drizzle to make it resemble a real piece of cornbread and it adds a sweet and salty taste. I also like that this one is served warm.

  1. Blueberry muffin

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A warm blueberry cookie smothered in a buttery cake glaze and topped with a delightful crunch of blueberry muffin streusel.

I think that the idea of this cookie is a good idea, but I don’t know if this one would taste very good. It doesn’t even look appealing on the website and I don’t think the glaze would be good.

  1. Peanut butter crisp ft Butterfinger

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A rich cookie bursting with creamy peanut butter, melted chocolate, and crunchy Butterfinger® pieces.

Although I don’t like that they always do peanut butter, I think adding the Butterfinger pieces to the top makes it a little better. I think it would be better if it didn’t have the peanut butter drizzle on the top, though and all the peanut butter flavors every week gets old. 

  1. Semi-sweet chocolate chunk

Crumbl Cookies’ description: Chocolate chip, but make it chunky—a delicious cookie filled with irresistible semi-sweet chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

This flavor is on the list almost every week, so I think it gets really old. If people want a chocolate chip cookie then they could buy a whole pack of them for the same price as one of these. It is overall not a bad cookie, but I think they should stop putting it on the lineup every week because people aren’t buying it as much because it is sold every week.

Ranking: Celsius Sparkling Poolside Variety Pack 

By: Anna Kate Coker

This Celsius flavor pack contains a nice, refreshing, assortment of delicious summer flavors (perfect to drink on the beach, in a pool, or during fun outdoor activities). 

Ranking 3rd- Sparkling Lemon Lime

The only reason this flavor is enjoyed is because it has a similar taste to sprite, but contains caffeine. When I want a nice Celsius, I am looking forward to enjoying an original flavor, not a copycat of a normal soda. Arguing with what the website says, there is not a  perfect balance between the lemon and lime, if anything the lime is overpowering, giving it a fake tasting sweetness. Although it does have a nice crisp taste to it, once the drink falls flat it is not even slightly enjoyable. 

Ranking 2nd- Sparkling Watermelon

I really do appreciate this Celsius, but the amount of flavor is way too much. The watermelon is really delicious and does make me want more, but after a while it just gets sickening. This drink only consists of one fruit flavor, but it surely makes up for that by just loading up on the saturation of it. Aside from all the hate, it really is a good drink and would be a nice basic Celsius to pick up from the gas station when you don’t know which flavor you want to decide on.

FIRST AND FINAL- Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade

Maybe I am just biased, but strawberry lemonade on its own is already a superior drink. Bringing the caffeine and carbonation just really ups the game, making it rank higher than the other options in the case. It quenches your thirst just like a nice strawberry lemonade you order from a restaurant on a hot sunny day, but also gives you the energy you need. This drink will always be finished, even if it is left out and the bubbles go away. 

This Week’s Crumbl Cookie Breakdown

By: Morgan Aycock

My ratings are:

  1. Cookies and cream milkshake ft mini Oreo

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A chilly cookies & cream milkshake-inspired cookie bursting with OREO® cookie pieces from the base to the creamy vanilla buttercream, and finished with a MINI OREO® cookie.

I have tried this cookie and it is really good and chilled is my favorite. The cookie and the frosting both are cookies and cream flavor and it has pieces of Oreo in them. Cookies and cream is one of my favorite flavors so this is number one for me. 

  1. Brownie sundae

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A gooey brownie cradled by crisp chocolatey edges, topped with velvety vanilla mousse, smothered in warm fudge, and finished with rainbow sprinkles and a cherry on top.

I think it would be better if it was served warm and not at bakery temperature. I like the vanilla mousse on it and I think this is a good idea to have. 

  1. Pumpkin cake cookie

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A warm and fluffy pumpkin spiced cookie layered with cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of semi-sweet chocolate chips.

I like how this is not too much pumpkin and I like the chocolate chips added on top. I also think it was a really good idea to add cream cheese frosting.

  1. Semi sweet chocolate chip

Crumbl Cookies’ description: Chocolate chip, but make it chunky—a delicious cookie filled with irresistible semi-sweet chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

This is served usually every week so I think it could get old for people to keep buying. I don’t think it’s a good idea for the sea salt to be there, but overall a pretty good cookie.

  1. Oatmeal chocolate chip

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A thick cinnamon oatmeal cookie filled with layers of melty milk chocolate chips.

I think they have too many cinnamon flavors. I like oatmeal cookies, but I don’t think they had to add cinnamon.

  1. Ultimate peanut butter

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A peanut butter cookie stuffed with peanut butter and topped with a drizzle of melted peanut butter.

Immediately no. Way too much peanut butter and it’s the only flavor that is in the cookie. I think without the peanut butter drizzle on top it could be good, but I think the flavor is way too overpowering.

This week’s Crumbl Cookie Preview

This week’s lineup of Crumbl Cookies is (September 16-21)

My ratings are:

  1. Brownie batter 

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A gooey chocolate cookie packed with semi-sweet chocolate chips and topped with delectable brownie batter.

I have not tried this cookie but I love brownies and this sounds so good. It would be the best because the reviews I have watched say that it is served warm and the chocolate chips in it are a good add in.

  1. Raspberry cheesecake ft. Philadelphia cream cheese

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A true, classic vanilla cheesecake baked over a buttery graham cracker crust, then topped with a tangy mouth-watering raspberry spread and a dollop of whipped cream. 

I would love to try this cookie because I love cheesecake and strawberry would be better on top instead of raspberry in my opinion, but it still sounds really good. Cheesecake is my favorite and this is very unique to make this a new flavor, served chilled is also the best.10/10

  1. Caramel pumpkin cake

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A fluffy pumpkin cookie, topped with a swirl of smooth caramel cream cheese frosting and a light sprinkling of pumpkin cookie crumbs.

Cream cheese frosting is the best kind of icing and to mix it in with caramel and pumpkin is genius. Pumpkin is not my favorite, but I like how it’s not only a pumpkin cookie, and they added more flavors in it.

  1. Semi sweet chocolate chip

Crumbl Cookies’ description: Chocolate chip, but make it chunky—a delicious cookie filled with irresistible semi-sweet chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt.

Even though this is a weekly flavor, it is a classic and you can never go wrong with the basics. The sea salt adds a sweet and hint of salty flavor, and everyone loves a chocolate chip cookie.

  1. Maple cinnamon square

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A moist, fluffy cinnamon square marbled with brown sugar cinnamon butter and smothered with a light maple cream cheese frosting.

Again with the square cakes and I don’t know why they keep doing these. It’s not a good idea to sell things other than cookies in my opinion. I don’t like maple at all and although there is cinnamon also, it doesn’t do it much better. It’s not in last place because of the cream cheese frosting. 

  1. Fried ice cream

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A delicious cinnamon cookie with smooth white drop buttercream and topped with a fried ice cream streusel.

Confused as to why they would pick this flavor. I feel like no one would buy this and the picture of it online looks like it has crunched up Frosted Flakes on top of it. Fried ice cream streusel doesn’t even make sense and I feel like they only chose this as a flavor because they’re running out of ideas.

Rating Crumbl Cookie Flavors

By: Morgan Aycock

I will be starting a series of rating the Crumbl Cookie flavors of the week. As many know, Crumbl Cookie has soared throughout the internet and blown up all around the US. The company, founded in 2017, was recently deemed the fastest-growing chain of dessert shops in the US. This viral sensation is popular for their weekly-changing menu which consists of six cookies. The company uses social media to acquire customers and gets customers to purchase when their favorite flavors are available and plays on the fear of missing out. My ratings are solely opinion based.

This week’s menu items (September 2-7):

Semi-sweet chocolate chunk

The afterlife cake

Banana bread

Churro

Strawberry shortcake cookie

Triple chocolate chip

  1. Strawberry shortcake cookie

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A cakey cookie topped with silky whipped cream, freshly chopped strawberries, and a house-made strawberry jam. (4.4 stars)

I have not tried this cookie, however, I think I would like it the most because it has whipped cream and not their traditional icing with the strawberries on top.

  1. Semi-sweet chocolate chunk

Crumbl Cookies’ description: Chocolate chip, but make it chunky—a delicious cookie filled with irresistible semi-sweet chocolate chunks and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. (4.6 stars)

Crumbl has this flavor every week. Although some say it gets old, I believe that it is a classic and Crumbl has yet to fail with this cookie. 

  1. Triple chocolate chip 

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A chocolate cookie packed with semi-sweet chunks, creamy white chips, and milk chocolate chips. (4.3 stars)

I have had this cookie numerous times, and it has been pretty good every time. It is a little boring as a whole, but there is not much to mess up on, and I like how warm it is.

  1. Churro

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A warm cookie bursting with cinnamon flavor and topped with a swirl of smooth cinnamon buttercream and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. (4.5 stars)

I also have not tried this cookie, but I think I would like how it is served warm. I have watched reviews on this cookie from numerous people, and they have all said that it tastes almost exactly like a real churro. However, I think the immense amount of cinnamon would overpower the cookie and I do not think I would like it.

  1. The afterlife cake

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A ghostly two-tiered dark chocolate cake layered with vanilla and dark chocolate cream cheese frosting, NATURALLY colored by rich dark cocoa, and finished with sprinkles and a special-edition topper. (4.3 stars)

I do not think I would like this cake and I also think the idea of a Beetlejuice cake is not popular. Many people have said that the cake is bland and dry, and I do not like the dark chocolate and vanilla mix. I think it should be a more interesting cake and have more flavors.

  1. Banana bread

Crumbl Cookies’ description: A fluffy banana bread loaf topped with a crunch of brown sugar and cinnamon-packed streusel. (4 stars)

With this being the most on average lowest rating of the week, it obviously had to be last. I think that Crumbl should stick to only selling cookies, and after watching many reviews on this bread, many have said it is bland and dry. I have also heard that it had no banana flavor in it. 

Which is better, Yucatan or Mariachis?

By: Clark Kinney

It’s the age old debate of the two staple Mexican restaurants in Sumter: Yucatan or Mariachis? Now I really do like both and go to both often, but one is sightly better overall in my opinion. 

Mariachis has a very friendly staff who are always looking out for you and your table. Despite not usually writing your order down (which worries me), they do get them right most of the time. The atmosphere is solid with lots of TVs especially outside where there are fans and heaters to regulate the temperature. The chips and salsa are pretty good along with the queso but could be a little better. The food is good overall but there is room for improvement. I would give the food a 7.1 out of 10. A couple things they really do have going for them is their homemade ranch which is fire and their blue smurf drink which is sprite mixed with something blue and topped with whipped cream. I haven’t had it since probably 6th grade but it’s good bumped their score up a point or so. One thing they don’t have going for them even though I understand why is that they are not open on Sundays which is sad because people with go there after church or to watch NFL football.

Yucatan has a nice staff but not as caring as Mariachis. They have always gotten my order right other than one time, and they gave me my meal for free. The food also comes out in no time so it feels like you’re never waiting. The atmosphere is solid with music and TVs but not as many TVs as Mariachis. The chips and salsa are so good along with the queso. Yucatan’s queso is what makes the restaurant better than Mariachi’s. Their queso is just better like I don’t know how else to put it. It makes every meal at Yucatan good. It brings their food rating up to a 7.9 out of 10. They are also open on Sundays which is a plus.

In my opinion, Yucatan is simply better than Mariachis based on their better tasting food and shorter wait times. It is close though but Yucatan takes it, it is the best Mexican restaurant in Sumter.