Jersey Joe uncovers a bunch of hilarious bad online reviews for restaurants, hotels, and national landmarks. How mad were these people to post these kind of reviews?
THE 411
What: Bad online reviews
Posted to: Yelp, travelocity, delivery.com
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
Have you ever taken a second to read comments people post about your favorite restaurant, hotel, or national park? Some people really like to vent their frustrations online. Take a look, next time you order online. If you find any good ones — send them along to me @JerseyJoe50. I’d love to share them!
Heinz, Hunts, or generic? We all use ketchup, but in a blind taste test can you tell the difference? I assembled a panel of 9 friends and co-workers and put them to the test.
Ketchup or catsup is a delicious red sauce made primarily of tomatoes, vinegar, and sugar. Generally used as a condiment for hot foods such as French fries and hamburgers, it can also be used as an ingredient to add additional flavor when cooking.
The first form of ketchup (I’m not calling it catsup) was originally made in 17th century China, where it was a brine for pickled fish. The sauce was discovered by English explorers a century later and then made it to the new colonies in the United States. The Chinese pronounced it kay-chap, but when the English got a hold of the sauce, it was changed to our common word, ketchup.
While there are many variations on the recipe, the American tomato version was first created and published by Sandy Addison in 1801. The English version used at that time contained anchovies!
As the 19th century went on, the popularity of ketchup skyrocketed. Being made and sold by local farmers, Americans could eat the sauce without having to worry about the shelf life of tomatoes.
In 1876, the Heinz foods corporation was the first to launch a mass produced ketchup to stores and advertised it as “Blessed relief for mother and other women in the household.” Years later, after concerns over sodium benzoate, Heinz changed the recipe to remove the controversial preservative. Ketchup now has an additive, usually xanthan gum, which gives it a thinning property. The harder you slap or shake the bottle, the more liquidity it will become, allowing it to be removed easily. Once it is no longer in motion, the ketchup will return to a more solid, thicker state.
Heinz ketchup main rival in the United States in Hunts. Hunts started out as the Hunts Bros. Fruit Packing Company of Sebastopol, California in 1888. It wasn’t until the 1930’s after a company takeover they decided to focus on canned tomato products and prepared tomato sauce.
As with most common household products, most stores have their own private label generic brand products. For this taste test, I went with Shop-Rite brand generic ketchup, but the store name was not disclosed until after I finished the test.
I placed a small serving of each in secretly labeled clear plastic cups and then gave one cup each to my panelists. 7 of them tried the ketchup with standard French fries, 1 with sweet potato fries, and 1 ate some off a knife because we ran out of fries.
I asked three simple questions:
Pick your favorite
Tell me which is Heinz, Hunts, and the generic brand
What brand do you usually buy?
They each first picked their favorite. The brand was not disclosed at this point, but here’s what they chose:
FAVORITE KETCHUP
Heinz 3
Hunts 3
Generic 3
It was split right down the middle. Not even the lottery has these kinds of odds!
“I was really stuck between Hunts and generic,” said Mike from Jersey City, New Jersey.
But, when I asked them what brand they usually buy:
BRAND USUALLY BUY
Heinz 5 2 incorrect
Hunts 0 2 incorrect
Generic 3 1 incorrect
Doesn’t buy ketchup 1
Three of the panelists missed identifying their favorite brand in the blind test. One Heinz buyer picked generic and one picked Hunts. One generic buyer picked Heinz as their favorite. One Hunts buyer picked generic, while the other picked Heinz. The third Hunts panelist said he usually doesn’t buy ketchup.
That means that 33% of those taking the taste test could not identify their favorite brand.
“Heinz is the gold standard in ketchup,” said Max from Cranford, New Jersey.
When asked to name which brand was which, based on flavor, here’s how many out of the 9 panelists got the brand correct:
CORRECTLY IDENTIFIED
Heinz 5
Hunts 4
Generic 5
More than half of the panelists correctly picked both Heinz and the generic brands. 3 panelists got zero correct, while 4 guessed all three correctly.
Many of the comments they made stated that Heinz has a distinct flavor and texture.
The ketchup taste test underway.
“You can tell one is sweeter and one is saltier,” said Jeremy from Bayonne, New Jersey.
“The generic is watered down,” said Michael from Los Angeles, California.
Our test can conclude that the generic brand is pretty darn close to as good as Heinz, the most indefinable product. When I did the test, I felt that the generic had a very strong flavor and I was surprised when I mixed it up with Hunts in my blind taste test. I always buy Heinz and was able to easily identify that. But, the generic really did have a strong flavor and I did like the taste of all three brands.
But, when you look at the ketchup aisle in the store it can be a bit overwhelming. While there may be only a few select brands to choose from, there are dozens of different varieties.
On some bottles ketchup is labeled as “fancy,” meaning it contains a higher amount of tomatoes and solid concentration, beating FDA standards.
In the Philippines, ketchup is actually made from bananas and has been since World War II, when there was a shortage of tomatoes. To compete with tomato ketchup, it is dyed red.
The number 57 on a Heinz bottle means nothing. Founder Henry Heinz simply thought the number was lucky. There are more than 60 Heinz products on store shelves.
Should you refrigerate ketchup? An open bottle will last one month in the cupboard, but an open bottle in the refrigerator will last up to six months.
Most ketchup sold in stores contains a large amount of sugar. Something may people forget when they are on a sugar restrictive diet.
For quick comparison, according to the bottle, 1 tablespoon of ketchup from each the three tested brands contains:
Calories:
Heinz 20
Hunts 25
Shop Rite generic 15
Fat:
Heinz 0g
Hunts 0g
Shop Rite generic 0g
Sugar:
Heinz 4g
Hunts 4g
Shop Rite generic 4g
THE 411
Name: ketchup or catsup
What: tomato based condiment popular in the United States
First recipe in US: 1801
First sold commercially in US: 1876
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS
It’s Heinz all the way for me and I was easily able to identify it during my blind taste test. (Yes, I admit I got the other two confused…)
However, you may want to try this test yourself and see if you are purchasing what you and your family really like. You could even collect some sample packets that are given away at restaurants and see which you like best.
Monday morning, people in the Los Angeles area were shaken awake by a 4.4 earthquake. While earthquakes are nothing new to California residents it still took some of the local news anchors by surprise on live TV. From the local news, to baseball games, to Judge Judy – let’s check out some awesome earthquakes caught on the air.
The greatest reaction to Monday’s earthquake had to be by the KTLA Morning News anchors. While a quake can be starting, should these two have kept a little calmer? You decide in this video that has gone viral…
http://youtu.be/SCJihgO5gmg
In Japan, broadcasters have earthquake warnings down to a science. The second the earth starts shaking, all shows are automatically interrupted by a series of audio chimes and a map, showing the location of the quake, and a computer voice giving viewers instructions.
This video was taken from the day of the big 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. What’s interesting is not only do we get to see the first warnings about the quake (with live shots of their parliament meeting being shook up) but also at 1:32 we see the local news report as it interrupts the programming and then the quake strikes the studio. Listen carefully to the studio crew’s reactions as well. (It’s subtitled in English).
But it’s not over yet, stay tuned for the most shocking part. At 3:30 the emergency computer kicks off the local news for a tsunami warning. Listen how the alert tone and graphics take a much more serious tone. The computers give viewers an estimate as to where the wave will hit, how high, and how much time they have to evacuate. This tsunami caused massive devastation, including the near meltdown of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant that has left numerous towns abandoned. The live news coverage of the whole event is shocking.
Back in 2010, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake was centered in Virginia, but the effects were felt up and down the east coast. First, it interrupts a live streaming news show in Washington DC…
…and then strikes a live mlb.com webcast from New York. At first, the guy on the right is so focused on baseball stats; he won’t stop talking and really becomes a bigger bonehead with what he says at the end of the event…
One of the most famous earthquakes caught on live TV was during ABC’s coverage of the 1989 World Series from San Francisco. Here’s what viewers saw (including me) from coast to coast as the quake strikes during pregame.
Lastly, only an earthquake can silence Judge Judy in her court. Here’s what happened when a quake strikes as she’s taping an episode. She is so out of there!
While we still can’t predict an earthquake, with everyone now armed with mobile devices, social media, and 24 hour news; video and news of the events go out to the masses seconds after it happens.
THE 411
What: earthquakes caught on TV
Where: mostly West Coast and Japan – but, pretty much anywhere
JERSEY JOE RECOMMENDS:
Having been through the New York earthquake, you almost don’t realize one is happening until it’s already half way over. I’m sure my friends in California who have been through bigger quakes will have a different viewpoint. I’ve only ever been through one and that’s good enough!
That live newscast from Japan during the 2011 earthquake and tsunami is really powerful. It captures the whole event as it happened and I applaud whoever uploaded it for giving us a glimpse of that terrible day. I’m not sure why we don’t have an earthquake warning system here in the US, like they do there. Along with the tsunami warning system, it certainly saved many lives that day. We have Amber alerts, Silver alerts, and the Emergency Alert System, so why not one for earthquakes?
Ordering an item off a restaurant’s secret menu, can give you the feeling that you’re part of a club, where only special people have the privileged information. Many restaurants have secret menus, or items that you can order, that aren’t officially on the menu. Fast food restaurants are no exception, with everyone from Burger King to In and Out Burger getting in on the secret menu act.
Some restaurants are more open about their secret items than others. Dozens of websites and news stories are devoted to finding the newest secret item. While some have been created by the restaurant specifically, others have been created by fans, and have become lore. I recently sampled two of McDonald’s secret menu items: The McGangBang and The Land, Sea, and Air Burger.
The McGangBang
THE MCGANGBANG
The McGangBang may be McDonald’s most famous secret menu item and likely, because of the price. Both items needed to make the sandwich come off the dollar menu, giving you a full meal for only a couple of bucks.
Simply put, the McGangBang is a McChicken sandwich, shoved in between the patties of a McDouble. Each costs $1 on the dollar menu, so for a cheap $2 plus tax, you have this belly busting sandwich!
The name is a nod to the adult term, “gang bang” which means to have intercourse with multiple partners at one time. So, I guess your taste buds are getting multiple flavors at one time? Obviously, this is not officially sanctioned by the McDonald’s corporation.
When I tried ordering this at my local New Jersey McDonald’s, the woman had no idea what I was talking about. Sadly, she spoke little English, so even ordering regular items became a challenge. Armed with my knowledge of the sandwich, I ordered the McChicken and a McDouble and assembled them, myself.
The taste was pretty good and the sandwich is definitely filling! The chicken and the beef patties go well together. The mayo from the McChicken worked well with the ketchup, pickle, and onions of the McDouble. Each time I chewed, I got a little flavor of chicken and then a little flavor of beef. The sandwich was a little heavy with all the multiple patties of meat.
Maybe a more “in the know” cashier will know about this sandwich, but my first secret menu ordering attempt was a bust. Some online reports list this as being first served by employees at a Daytona Beach, Florida McDonald’s. (Again, probably without the consent of the McDonald’s corporation.)
According to recipes online, you can replace the McDouble with a Big Mac, but I’m not sure how that would work with the secret sauce. You can also spice this up, by replacing the McChicken with a Spicy McChicken. I’d definitely try this again, but keep to the original McDouble recipe.
Apparently, there is another version known as a McWhitey, which features a Filet-O-Fish sandwiched in between two McChickens.
The Land, Sea, and Air Burger
THE LAND, SEA, AND AIR BURGER
This giant sandwich looks really nice once assembled! The land, sea, and air burger consists of a patty of beef (land), fish (sea), and chicken (air) all placed together. Yes, I know chickens can’t really fly… I’m not responsible for naming this thing! Would you rather call it the Land, Sea, and Embryo Hatcher Burger?
To enjoy this monstrosity, you will have to pony up several bucks. Only the Hamburger and McChicken are on the dollar menu, so you will need to pay the full price for the Filet-O-Fish to finish this giant sandwich.
This time, I tried ordering at a New York City McDonald’s and again, she had no idea what I was talking about. So, I ordered the three sandwiches separately and assembled everything myself.
The taste was really gross. The tarter sauce from the Filet-O-Fish drowned out all other flavors and the fish was really nasty with the hamburger and chicken. While it looked impressive when plated, the taste prevented me from finishing this one.
I couldn’t find who first came up with the idea for this sandwich, but it is not as much of a cost saver as the McGangBang. Do yourself a favor and pass on this one.
The internet is full of McDonald’s secret menu items, but it looks like only fans or bored employees are responsible. None of these are sanctioned by the restaurant.
A few other popular so called McDonald’s secret menu items are:
• Big McChicken – a Big Mac, but with the buns replaced with McChicken patties, similar to the KFC Double Down sandwich a few years ago
• Chicken McGriddle – a McGriddle breakfast sandwich with a slab of fried chicken instead of the sausage, egg, or bacon
• Grilled Cheese – cheeseburger with no meat patty or condiments
• Mc1035 – only available from 10:35-11am, when breakfast service is switching over to lunch, featuring two burger patties and cheese (from a McDouble) sandwiched inside an Egg McMuffin
• McCrepe – an order of hotcakes, with a yogurt parfait folded up inside
• McKinley Mac – this was actually served at one time and still is overseas, featuring Quarter Pounder patties, instead of regular burger patties, on a Big Mac
• Monster Mac – 8 burger patties piled inside a Big Mac, variations have appeared on overseas menus
• Pie McFlurry – a McFlurry with an apple pie blended inside
While some of these may sound crazy, McDonald’s has an interesting assortment of sandwiches, which ARE being served by their restaurants overseas. While there are hundreds of sandwiches we never see here, here’s a list of a few more novel ones being offered in foreign markets:
The Ebi Filet-O in Japan
• German Sausage Chicken – served in Japan, fried chicken patty, pork sausage, sauerkraut, cheese, and mustard
• Mega Sausage – served for breakfast in Japan, a hot dog with relish and ketchup or mustard
• McPork – served in Japan, a sausage patty with lettuce and sweet & sour sauce
• Ebi Filet-O – served in Japan, a shrimp patty with Thousand Island dressing and lettuce
• Mega Tomago – served in Japan, a double Big Mac with egg and bacon
Ad for the Mega Tomago
• McD Chicken Porridge – served in Malaysia, porridge with onions and chicken
• Prosperity Burger – served in Malaysia, looks like a McRib, but with black pepper sauce and onions, may be chicken or beef
• McSpaghetti – served in the Philippines
• Seaweed Shaker Fries – served in Asia
• Chicken Maharaja Mac – served in India, a Big Mac with spicy grilled chicken, instead of beef
• McAloo Tiki Burger – potato and chickpea patty with tomato, onions, and tomato mayonnaise
• Brie Nuggets – served in Russia
• McTurco – served in Turkey, two beef patties, lettuce, tomato, cayenne pepper sauce on a pita
The McLobster
• Kiwi Burger – served in New Zealand, with beef, tomato, fried egg, lettuce, and beet root
• McLobster – served in Canada & parts of US, lobster salad on a roll
• Lakeswrap – served in Norway, fried salmon filet, lettuce, cheese, in a tortilla
• McKroket – served in Hungary, fried pastry filled with beef stew on a bun
• McPumpkin Omlet Sandwich – served in Hungary, vegetable beef hash brown, egg, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, on pumpkin seed roll
McDonald’s first opened in 1940 in San Bernardino, California and along with the rise of the automobile, helped fuel the fast food craze that swept through the United States and now globally. Their menu of quick service burgers and fries, along with their mascot Ronald McDonald, has become an American icon.
While McDonald’s does not have an official company sanctioned secret menu, many other fast food chains do. Pass along the info if you know of or have tried any!
McDonald’s restaurant in Miles City, Montana
THE 411
Name: McGangBang and Land, Sea, and Air Burger
What: so called McDonald’s restaurant secret menu items
First served: approximately 2006? Popularity spread with rise of internet
Don’t be surprised if you get shot down when you ask for one of these at your local McDonald’s. I don’t want to discourage you from giving it a try. But, if they have no idea what you are talking about, just do what I did, and order the parts to assemble the sandwiches yourself.
Just stay away from the Land, Sea, and Air burger… this thing is just gross!
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