Product Review KFC’s Waffle Double Down & A Bit Of My Foodie History

As usual, I could smell the KFC before I saw it on my walk!

I am sure a lot of you are asking, why Suzie? Why? Why did you go to KFC? Especially for that monstrosity of a so-called sandwich known as the Waffle Double Down.

My Foodie History

Normally I do not like to get too personal about my family’s past but let’s just say when my parents separated and then divorced it was one of the most painful times of my life. On every level. And life just got worse and worse. Part of the thing that changed of course was food. We went from meals made from mostly scratch to lots and lots of fast food. All the time. So much so that one of the many Friday nights we ordered pizza, Pizza Pizza gave us a phone with their logo on it in the shape of a 1 for our 100th pizza.

KFC was a treat when I was very young but it became part of the foodie rotation here and there. Along with Swiss Chalet and Mary Brown’s Chicken. I still to this day recoil at the smell of Swiss Chalet even though I have moments of enjoying their chicken as an adult. The reflex to reject it is still in my DNA even if my stomach disagrees.

Nostalgia

The one thing about KFC that I had a yearning to eat again is their salad. And not just one. I loved their spicy coleslaw and their gooey pasta salad. When I heard about the Waffle Double Down being back, I thought it was the perfect time to go for a walk and take myself out for lunch and make sure to get those salads as sides. By the way, I had not been to a KFC in over 20 years so if you are judging me? Bite me.

The Order

I ordered a water, the Waffle Double Down and the two small salads. The cashier said, oh you should get our Big Box Meal! She assured me it came with everything I wanted and cost $10.99. Since a pop was included I asked if they had juice at the soda bar. She said yes. They didn’t. Unless you consider orange pop soda. Which is what I settled for.

The Meal

My first thought after settling in and opening the box, so happy to sit down away from the rain, was holy crap that is HUGE!!!

The Reveal

I opened up the silver package which was quite heavy to reveal the Waffle Double Down in all its glory. Still, the photo did not do it justice.

The Beast

There we go! I did not realize that the top and bottom layers were two WHOLE chicken breasts. What a foodie BEAST!

The Sauce

Inside there is a crispy Belgian waffle gently decorated with a “Canadian maple aioli sauce“. I had read another article saying that there was some spice added to it with Sriracha but that article has since disappeared and I can tell you, all you taste is maple. No heat.

The Chicken

I thought the deep fried chicken “buns” would be more like nuggets and a hell of a lot smaller but no, they actually look and taste like REAL chicken breast to me.

Did it give me that authentic fried chicken and waffles taste and experience? Absolutely! In fact, because I am not a huge fan of sweet but I love meat this was perfectly balanced for me. More savoury to have the two pieces of chicken and that stunning maple kissed Belgian waffle in the centre. Had it been the other way around it would have been too messy and sweet for this foodie.

That said, it was so huge, I only ate half and am hoping it is re-heatable. Fingers crossed! Regardless, I got my money’s worth no matter what. I highly recommend you being super hungry if you intend to order this and eat it all at once, especially if you also ordered sides. I give this product four out of five wooden spoons.

The Salads

First I was like, what the hell? The coleslaw isn’t bright green! Even on their website now it is still bright green. It had that same strong and bold flavour of my childhood though so that was a relief. The macaroni is still super tender with lots of sloppy dressing. For me, this tasted like home. A mixture of nostalgia, sadness and today’s reality.

It is weird to feel like 23 years of your life did not happen. That you are back where you started all over again. I am going through a weird time loop and foodie touchstones like KFC salads help. A year ago when I went to Off The Grid and had that milkshake with waffle wedge I cried the entire time I was there. Hence why I am always wearing sunglasses. Yesterday when I used what little strength I had to get to the KFC and sat there indulging in that beast of a sandwich, I was OK. I actually smiled as I ate the salads, feeling like a teenage girl again.

I am not proud to admit that junk food was a big part of my adolescence. It certainly was not my choice and by the time I moved out I never wanted to eat it again. I taught myself to cook and over time allowed myself to indulge. I actually got completely addicted to shawarmas in no time but at least that was NEW! It may be another 20 years before I go to KFC again but I am glad I went. It reminded me of who I used to be, who I want to be now and where I want to take my foodie journey. More on that to come…

Happy Long Weekend! May it be fun and delicious.

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