If you have been on TikTok or Instagram recently, you probably have heard of some foods and drinks deemed as “trendy” and “mouth-watering worthy.”
But most of these come with a pretty decent price tag, so you need to know if they’re worth the cost before making any rash purchases. Hope this helps.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Every fall, the only drink people seem to care about are pumpkin spice lattes. The main place to buy them is, of course, Starbucks. But with a 16-ounce medium drink coming in at almost $7, are they any good?
The classic pumpkin spice latte has the consistency of a regular coffee, but it can come topped with whipped cream. The drink is pretty sweet and can be appreciated by non-coffee drinkers as well.
But in reality, the pumpkin flavor is not very strong, and the sweetness is a little overpowering at times. It should be noted the drinks come hot or iced, which is a convenient. Overall, I would not recommend this drink because it is relatively expensive and unhealthy with a medium coming in at 390 calories and a whopping 50 grams of sugar. Plus, the unique seasonality of the drink is mostly reserved to the name, not the flavor. Rating: 2 Stars.
Dubai Chocolate
Dubai Chocolate is one of the most popular sweets in the world right now, but to actually get your hands on some might prove to be difficult. Plus, the trendy sweet isn’t the cheapest, as some bars of Dubai Chocolate can cost upwards of $20.
Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on some bars at Costco and through Amazon. It was worth the effort.
Dubai Chocolate consists of a pistachio creme filling, with bits of crunchy Kadayif, all coated in rich, smooth chocolate. The Kadayif bits – pieces of finely shredded phyllo pastry dough – add a nice crunchy texture and bite, similar to a crunch bar, and the pistachio creme filling with the chocolate is just perfect.
This is probably my new favorite candy bar, even though it is definitely not the healthiest (270 calories, 26 grams of sugar for a snack-size bar) or the cheapest, so I won’t be buying it too often. If you haven’t tried it, though, it is a must have. Rating: 5 Stars.
Chili’s Triple Dipper
A savory food item that has been trending recently is the Triple Dipper from Chili’s Grill and Bar. The triple dipper consists of a variety of dipping sauces and appetizers that combine into a delicious entree.
It is viral for its ability to customize and creative food hacks that are possible with all the options. I went to Chili’s and tried the Triple Dipper and ordered the most popular choices, the sliders, buffalo wings and fried mozzarella with the salsa, ranch and blue cheese sauces.
I thought the sliders were a little underwhelming and bland, as they came out with only semi-warm American cheese on the patty. The buns also were a little too big, but dipping them in the blue cheese made up for that. The fried mozzarella was good and I highly recommend dipping it in the salsa for the ultimate effect. The cheese is very melty on the inside, so if you prefer crispy cheese you may want to stay away.
But the buffalo wings were the absolute kicker of the whole meal. They had a little kick to them but the heat was tolerable and they were pretty crispy too. They’re best served with ranch.
The price for the Triple Dipper comes in at just under $20, but you do get a lot of bang for your buck, making this meal pretty cost effective. I wouldn’t order again just because there are meals I prefer more for the $20 price tag. But if you are creative and can come up with some cool combinations, I would definitely give it a try. Rating: 3 Stars
BJ’s Pizookie
One of the most legendary desserts known to mankind is the Pizookie.
Within the menu of BJ’s Restaurants and Brew house in Dublin lays the fabled mixture of cookie and brownie in a pizza pie dish.
There are 11 types of Pizookie, but the most popular is the hot fudge brownie one, which contains a warm, gooey brownie, shaped like a deep dish pizza that comes with vanilla ice cream, pecans, chocolate drizzle, and whipped cream.
This is one of my favorite desserts and I don’t think I have ever gone to BJ’s without ordering it.
Pizookies come in multiple sizes, but the traditional personal size is only $5, which is pretty reasonable for a dessert of its caliber.
Overall, the Pizookie is a must-try, and even if you have had it before, feel free to treat yourself and get it again. And again. Rating: 5 Stars
As you know, the internet isn’t always right and there are definitely some bad trends out there.
Although some foods and drinks are all the rage, they could also just be marketing ploys to get your money.
Of course taste is very subjective and everyone’s opinions differ, but hopefully you now know what to expect before making a purchase.
