taste-test

"Chipotle serves margaritas?" That was the resounding reaction when we set up today's officewide taste test of the chain's latest offering: made-to-order margaritas. Ardent Chipotle fans may raise their hackles at that statement: since day one, the burrito chain has served margaritas, though they were little-publicized as an option. But two weeks ago, Chipotle announced it was rolling out a new made-to-order margarita program, featuring freshly squeezed citrus juice, organic agave syrup, Cointreau, and an optional salted rim in lieu of a preblended mix (as was the old standard).

Were the newly revamped margaritas an improvement on the original — and more importantly, should you sip 'em or skip 'em? Keep reading for our conclusion.

Pepperidge Farm's swirled loaves have a special place in my heart: growing up, I was never allowed white bread, save for an occasional slice of Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Swirl, because even my mother couldn't resist the loaf. So when we received a special delivery of the breadmaker's newest, limited-edition flavor, Blueberry Swirl ($4), I audibly squealed with delight (to the alarm of my co-workers) and sprinted to the toaster.

The spongy, melt-in-your mouth bread has all the awesome qualities found in the original cinnamon loaf; only this time, it's dotted with dried blueberries and a blueberry-flavored swirl. Is it made with real blueberries? Don't know and don't care! Actually, a quick scan of the ingredients does show dehydrated blueberries and blueberry juice concentrate (at the very bottom of the list). But that's no bother! The blueberry flavor bursts forth, making this one berry fruity, addictive bread. Try to stop at one slice; I dare you. Keep reading to see how long it's on shelves.

"What is that stuff?" I asked the barista, eyeing the dark tan mixture he poured into my Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.

"I don't really know," he responded. As if to explain, he added, "I just got back from a two-week vacation, so I'm kind of out of it. And this is our first day making this drink."

I watched with both curiosity and suspicion as he followed the tan liquid with a more-than-generous drizzle of caramel and a shower of toffee-colored bits. I'd stopped into my neighborhood Starbucks to check out the new offering, released today — the first new Frappuccino flavor in a year — but after watching two being made, I still wasn't sure what was going into the drink.

Keep reading to learn more about the Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.

McDonald's Egg White Delight McMuffin (left) and Egg McMuffin (right)

I take whole milk (or even half-and-half) in my tea and have been known to add an extra yolk to my morning scramble, so to say that I'm not the intended demographic for the latest McDonald's offering — the Egg White Delight McMuffin — is an understatement. Still, I tried to put my bias aside. I snapped up the Gabby Douglas-endorsed breakfast sandwich and sat down with our food team to see if it stacks up to the beloved original. Thanks to a swap of egg whites for the original griddled egg, the Egg White Delight McMuffin has 50 calories fewer and nearly half the fat of its classic counterpart. There's one other subtle substitution — white cheddar instead of American cheese — but the new option is otherwise unchanged.

Though McDonald's has found itself at the center of egg controversy in recent years, the star of the McMuffin is undoubtedly still the egg. How would a switch-up in the sandwich's standout ingredient, we wondered, affect the chain's bestselling breakfast sandwich? Keep reading for the answer and to find out which McMuffin we'd pick.

While it's always been easy for vegetarians and vegans to order at Chipotle, the burrito chain has rolled out yet another meat-free option to pilot locations in Northern California: Sofritas, shredded Hodo Soy tofu marinated in a spicy sauce made from chipotle chiles, roasted poblanos, and Mexican spices. Being fans of both Chipotle and Hodo Soy tofu, an Oakland-based brand that stocks the restaurants with the soy product, we tried Sofritas for ourselves. See if it's worth ordering.

The question: can a mass-market potato chip capture the much-beloved earthy, caramelized sweetness of roasted garlic without verging on cloying, burnt, or worse? As I ripped into a bag of Lay's latest offering — Wavy Lay's Roasted Garlic and Sea Salt Chips — I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but as soon as a crisp chip crunched between my teeth I knew we had a winner on our hands. Just to be sure I wasn't biased — I'm an unabashed garlic fan, often doubling up on the fragrant allium in recipes — I set out a bowl to share with my office mates to see if they'd agree.  

Find out the results.

Pringles . . . in stick form? With the relaunch of Pringles Stix ($3) in Pizza, Cheese, and Honey Butter flavors, many in our office scoffed at the unfamiliar shape and wondered how the Pringles Stix fared compared to the company's famed flaky chips. However, the experience and flavors of the sticks weren't what we anticipated. Keep reading to see our tasting notes and rating.

Pringles Pizza Stix

Our tasters sang praises for this pizza flavor. Described as packing plenty of pizza-like flavors, one taster even ventured to say, "I want to go back in time so my mom can pack these in my lunch box." Another likened the sticks to Italian cheesy bread topped with plenty of basil and oregano.

Tasters' average rating:

See the other flavors.