So, I had to run to Grand Rapids last night to pick up a used flywheel for my mower. I felt lucky to find this thing because it's got a plastic ring that matches mine and I don't have to buy a new pinion gear for the starter to match it and it's close enough to pick up and NOT have to wait for shipping.
Anyway, I decide I'm going to grab a burger on the way down because I'm pressed for time and I haven't had Burger King in a quite a long while.
As I pull up I notice a panel on theboard advertising a "Ghost Pepper Burger" and I'm curious. Now please note that I am an average Caucasian Male with average Capsacin tolerance. I'm not looking for an eye watering, mouth peeling, anus burning experience. But I thought I'd try something different, and not having Ghost Peppers before, I was interested in seeing how they tasted.
Now let's get right down to the review.
First, this is one of those long BK burgers, in which they place two burger patties between the long chicken sandwich buns. On the patties they place lettuce, ranch dressing, and hot peppers.
The first bite and I'm not terribly impressed. I get a bit of pepper flavor, but no real heat. I'm thinking I must have missed the peppers. I take another bite, this time sure to get a chunk of "ghost pepper".
NOW I get a bit of pepper flavor! I get some heat too. I carefully taste the pepper flavor to see if I like it.
Huh. It tastes like pickled Jalapenos. A few more bites and the heat is coming up nicely. It peaks out at just above where I would prefer it. Not THAT hot, but very warm and probably just below the tear inducing stage for me.
And it tastes just like pickled Jalapenos.
I wish I could have liked it more, but there were a couple of problems. Firstly, this could easily have been named the Hot Jalapeno burger. I couldn't discern any difference between this flavor and the pickled Jalapenos I'm use to using at home from a jar. I have no idea what Ghost Peppers taste like, but I'll be disappointed if they taste just like Jalapenos.
Secondly, there is plenty of ranch, peppers, and lettuce, but I think the burger could have been better balanced with a second layer of burger. I've tried to find this burger on the Internet to be sure I'm not misremembering the ingredients, but I can't find it. Apparently then they sell a "Ghost" pepper burger, it's invisible. Maybe Reed City, Michigan is hosting a trial food for them.
At any rate, I did manage to eat the whole thing and enjoyed it somewhat. I did not have to resort to eating the fish sandwich I also bought as backup in case I could not eat the Ghost Pepper thing.
And I'm pleased to report that I did not suffer any after-effects this morning. I did have a bit of heartburn last night from laying on my right side, but I attribute that to my eating chips and french onion dip before bed and washing it down with an Oddside Ales "Firefly", a papaya and habanero Pale Ale. (I guess I was just feeling adventurous yesterday!) Review of that Oddside beer to be found later in the beer review forum!
2 Tums and turning over cured my heartburn and bad dreams.
Summary: I cannot recommend the Ghost Pepper burger to anyone looking to test their manhood using Scoville units. It DOES, however, fit the need for most people in heat. The flavor is ok and the texture could be improved with a second layer of beef patties. I found the flavor mundane, as to me it tasted just like pickled Jalapenos.
And it's Burger King; a low-grade option for when you are in a hurry (But not too big a hurry, judging by the wait times I've had there compared to some other fast food places) and want to slum it a little.
If you are into fast food I think it's worth trying. If you are into hot food, it's worth trying. if you are mildly curious, I can't recommend it.
Anyway, I decide I'm going to grab a burger on the way down because I'm pressed for time and I haven't had Burger King in a quite a long while.
As I pull up I notice a panel on theboard advertising a "Ghost Pepper Burger" and I'm curious. Now please note that I am an average Caucasian Male with average Capsacin tolerance. I'm not looking for an eye watering, mouth peeling, anus burning experience. But I thought I'd try something different, and not having Ghost Peppers before, I was interested in seeing how they tasted.
Now let's get right down to the review.
First, this is one of those long BK burgers, in which they place two burger patties between the long chicken sandwich buns. On the patties they place lettuce, ranch dressing, and hot peppers.
The first bite and I'm not terribly impressed. I get a bit of pepper flavor, but no real heat. I'm thinking I must have missed the peppers. I take another bite, this time sure to get a chunk of "ghost pepper".
NOW I get a bit of pepper flavor! I get some heat too. I carefully taste the pepper flavor to see if I like it.
Huh. It tastes like pickled Jalapenos. A few more bites and the heat is coming up nicely. It peaks out at just above where I would prefer it. Not THAT hot, but very warm and probably just below the tear inducing stage for me.
And it tastes just like pickled Jalapenos.
I wish I could have liked it more, but there were a couple of problems. Firstly, this could easily have been named the Hot Jalapeno burger. I couldn't discern any difference between this flavor and the pickled Jalapenos I'm use to using at home from a jar. I have no idea what Ghost Peppers taste like, but I'll be disappointed if they taste just like Jalapenos.
Secondly, there is plenty of ranch, peppers, and lettuce, but I think the burger could have been better balanced with a second layer of burger. I've tried to find this burger on the Internet to be sure I'm not misremembering the ingredients, but I can't find it. Apparently then they sell a "Ghost" pepper burger, it's invisible. Maybe Reed City, Michigan is hosting a trial food for them.
At any rate, I did manage to eat the whole thing and enjoyed it somewhat. I did not have to resort to eating the fish sandwich I also bought as backup in case I could not eat the Ghost Pepper thing.
And I'm pleased to report that I did not suffer any after-effects this morning. I did have a bit of heartburn last night from laying on my right side, but I attribute that to my eating chips and french onion dip before bed and washing it down with an Oddside Ales "Firefly", a papaya and habanero Pale Ale. (I guess I was just feeling adventurous yesterday!) Review of that Oddside beer to be found later in the beer review forum!
2 Tums and turning over cured my heartburn and bad dreams.
Summary: I cannot recommend the Ghost Pepper burger to anyone looking to test their manhood using Scoville units. It DOES, however, fit the need for most people in heat. The flavor is ok and the texture could be improved with a second layer of beef patties. I found the flavor mundane, as to me it tasted just like pickled Jalapenos.
And it's Burger King; a low-grade option for when you are in a hurry (But not too big a hurry, judging by the wait times I've had there compared to some other fast food places) and want to slum it a little.
If you are into fast food I think it's worth trying. If you are into hot food, it's worth trying. if you are mildly curious, I can't recommend it.