Thoughts on the KFC Double Down

When I saw word of KFC's Double Down Sandwich, I wrote it off as an April Fool's Day prank. Two chicken fillets sandwiching two slices of cheese and two strips of bacon? The Earl of Sandwich would definitely spin in his grave for such a bastardization of his namesake culinary creation. But the joke was on me when KFC actually began selling this food item nationwide on April 12th. That will teach me to be completely cynical about news blurbs read on the first of April.

As the name implies, the Double Down is two types of food. The first type resembles gluttonous excess that contributes to This Is Why You're Fat. But KFC attempts to counter that image by stating it has less than 600 calories, which is reportedly better than Burger King's premium chicken sandwich. The Double Down does have a lot of sodium though. The other type is a tamer sort of "eat if you dare" cuisine that begs to be tried at least once just like the stuff shown on Man vs. Food.

After a week of trying to ignore the Double Down to death, I found myself wandering into a KFC and uttering the words "One Double Down" to the cashier. I could blame the tempting value meal or the alluring photos of the "sandwich" on the wall, but in truth I have to blame my own curiosity. The curiosity wafts into my psyche like the compulsion to push a button labeled "Do Not Push" just to see what it does.

If the idea of two pieces of fried/grilled chicken sandwiching cheese and bacon sounds greasy to you, then you will be pleased to know that it looks just as greasy as it sounds. The wax paper covering the fillets does a poor job of keeping the grease from seeping into the fingers. The chicken does not function as well as a bread bun in keeping the sandwich together. Lacking absorption, the sauce slides the sandwich apart as the cheese melts itself onto the paper. Despite its structural faults and gluttonous concept, the Double Down tastes pretty good. The combination of chicken filled with cheese and pork product is reminiscent of chicken cordon bleu and does make for fast comfort food. But once the novelty wears off and the curiosity is satisfied, I cannot picture myself ordering another one. I have officially been there and done that. If this food trend does catch on, what will be the next sandwich from a fast food chain? Here is an idea for McDonald's to follow with this trend. Market a sandwich featuring two beef patties sandwiching some cheese, onions, pickles and lettuce. And to be different, throw in a bun between those patties just to really highlight this reverse sandwich trend. Though to avoid grease issues that the Double Down has, I guess McDonald's can add a pair of buns to sandwich the beef patties sandwiching the lettuce, cheese, and the rest. Hang on, let me write this down.