06.26.11
The TFF Taste Test™: The KFC Extra Cheesy Pizza Pocket
I’ve had numerous discussions with Nator, ODB and Uncle Ronald on the unique offerings in Asia by the jewels of the American fast food crown – McDonald’s and KFC. From time to time, I’ve been tempted to sample a green tea- or taro-tinged dessert or a Peking duck flavored burger. Recently, an offering from our dear Colonel (HK branch of the Kentucky Colonels) has both inspired my taste buds and a new report. Behold – The Extra Cheesy Pizza Pocket.
When I first encountered the Pocket, I was walking by a KFC in Kowloon, saw a banner advertisement and thought it was a brand new offering. But Youtube tells me different – here is a puzzling (and slightly disturbing commercial) from April 2010. So, the Pocket has clearly been popular enough to stick around for over a year on the KFC menu. In fact, when I went to KFC to try it, about a third of the other customers had one. This is clearly a popular item. Does it succeed? Let’s consider.
The Pocket is a pretty simple composition – fried chicken, tomato sauce, “mozzarella” cheese, some extra nacho cheese-esque sauce. And pineapple. Wrapped in a tortilla. On paper, this is an exciting concept. On paper. In real life, it’s about as successful as you would expect marrying fried chicken to pizza. Have a look at the picture below. Not exactly bursting with fried chicken goodness. Sadly, I won’t be recommending the Pocket to friends. The fried chicken in a tortilla concept works, that’s almost impossible to ruin. But the tomato sauce is about a hair removed from ketchup and combined with the terrible runny cheese and canned pineapple (I know the commercial says fresh), it is almost inedible. Sorry, KFC, as much as it breaks my heart to say it – this one’s not for me.
Not a failure pile in a sadness wrap, but not so great...