KFC's Double Down Sandwich: The Newest Player in American Food Tourism

April 13, 2010 at 9:05 AM | by JetSetCD | Comments (4)

What you travel to Japan, you want really great sushi; when you travel to Germany, you drool over sausage with a helping of sauerkraut; and in italy, perhaps you yearn for the best pasta bolognese money can buy. Alas, every country has that one big food item they're known for, and although it's somewhat stereotypical, you can't resist. So what dish defines America? You could say pizza or apple pie, or even sweet potato casserole, but the real answer is fast food.

American fast food chains have spread around the world like welcome weeds, bringing Big Macs to the Israeli desert, Gorditas to Bangalore and BMT subs to Bruges, and now they have a new king: KFC's Double Down sandwich.

KFC first tested the sandwich—a 540-calorie handful of two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and "Colonel's Sauce" between two slabs of chicken filets instead of buns—in two average American cities (Providence, Rhode Island and Omaha, Nebraska). Yesterday they finally rolled it out nationwide, to the delight of thousands of fried chicken enthusiasts, food bloggers and one NY Times food critic. Judging from our own taste test last night, we think it has the potential to go international.

The Double Down comes to signify America, after the jump

That's right; we ate the blasted thing last night (these are all our own pictures of it, too), and we can report that we not only survived, but that we see something powerful in this overpriced fast food item (it's $5.99 for one!). We see America; it is the American version of the McArabia. Even though Korean fried chicken tastes a thousand times better, no one can deny the patriotic appeal of fried chicken. Combine fried chicken with bacon, good old processed cheese, a dash of mystery (the "Colonel's Sauce"), and the US' love of upsizing and transforming foods into the fattiest, tastiest concoctions possible, and you have a winner.

That's not to say it tastes good. Eater National described it thus: "The combined flavor profile weirdly reminds us of being hung over in an airport." Our take? It's alright. It's very salty and the fact that the cheese doesn't really melt is slightly disconcerting, but the novelty gives it such a momentum that we think it won't be long before international tourists are asking hotel concierges for the nearest KFC, so they can find "le double down."

It's already created a mini localized food tourism trend, as yesterday saw people flock to the neighborhoods with KFCs specifically for the sandwich. We ended up spending a nice evening nearby Grand Central Station, when we definitely wouldn't have on a regular day.

Have you tried it? Do you think tourists will go for it, or will it become a cult foodie sensation only?

Related Stories:
· Photos of KFC's Double Down Sandwich: Release the Kraken! [Eater National]
· KFC Double Down Liveblog [NPR Blog]
· Could There Soon Be a Taco Bell at the Taj Mahal? [Jaunted]
· The World's Most Shocking McDonald's Locations [Jaunted]
· Fast Food Travel [Jaunted]

[Photos: Jaunted]

Comments (4)

Return to » KFC's Double Down Sandwich: The Newest Player in American Food Tourism

I love that there's also a grilled version of the sandwich, because that makes it so much better.

I can't decide if this thing makes me slightly more patriotic or significantly less patriotic.

Went out right away and tried one for lunch. It was tasty but a little messy...just like eating two pieces of chicken with sauce and bacon. I'm still partial to enjoying buns with my sandwich. What would the Earl of Sandwich say about this??

Any resemblance between real fried chicken and what KFC calls fried chicken is purely coincidental. When so many people experience the fast food versions of real food (pizza, tacos, Einstein/Noah's "bagels", etc.), it becomes harder and harder to find the real deal.

Jaunted

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