KFC World Tour, Part 7: Singapore

It's been over a year since I returned from my KFC world tour, so I think it's about time I wrapped this thing up with a final post. It's long overdue, but worth the wait. The homeward leg of my journey saw me stopping off in Singapore for one last chicken banquet.

With only a couple of days to explore Singapore, I had limited time but made sure to prioritise a KFC visit. The branch I selected was situated at the entrance to Singapore Zoo which made for a grand final day including monkeys, tigers, snakes, crocodiles and some of the finest chickens I have ever seen - deep fried and kentucky style of course!

The Singaporean KFC menu was one of the more interesting and exotic I had seen on my travels.

Of note were the Fish Zinger, Cheesy BBQ Meltz and Bandito Pocket meals, all of which come served with a side of "whipped potato" and coleslaw. Although tempted by the Fish Zinger, I decided to try the Cheesy BBQ Meltz and went all out by adding a side of "cheese fries".

The Cheesy BBQ Meltz is essentially an exploded Wrapstar, but more closely resembling a taco laid on its side. Unfortunately mine had arrived cold, and due to language problems I was unable to seek a replacement product (although I'm sure this would have been no problem). My assumption was that the item had been assembled some time ago and wasn't particularly fresh, but the thin wrap would have also extenuated the problem. Inside the Meltz wrap lurked a spattering of chopped Original Recipe chicken, melted cheese and diced tomato; on paper a winning combination, but in reality, it missed that certain edge that you only get with zing or a peppery mayo.

Interesting to note, the cheese fries were topped with some finely chopped chives. A nice touch that gave the meal a high quality, gourmet finish (at least to look at, the fries were quite soggy).

The stand out success story of the meal was, again, the whipped (mashed) potato with gravy. Why oh why KFC UK have shunned this classic accompaniment I have no idea. I hold out hope that one day I will be able to replace my BBQ beans side order with a tub of delicious mash (or order both for an explosive combination of flavour and texture).

On my way out, I noticed an advert for the KFC Roasta, a roasted skinless thigh fillet in a "signature marinade" topped with creamy mayo, salad and all served in an oat bran dusted bun. This delightful concoction really seemed to push the boundaries, and I was very disappointed to have missed this ad on my way in as I definitely would have tried it. Sadly, I had to leave and catch my flight home, but I hope that the Roasta and its "signature marinade" make it to the UK.

All good things must come to an end, and after a 13 hour flight I was back in the UK. The colonel had some real surprises for me up his sleeves and I hope some of what I experienced finds its way back to our shores. All in all, my trip had been a resounding success, opening my eyes to a whole new world of KFC.

Dippin' Strips - Current TLO is not VFM

Yesterday I sampled the current TLO. Whilst I am pleased to announce that this is a new one (technically), Dippin' Strips is hardly a good one.

For £4.69 you can grace your plate with 3 mini fillets, Chips, regular drink and 2 dips.

Now of course the chicken is of good quality, that's not in contention....After all this is KFC. However for an extra 90p you could be enjoying what even KFC acknowledge is a meal fit for a king.... the Boneless Banquet. For your 90 pence you'd get extras worth over £2 in the form of regular side and Small popcorn chicken. Then simply ask your server to be presented with a tub of mayo and BBQ sauce and hey presto you've bettered the current Time Limited Offer by miles making it not much of an 'offer' and not very good Value For Money!

This is a further cynical attempt to monetise condiments which has been tried time and time again, wheras competitors provide condiment pumps on their ancilliary items islands this is not a route KFC has chosen to go down. The only time this worked was the Sauce 2hot4you which came in larger 50 gram tubs and was so delicious paying 20p for it felt like a privlege. (PS. watch out for 150ml bottles of this available for sale some time this year).

In short..... this is a poor excuse for a TLO showing a lack of imagination. I don't think any TLO's have yet utilised the brazer line of products to tempt a more health conscious audience through the door at lunch time.

Come on KFC up the game.

KenTurkey Fried Chicken

Always keen to sample exotic strains of KFC, KFB recently visited the world's foremost poultry related nation: Turkey - to try their take on our favourite food.

I'm sad to report that KFC in Turkey is massively outnumbered in Istanbul by its two main rivals, but we located one in the fashionable district of Beyoglu and got down to business.

Being at the opposite end of the continent from where I usually eat my chicken I was surprised to find a near carbon copy of the UK menu, and restaurant design. This did however have one advantage, I could give a side by side appraisal of the strengths of the Turkish operation when compared to our own UK version.

I opted for one of my favourite TLO's, the Boxmaster, which arrived in good proportions and was well constructed. The meal price was 10.95 Turkish lira which works out at a very agreeable £3.85. On top of the meal I opted for some Hotshots (think scaled up popcorn chicken with a kick - delicious) and of course I had to sample the 'Gravy Sos' which was a pretty good attempt at emulating the British version.

One area that put us to shame was the Turkish version of the Freshen Up Wipe which really was of premium quality and extra large in comparison to our own.

Another great feature, delivery... which KFB has seen offered in a few places, I think it's high time this made its way to the UK.

Overall, however, although in appearance it matched the UK, in quality it just didn't quite measure up, the meal was... ok.

The best thing however was being able to get my very own souvenir KFC fridge magnet which now proudly adorns the KFB northern office's fridge... check it out:

A Bun deal

The Kaiser is dead.....Long live the new bun.

It is with great joy that I report upon the barely noticed phase out of the Sesame Kaiser bun that has graced UK burgers since 2003. It has been replaced by the as yet un-named 3 striped variety as seen in the below picture sporting a rather sexy Zinger tower interior.

I did not want to report upon this phenomenon, first witnessed in the closing months of 2011; in case it was a temporary measure due to supply issues, but I now feel confident enough to herald its arrival as a staple of both Fillet and Zinger burgers.

The new bun crucially maintains its sprinkling of Sesame seeds which really offer a touch of class to KFC burgers above and beyond their rivals at other well known burger chains. On the 10 or so occasions I have tried a burger with the new style bun, it has not disappointed; remaining soft and fresh even on Sunday's, the day I was statistically most likely to be disappointed. My amateur photography does not really do it justice in comparison to the artistically captured second picture this is a good looking bun.

Although it has served us well since the great burger overhaul of 03 the Sesame kaiser seen here in the second picture could really let down a meal.

A sunday lunch was often ruined by its tendency to become stale and break apart, making the already messy ZT a nightmare. In fact I have been known to turn my ZT's into open sandwices by the removal of the top layer altogether such was the effect of a stale bun!

Here's hoping the new bun continues to shine and suffers a better fate than its predecessor, quietly consigned to the annals of history recorded only here as another footnote in the greatest story ever told .........KFC

KFC World Tour, Part 6: Australia

Departing from Christchurch in New Zealand, I made the 2,500 mile/3.5 hour journey west to Australia, the 6th largest country in the world. Over the month that followed, I travelled my way down the east coast and experienced the best of what Oz had to offer. Naturally, one of the experiences I was most excited about was sampling KFC down under. After tasting the delights of neighbouring New Zealand, I was keen to get stuck in!

During my journey in Australia, I visited several KFCs but unfortunately I was not able to document every single one (through lack of time, lack of camera and lack of long-term memory...too many schooners) but I made sure to visit KFC for one final blow-out meal before I left Sydney. As it happens, I was in Sydney over the festive period, and this meal made for one of the most delicious Christmas day lunches I've ever had. Many thanks to you, Colonel.

On a warm, sunny Christmas day (yes, it was quite strange!), I made my way down from my hostel to the KFC branch at 766 George Street. In stark contrast to the branch I reviewed in New Zealand, this Sydney branch sported modern, up-to-date decor and a split level kitchen/serving counter and seating area design. The key feature which stood out for me was an open plan entrance, leading out on to the street. With an open frontage, this KFC had a cosmopolitan street cafe/bistro feel - something I'd love to see in the UK but I fear our terrible weather would lay my dreams to rest.

On to the menu. At first glance, it was practically identical to that seen in New Zealand with Ultimate Burger meals, All Star box meals, and Tower Legends range (all very interesting).

I decided to treat myself (it was Christmas after all!) and ordered a selection of the finest items. My meal consisted of a Nacho Cheese Tower burger, fries, a side of mashed potato with gravy, some Kentucky Nuggets and a drink. One thing in particular to note here are the Kentucky Nuggets: according to the menu image, these little bite sized chunks of chicken look much like traditional chicken nuggets found at certain clown-based rival fast-food chains, but I was keen to see how they compared to their little and big siblings; Popcorn Chicken and the Mini Fillet.

First up, the burger. A subtle but effective change, the standard cheese slice had been replaced with a warm, oozing nacho cheese sauce, which when combined with the crunchy corn chip layer and salsa provided a satisfying spicy savoury flavour. However, the hash brown acted like a sponge and seemed to soak up the cheese sauce, resulting in a soggy mess. This could have been prevented by changing the stacking order, or simply eating the burger quicker! All in a all, a very welcome addition to the Tower line.

The Kentucky Nuggets appeared to have an Original Recipe coating, but on closer inspection and tasting, they were far more similar to the flavour of Popcorn Chicken. They also appeared to be constructed from chopped and formed chicken, much like Popcorn Chicken, rather than breast strips. Although the Kentucky Nuggets were good, I couldn't help but think I'd rather opt for Crispy Strips or Mini Fillets for the true Original Recipe experience.

Finally, a KFC staple: mash and gravy. I say staple, but for some reason the mash and gravy side has never arrived in the UK even though it is widely available in other territories. This makes me sad, because it was the highlight of my meal! The gravy was thick and creamy, the mashed potato smooth, light and fluffy and perfect for dipping. An excellent partner for a box meal, and if only it was available back home, mash and gravy would be my side of choice.

All good things must come to an end sadly, and my trip was no exception. The final leg of my journey saw me stopping off in Singapore for a few days before heading home. Stay tuned for my final post coming soon, where I will reveal the strange and wonderful findings of Singaporean KFC!