In an effort to attract customers hungry for an original take on fast food, many chains take one of two extremes: go fresh or go wild 'n' spicy. The success of Subway's \Jared"" campaign, in which newly slim customers thank Subway for helping them shed pounds, has led to drive-up menus featuring the words ""garden-fresh"" and ""crisp,"" while the sound of ""spicy"" and ""Cajun"" food is exciting and interesting during the lunch hour of an average work or school day. The ensuing freeze also brings out items that are warm comfort food.
Both Arby's and McDonald's have picked up on these trends. Last year, Arby's jumped on the ""fresh, not fried"" bandwagon with the introduction of its Market Fresh Sandwiches, which it claims to be ""just like from your favorite deli.""
There are four different sandwiches: Arby's traditional roast beef featured in the Roast Beef and Swiss, and the slightly diversionary Roast Ham and Swiss, Roast Turkey and Swiss and Roast Chicken Caesar. This may sound like a wide variety, but unfortunately, each sandwich varies little.
Arby's has worked out a kind of ""deli formula"": Take honey wheat bread, tomato, lettuce, mayo, red onion, an itty-bitty slice of Swiss cheese and something they call ""spicy brown honey mustard."" The exception is the Roast Chicken Caesar, which swaps the mustard with Caesar sauce. Pick a meat product, stick a whole lot of it in the bread with the above ingredients and voila! You have a ""deli style"" sandwich.
Seems kind of slapped together, doesn't it? Well, it literally is. The turkey is tossed onto one side of the sandwich, hanging on to the edge for dear life, while the tomato occupies the other side. Some reconstruction needs to be done before eating a Market Fresh Sandwich.
The combination of tastes contrasts almost too sharply. The red onions and the Swiss (what you can taste of the tiny slice) don't mix well, while the spicy brown honey mustard has a vinegar taste that clashes with the sweet slices of honey wheat.
On the up side, the meats have a great, dry, oven-roasted taste thanks to Arby's knowledge of good roast beef. The tomato and lettuce are fairly crisp, and the bread is thick, sweet and grainy. Honestly, the bread alone is better than the entire sandwich package.
Arby's ultimately tried for fresh deli food but fell short due to obviously hurried preparation and too many tastes stuffed into one concept. You're better off with Subway, 1462 State St., or Bialy Brown's, 564 State St., for fresh, economical and delicious sandwiches.
McDonald's responded to the fresh 'n' healthy trend with last year's Salad Shakers in an attempt to bring a healthy glow to its infamously greasy, but admittedly tasty menu.
The fast-food chain regularly adds new and unique items to its menu. The latest is the Big 'n' Tasty Cajun Burger, a basic Quarter Pounder with some funky orange sauce dripping out of its bun. The sauce tastes'as well as looks'undoubtedly like fat-free Italian dressing mixed with a helluva lot of chili powder.
The first few bites of the burger with the sauce are interesting; the spicy flavor is surprising and pleasant in the beginning. After about three bites, the tongue can't distinguish between sauce and burger. The only taste is the overwhelming sauce. If you try the Cajun Burger, be sure to order the value meal; you'll need the fries and drink to clean your mouth out.
Following a more traditional recipe, but a stranger to the menu nonetheless, is one of McDonald's other new items: the pumpkin pie. McDonald's hit home with this one. Shaped in the same conveniently hand-held rectangle as the Baked Apple Pie, this fast-food dessert comes as close to the real thing as any drive-thru can get.
Flaky, melt-in-your-mouth pastry is sprinkled with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. Inside, the soft, creamy filling has a true pumpkin taste and is sweet and smooth enough that those of you who enjoy whipped cream or ice cream with your pie won't miss it.
The pumpkin pie is a warm, tasty treat that will get you through the semester until Thanksgiving, when you can have the real thing. And for 89 cents, you'll be able to hold out financially until break, too.
Your best bet at any of these restaurants is to go for the classics, such as Arby's standard roast beef sandwiches or McDonald's Quarter Pounder, or a traditional taste like pumpkin pie. Change can be good, but sometimes it's best to stick with the oldies but goodies.
