A fast-food milkshake that demands my attention.

It’s funny, but most of the time I can hardly remember what I drink when I eat a good meal. And frankly, I could hardly care. I suppose I’m so focused on the food, that a simple liquid on the side is barely worth noticing, if not for the occasional need to wash down that food and keep the pipes running smoothly. Like most people I usually get some type of soda/cola when ordering fast-food, but I can easily live without the tasty carbonated drinks. Plain ol’ water or iced-tea are fine with me. And like I said, whatever I drink rarely makes a significant impact on my eating experience.

But sometimes I’m surprised, and find a drink which momentarily takes my attention away from the food, and that’s the case with the Cookies and Cream Milkshake from Chick-fil-A. It’s made from “Icedream”, CFA’s version of soft-serve ice cream, and Oreo cookie crumbs. Chick-fil-A’s Icedream recipe uses whole milk, real cream, eggs and sugar to create a frozen treat which tastes delicious and surprisingly unprocessed. That being said, it’s still built on a fast-food platform, so there are some artificial ingredients too, but it’s a taste and texture closer to a real ice cream shop than a typical drive-thru. The milkshakes are hand-spun when you order them, adding to their authentic feel and flavor, then topped with whipped cream and a cherry.

It’s the perfect density for a milkshake… thick enough to scoop with a spoon while feeling semi-solid in your mouth, yet still thin enough to drink thru a straw with little effort. There’s plenty of Oreo pieces. In fact, several times I’ve had this shake, my straw became clogged with chunks of cookie towards the bottom of the cup, but I consider the accumulation of chocolate to be a good thing… a gift of gravity. At that point I simply remove the straw, tilt the cup and pour the final delicious mouthful.

On my last visit to Chick-fil-A I purchased an extra shake to bring home to a friend, but found it had melted a bit too much by the time I arrived. So I put it inside the freezer and forgot about it. The next day I discovered the completely frozen milkshake, grabbed a spoon and found a harder-than-normal, yet still totally delicious cup full of cookies and cream flavor, reminiscent of some store bought ‘premium’ brand ice creams.

The Cookies and Cream Milkshake from Chick-fil-A is excellent. Chocolate cookies mixed into rich and creamy vanilla flavored frozen dairy, it will satisfy both thirst and sweet tooth. A great taste in between bites of CFA’s chicken sandwich and waffle fries, a wonderful dessert after a meal, or a special treat worthy of enjoying on it’s own.

Price: $2.39 / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-fil-A, Cookies and Cream Milkshake.

Calories - 760
Calories from Fat - 250
Total Fat - 28 grams
Carbs - 113 grams
Saturated Fat - 16 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 95 milligrams
Sodium - 520 milligrams
Protein - 16 grams

So, you thought the Pizza Hut golf balls were cool, but you’re more of a Chick-fil-A fan, and would rather not spend 50 bucks. No problem, for only $6 you can purchase this nifty thrifty 2-pack of Top Flite Pure Distance golf balls with the Chick-fil-A logo printed on each. Purchase them directly from CFA using this link on their website. Grab these balls today and you can start intimidating KFC, Popeyes and Church’s eaters during the next 18 holes. Feel the power — you are king of the chicken golf course.

Chick-fil-A is best known for one thing — the classic chicken sandwich.

But, have you tried the other Chick-fil-A sandwich? Chargrilled Chicken? Don’t feel bad if you said no. I’ve met people that have eaten at Chick-fil-A for 20 years, and never ordered anything except the classic. Not because something is wrong with the other CFA food, they simply love that original sandwich so much they can’t imagine eating anything else. And while that breaded, pressure cooked version remains the most popular and famous item on the menu, it’s chargrilled cousin is a worthy alternative with a unique taste and character of it’s own. Currently available in 2 varieties, the standard “Chargrilled Chicken” and the “Chargrilled Chicken Club” which adds Provolone cheese and smoked applewood bacon. Let’s take a look at the Club.

The first thing you’ll notice is the big black carton, instead of the classic’s foil envelope. Once you open the lid, you’re greeted by a wholesome looking golden wheat bun. It’s hearty bread, the type your mom wanted you to eat as a child, instead of always using white bread. A couple large whole leaves of lettuce are overflowing the carton, as if happy to be released from their packaging prison. There’s a plump little corner of grilled chicken breast visible, peeking out from underneath. The edge of a bacon slice is snuggled up next to the chicken, with a hint of melted cheese between. It’s not the classic CFA sandwich people are used to, but don’t be afraid… it’s still good.

The wheat bun is fantastic and has a wonderfully hearty taste and texture. It might not be my choice for everyday eating, but it’s great for a change of pace. It’s lightly toasted, but lacks the buttered treatment of the classic’s bun. The chicken breast filet is naked and grilled, instead of being breaded and pressure cooked. As usual, CFA has used their bag of magical seasonings and marinade to give this bird a terrific flavor, slightly similar to the classic but different enough to be unique. The grilled chicken is very tasty, but I have to be totally honest… it’s not as juicy or delicious as the breaded filet on the classic. In short, I would describe the flavor as being Chick-fil-A “lite”.

The most intriguing things about this sandwich are the smoked applewood bacon and Provolone cheese. Despite the obvious attraction of such tasty things, they’re simply unheard of among eaters of the classic. I’m hoping that might change, because I’d like to see these toppings made available on the classic sandwich. I really enjoyed the extra depth they added to the grilled version. There’s just enough of each to create an excellent balance of rich, mellow flavors. The bacon is thin and tender, without being slimy. It’s almost like ham, as opposed to the crispy strips found on many fast-food sandwiches. And even though it’s a strip too, it’s wound up and cooked into a circular shape. I’m not sure how they do it so neatly, but it looks cool and tastes great.

In addition to the lettuce, there’s a few slices of tomato and dill pickles. The veggies are fresh and taste good. There is no sauce or other condiments on the sandwich, but it comes with a packet of barbecue sauce on the side. One thing that I find unusual, even humorous, is the size and amount of lettuce leaves included. The first time I tried this sandwich a long time ago, I assumed they gave me a double portion. But I’ve eaten it many times between then and this review, and it’s usually the same. I feel like there’s enough lettuce to build a small salad, and I end up removing about half of it. That’s not really a complaint, just a curious observation I wanted to share.

The Chargrilled Chicken Club from Chick-fil-A is a very good sandwich with a nice variety of flavors and ingredients. It’s not the same finger-licking love-fest I have with the classic, simply because I don’t like the grilled chicken as much as the breaded, pressure cooked bird. That’s the bottom line, and the reason this doesn’t get as high of score. However, this version has less fat and calories, includes extra veggies, and gets credit for being the healthier choice. The problem with making the best chicken sandwich on the market, is that even your own company’s alternatives are faced with trying to match it’s quality and success. Still, I feel certain that Chick-fil-A, CFA fans, and founder Truett Cathy would agree with me… it’s a good problem to have.

Price: $4.19 / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-fil-A, Chargrilled Chicken Club.

Calories - 370
Calories from Fat - 100
Total Fat - 11 grams
Carbs - 34 grams
Saturated Fat - 5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 75 milligrams
Sodium - 1590 milligrams
Protein - 35 grams

Back in May, FastFoodCritic reported news of Chick-fil-A making a few upgrades to their already awesome lineup. It’s a trait of CFA not shared by nearly enough other chains within the fast food industry. Constantly striving to improve tomorrow’s menu, even when today’s is very successful. Chick-fil-A recognizes there’s always room for improvement, and that speaks volumes for a restaurant that has, in my eyes, done most everything right. One item tweaked with an upgrade, the Chick-N-Strips.

As we told you previously, the new Chick-fil-A Chick-N-Strips are 50% larger than the chain’s former version. Made from what is arguably the best part of the breast, the tenderloin, freshly marinated, hand-breaded and pressure cooked in peanut oil. These strips are full of flavor and undoubtedly some of the most tender and juicy you’ll find in fast food land. The breading is light and slightly crisp in spots, but not crunchy. It’s like a thin skin. It compliments the chicken, showcases it, without intruding.

Some brands of strips and nuggets have thick breading helping to mask lower quality chicken meat. Suffice to say much of the flavor in those items comes from breading and not bird. CFA’s chicken is high quality, and there’s no need for a heavy coating. The focus here is on good chicken and the perfect balance of seasoning.

Whatever changes were made to the recipe itself are obviously very subtle. I’ve had the previous chicken strips and the new version doesn’t taste much different, but they are definitely bigger, and still just as delicious. You can purchase them as 3 or 4-piece entrees, and 1 or 2-piece servings as part of a kid’s meal. If you’re having a party you can order 3 sizes of “Trays” in advance, with enough strips to feed 25 people.

While these chicken strips are among the tastiest I’ve had, they are not perfect. They’re a little on the greasy side, and will leave your hands messy. You’ll notice evidence of their oily nature in the box they come in (see above). And since the breading is lighter than many other strips and nuggets, it has a tendency to slide off the chicken easier. I’m being persnickety there but it’s just a couple honest observations. With chicken this good, such minor issues are easy to ignore as you grab another napkin.

Along with the bigger strips, they have also introduced a new smoky mustard dipping sauce, simply called “Chick-fil-A Sauce”. Tasting it the first time I immediately noticed the mustard flavor, but it had a little extra something too. After reading the ingredients it appears to be a hybrid of honey mustard and barbecue. That would explain it. The combo works, and it’s very nice match for the chicken strips. If that new sauce doesn’t sound like something you’d like, no need to worry because CFA has a wide selection of dipping sauces, including Barbecue, Buttermilk Ranch, Buffalo and more.

There’s so many restaurants focusing on new creations and crazy flavor combinations to grab our attention, it’s nice to see a company aiming to make improvements to the standard favorites. In this case, bigger is better, when it’s more of the same great chicken we’re accustomed to. Making high quality fast food is something Chick-fil-A does better than most, and the Chick-N-Strips and Sauce continue the legacy.

Price: $3.89 (4 piece) / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-fil-A, Chick-N-Strips (4 piece).

Calories - 470
Calories from Fat - 210
Total Fat - 23 grams
Carbs - 22 grams
Saturated Fat - 4.5 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 125 milligrams
Sodium - 1390 milligrams
Protein - 44 grams

Do you love Chick-fil-A? Do you love the company’s cow mascots? Do you love PEZ? If you answered YES to all 3 questions, this news is like a dream come true.

Here’s the official word from the CFA offices in Atlanta, Georgia — “Since their inception in 1995, the Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cows have gone to great lengths to inspire consumers to eat more chicken. During that time, the Cows have entertained with their desperate acts of self-preservation aimed at converting beef eaters into chicken fans, developing quite a following along the way. Now, with the help of popular culture, the Cows are at it again. Through a partnership between Chick-fil-A and PEZ Candy Inc, the Cows have another way of spreading their message of self preservation. Beginning Oct. 13, fans of the iconic PEZ candy and the Cows alike can purchase the new Chick-fil-A “Eat Mor Chikin” Cow PEZ dispensers at participating Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide. The dispensers will retail for $1.99 each and include one roll of lemon candy. The PEZ dispenser will also be available through Chick-fil-A’s website.” — www.Chick-fil-A.com

The “Chick-fil-A College Kickoff” will take place on Saturday, August 30th at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and will be nationally televised on the ABC network. The game features the University of Alabama versus Clemson University. On the following Monday, September 1st, the company will give away a Free 3-piece order of their new-improved chicken strips to any customer that shows up wearing attire with a team logo. It doesn’t have to be a college team. It can be any team from a pee-wee league, all the way up to the NFL. Just show up at any Chick-fil-A location wearing a jersey, hat, t-shirt or other accessory with a team logo, and claim your free food.

As I reported back in May, the new strips are bigger than the previous version, and the company has also released a new smokey mustard dipping sauce to compliment them. What I didn’t know back then, is the recipe itself has also been changed, using a marinade that’s said to resemble a mesquite-type flavoring. You can expect a full review of the chicken strips and dipping sauce here at FFC in the near future.

Holy Cow — It’s time to break out your cow suit and leave your wallet out to pasture. On Friday, July 11, the Chick-fil-A chain will celebrate its annual Cow Appreciation Day event by offering a free meal to any customer who isn’t “too chicken” to visit any of the chain’s nearly 1,400 participating restaurants fully dressed as a cow.

Customers fully dressed as a cow will be rewarded with a free Chick-fil-A Meal, which includes an entree of choice, a side item and a Dr Pepper (or another beverage of choice). And for those who are a little timid to wear spots from head to toe, Chick-fil-A will award a complimentary entree to customers partially dressed in cow attire, such as a cow-spotted scarf, purse, hat or other accessory.

The July 11 event marks Chick-fil-A’s fourth annual Cow Appreciation Day celebration. Last year’s event — and the resulting turnout — confirmed that Chick-fil-A has a strong following of customers willing to go to great lengths to show their appreciation for cows. Thousands of customers visited Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country dressed in cow-themed costumes, ranging from simple cow-spotted t-shirts to full cow suits complete with furry ears, cow bells and homemade sandwich boards with personalized renditions of Chick-fil-A’s “Eat Mor Chikin” Cow messages.

Source: CFA. Visit Chick-fil-A.com to find a location near you.

Chick-Fil-A has just announced a list of new menu additions and updates to current products, and I think fans of the chain are going to be excited. Something that caught my eye immediately was the major size increase to their Chick-n-Strips. I’ve eaten the current CFA strips many times, and I feel they are acceptably sized and there’s plenty of tender meaty goodness already, so this new BIGGER version is a terrific surprise for me personally. All I can say is get the dipping sauce ready. Speaking of sauce, they are introducing a new Smokey Mustard flavor to compliment the strips.

Press releases can be tedious to sort thru, especially the large ones, so I’ve taken the information and created an easy to follow post for FFC readers.

New Salad — Chick-fil-A is adding a new choice to its line of entrée salads, a Chargrilled Chicken and Fruit Salad served with Harvest Nut Granola Topping and a complementary Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing.

Salad Packaging Upgrade — All 4 entrée salads will now be served in a larger, deeper salad bowl that is easier to eat out of and easily transported. Chick-fil-A will continue to intentionally cluster salad ingredients and offer individually packaged toppings (e.g. sunflower seeds, croutons, dressings, etc.), so ingredients and toppings can be easily removed or avoided for nutritional and/or taste preferences.

Chicken Salad Sandwich Makeover — While the recipe and flavor profile of the Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad will not change, the sandwich will now be served on a premium Wheatberry bread with Green Leaf lettuce. Starting at $6.05, the chain is now offering the Chicken Salad Sandwich as a Chick-fil-A Meal for the first time. The sandwich is priced individually at $3.65, and will be packaged in a clear clamshell rather than a foil bag, resembling packaging more typical of a high-end deli than a fast-food restaurant.

Cool Wraps Upgrade — Chick-fil-A will begin serving its three Cool Wrap offerings in a new, higher-quality multigrain flatbread recipe with Green Leaf lettuce. Previously served in a foil wrapper, Chick-fil-A Cool Wraps will now be served in a new clamshell packaging, much like the Chicken Salad Sandwich.

New BIGGER Chick-n-Strips — Perhaps the most significant change to the Chick-fil-A menu will be the introduction of a new Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strips product that is 50 percent larger than the chain’s current strip offering (45 gram tender versus 30 grams). The Chick-n-Strips, which are served as part of the Chick-fil-A Chick-n-Strip Salad, will be added to the menu on May 19 along with Chick-fil-A’s cold entrée improvements, but the chain will not aggressively promote the new Chick-n-Strips as an entrée until August. Chick-n-Strips will be offered as a 3- or 4-count entrée for adults and in 1- and 2-counts for Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals.

New Dipping Sauce — To complement the new Chick-n-Strips, Chick-fil-A has developed a new proprietary dipping sauce, a smokey mustard recipe inspired by a veteran Chick-fil-A restaurant franchisee in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

New Side Options — Chick-fil-A is giving customers a choice of side options as part of its Chick-fil-A Meals. Five additional side item choices will be available for customers to substitute for Chick-fil-A Waffle Potato Fries. A small Cole Slaw or Carrot and Raisin Salad can be substituted for free, or customers can choose a small bowl of Chicken Soup, medium Fruit Cup or Side Salad for nominal upcharge.

NOTE: These new products launch nationwide Today, May 19th.

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past couple weeks, you’ve probably seen and heard the advertisements for McDonald’s new “Southern Style” chicken sandwich and biscuit. You might have even tried it already. And if you’re a fan of Chick-Fil-A, you are probably thinking that Ronald McDonald found a way to infiltrate the CFA headquarters and sneak away with the secret recipe, because the new sandwich from McDonald’s is so similar it could be the long-lost brother of the legenday Chick-Fil-A sandwich. How did this happen? What does CFA think about it? That’s what I wanted to know, so during my recent conversation with CFA’s Corporate PR man, Mark Baldwin, I gathered up enough courage to ask him.

FFC: Let’s get right to it — McDonald’s copied Chick-Fil-A. I know it. You know it. McDonald’s knows it. Everybody knows it. — How does that make you feel?

CFA: We are flattered that McDonald’s is enamored enough with our products to be willing to clearly imitate our original Chick-fil-A Sandwich and Biscuit. Based on the reactions we’ve seen from customers thus far, they are making good choices and realize the superiority of Chick-fil-A’s products and people.

FFC: Have you tried their new sandwich? What did you think about it?

CFA: Yes, we all have tried the Southern Style chicken biscuit and sandwich and, to be honest, they did a good job copying our products. It will probably do well on Sundays (when Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed)!

FFC: It seems McDonald’s was very thorough when replicating the CFA sandwich.

CFA: There are, however, some key differences in the two products. Since Truett Cathy created the first chicken sandwich in the early 1960’s, Chick-fil-A has been preparing each sandwich fresh daily at the restaurant. We hand bread our chicken sandwich and breakfast filets in the store, while our competitors have frozen, pre-breaded chicken shipped to their restaurants. We even make our biscuits from scratch every morning.

FFC: They seem to have done a good job in duplicating the seasoning and flavor. Did they hire a team of food spies to steal the secret recipe? Maybe they tied up and kidnapped Truett Cathy (CEO) and forced him to spill the beans? (laughing)

CFA: No, they didn’t tie Truett up to get the recipe, but two of their Atlanta franchisees finally realized the impact Chick-fil-A was making, and convinced their corporate folks to try a chicken sandwich. You might be interested in this article that explains McDonald’s entry into the chicken sandwich market.

FFC: Very interesting stuff. Mark, I want to thank you and Chick-Fil-A for being gracious enough to visit with me today. I realize the circumstances are a bit unusual. In closing, is their anything new and exciting coming up for CFA?

CFA: We will be releasing some pretty significant news ourselves next week — basically, 180 degrees different from the Chicken Sandwich and Biscuit hype. You may want to fast over the weekend, because there will be plenty to try!

My thanks again to Mark for the candid converstaion.

I love Chick-Fil-A, and I’ve been eating at McDonald’s since I was a kid. It’s an odd feeling for me, to see one copy the other. They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. So considering that McDonald’s is the #1 fast-food chain in the world, and they are copying somebody else, this would seem to confirm my belief that Chick-Fil-A is, and has been for many years, the best chicken sandwich in fast-food.

How do I think the new offering from McDonald’s compares? I’ve tried it once, and it was a very good sandwich. I’m going to have it again soon, and bring some friends along with me. I will follow-up with my review, plus the opinions from my guests.

After eating my delicious Chick-Fil-A chicken sandwich and waffle fries, I found myself craving something sweet. I know they serve some great shakes but I was in the mood for a different dessert, like chocolate cake or cookies. It appeared I was out of luck.

Then I remembered – they have a Fudge Nut Brownie on the menu at Chick-Fil-A.

So I spent the extra $1.10 and grabbed one as I left. The drive home is short, but it was difficult because the little see-thru container was sitting next to me, with the brownie inside looking back asking to be eaten. I wanted to wait until getting home so I could capture some review photos. It’s hard to get a good close-up shot inside the car.

Taking the sharp corner by my house I heard the little container go sliding out of the seat and onto to floor, followed by a couple books and cd’s. I assumed my brownie was smashed, but it was just fine. At this moment I truly appreciated the hard-ish shell plastic container that protected my dessert. It would have been crushed, or at least rolling around bare on the dusty floorboard had it come in a paper bag or wrapping.

As I took my brownie out of the plastic package a walnut fell off the top, and I quickly grabbed it and popped it into my mouth with tasty nutty satisfaction. They used big chunks of whole walnuts instead of ‘crushed’ bits. The brownie is small to normal size (as brownies go) but it has some pretty hefty nuts on top. They tasted great, much better than lower grade walnuts you find on pre-packaged treats at the supermarket.

The fudge icing was thick and wonderfully sweet without being too overpowering, and the brownie was soft and moist inside. Despite being small, it was heavy and dense, more so than something like a Little Debbie snack. It gave me the feeling it was made by hand, as opposed to being mass produced by the millions in a factory. It wasn’t quite home-made quality, but it was better than I expected, and only cost a buck.

The Fudge Nut Brownie from Chick-Fil-A ended up being a pleasant surprise. It was large enough and rich enough to satisfy my sweet chocolate craving, but small and cheap enough that it didn’t hurt my wallet or waistline. The walnuts are excellent.

Price: $1.10 / Website: Chick-fil-A.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B+

Click here for rating system details.

Nutrition Facts - Chick-Fil-A, Fudge Nut Brownie.

Calories - 330
Calories from Fat - 140
Total Fat - 15 grams
Carbs - 45 grams
Saturated Fat - 3.5 grams
Trans Fat - 2.5 grams
Cholesterol - 20 milligrams
Sodium - 210 milligrams