House of the Dragon is currently filming its third season (out of the planned four seasons). It’s also fair to say that at least some excitement for that Game of Thrones prequel has fallen by the wayside after anticipated battles were postponed, and redundant strategy discussions sent the show into inertia. For a series where strength lies in spectacle, the fact that very little spectacle has been occurring has been a downer. Author George R.R. Martin also went on a series of rants about how upset he was about key changes in narratives as opposed to his books.
However, production for A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms has made GRRM very happy, although it might upset Westeros devotees who crave “nonstop” action, as GRRM details below. Let’s talk about what we can expect from HBO‘s next Game of Thrones prequel:
Plot
George R.R. Martin’s three “Dunk and Egg” novellas will be the basis of this series that could run three seasons. The first season will adapt The Hedge Knight, which introduces Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his much shorter squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Additionally, the story will pick up about 90-100 years before the events of Game of Thrones and 200 years after where House of the Dragon began.
Within A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, the Targaryens are still in power, but dragons are essentially extinct, and the story will follow Duncan as a knight who is in service to no particular lord, but he must earn a living, so he heads toward a tournament (the Tourney of Ashford Meadow). Along the way, he unintentionally picks up a persistent squire, Egg, and GRRM previously expressed his delight” at how “[n]inety per cent of the story is set in a field, surrounded by tents… the costumes and the heraldry and the fights all had to be splendid, and… I was so so happy when I got there, and saw what Ira [Park, showrunner] and his team had built.”
Martin has updated his enthusiasm in a recent Not-A-Blog entry while also warning that those looking for nonstop action might be disappointed:
“It’s as faithful as adaptation as a reasonable man could hope for (and you all know how increedibly reasonable I am on that particular subject). Viewers who are looking for action, and more action, and only action… well, this one may not satisfy you. There’s a huge fight scene here, as exciting as anyone could ask for, but there are no dragons this time around, no huge battles, no white walkers… this is a character piece, and its focus is on duty and honor, on chivalry and all it means.”
For perspective, HotD showrunner Ryan Condal reflected on how Dunk and Egg’s adventures “always stuck with me as such a wonderful counterpoint to George’s world, which was really about the upper crust of the 1 percent.” Whereas “Well, Dunk and Egg is about the small folk who suffer at the hands of the game of thrones as it’s played by the nobles.”
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms does have a synopsis:
A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends.
Cast
Very little CGI will surface in this series. Instead, an all-human cast will include Peter Claffey as as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg. Westeros surnames should also raise some eyebrows. They include multiple Targaryens, including including Finn Bennett as Aerion, Bertie Carvel as Baylor, and Sam Spruell as Maker. Daniel Ings will embody Ser Lyonel Barotheon. Tanzyn Crawford will portray a puppeteer named Tanselle.
Release Date
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms had been pinpointed for a “summer” 2025 release as forecast by HBO exec JB Perrette, but on a recent WBD earnings call (via IGN), CEO David Zaslav updated the situation to a “premiere in late 2025 on Max.”
Trailer
The Max YouTube channel provided footage showing of Dunk and Egg in action. A teaser trailer should be incoming soon.
Dry January is over, but each year, we discover more and more non-alcoholic drinks that are worth enjoying all year long.
Whether we’re talking about N/A beer and spirits, zero-proof cocktails or “mocktails,” or CBD and THC alternatives, there are an increasing number of drinks available for those who are sober-curious. The best feature of these options is that they’re not just an alternative reserved for teetotalers, as they can be enjoyed alongside alcoholic beverages as well. Hydrating between your booze is crucial, so why not reach for a St. Agrestis Phony Negroni or a refreshing BERO N/A beer in addition to some H2O while you’re pacing yourself? Better still, you can mix many of these offerings into a cocktail of the N/A or alcoholic variety, giving them the added appeal of versatility.
But we’re jumping ahead, so let’s dive right in and talk about the best non-alcoholic drinks we discovered during Dry January!
Ritual Zero-Proof Rum, featuring 1-2g of sugar, is a rock-solid alternative to rum. Intended to be a 1:1 replacement in cocktails, this drink also works well on its own when chilled.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on this imitation rum features some great vanillas and caramel tones, with some ginger candy, coconut, and a hint of molasses.
Palate: On the palate, this stuff almost passes for the real thing! Like most N/A alternatives to spirits, it lacks the viscous texture of well-made rum, but despite the overall dilute nature of the flavors, it is flavorful.
Finish: The impressive finish has a bit of black pepper and candied ginger, which helps it pass the test as an efficient rum alternative.
Bottom Line:
Ritual has been one of the more successful N/A spirits brands on the market, and in their entire lineup, we found that Ritual Zero Proof Rum does the best job of replicating its alcohol-based counterpart. Furthermore, it’s just as enjoyable as its own thing, making it a cool option for drinking on the rocks and using as a mixer in rum-based mocktails.
Let’s state upfront that this drink does have 0.5% alcohol, which means that despite being north of 0%, it’s legally permissible as an “N/A” drink. With that out of the way, it’s clear that WhistlePig focused on replicating the flavors in a whiskey-based cocktail for this one. Featuring a 100% Rye Non-Whiskey, the brand’s signature Barrel-Aged Maple, adaptogenic Cordyceps shrooms, and damiana — a wild shrub native to Central America — this is one intriguing blend that will indeed affect you.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of stone fruits, ginger, orange rind, and clove. Overall, this one casts instant intrigue as a mocktail, and you’ll want to dive right in after an initial whiff.
Palate: Woah, this is tasty stuff on the palate! It totally springs to life with citrus and candied ginger taking the lead, while the flavor of maple syrup does some serious heavy lifting as well. The sweetness doesn’t come across as artificial at all, and actually, it’s really refreshing.
Finish: The finish is brief and sends you on your way with some more maple syrup and citrus notes — nothing to write home about, but certainly not bad.
Bottom Line:
While this one leans heavily on the 100% rye non-whiskey, which means it prominently features ginger as a replacement for alcohol’s signature bite, the supporting flavors are impressive enough to overcome this imbalance. Indeed, after a few sips, once your palate acclimates to the flavor profile, this is an incredibly crushable cocktail alternative for sober-curious sippers.
Seedlip Garden 108 features a blend of peas and traditional garden herbs straight out of Scarborough Fair, like rosemary, spearmint, and thyme.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with those alluring garden herb aromas, with rosemary and spearmint featured lightly, while black pepper, thyme, and fresh peas are a bit more vivacious and apparent.
Palate: On the palate, Seedlip Garden 108 is super crisp with a lovely, slightly viscous texture. The herbal, hoppy note hits the tip of the tongue and introduces a bit of lemon zest to go with the rest of the garden herbs and baking spices.
Finish: The finish is a bit prickly, which is a good thing as it mimics the texture of alcohol on your tongue. It’s full of more rosemary, black pepper, lemon zest, and thyme for a satisfying send-off you’re sure to enjoy.
Bottom Line:
Seedlip is making some of the best N/A products on the market, but their N/A Gin is easily the best in its lineup. Flavorful and full of expressive botanicals that all work well together in harmony, this is a drink that we can’t limit to Dry January enjoyment.
BERO is a brand-new N/A beer brand founded by sensational actor Tom Holland. To help with the project, he enlisted brewmaster Grant Wood, who has over 40 years of experience during previous stops working on Sam Adams, including on their vaunted Utopias and Angry Orchard Cider. Wood crafted three flavors for BERO fans, and the Noon Wheat is our favorite.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is slightly hoppy with lemon zest, malted barley, and cereal grains standing out immediately. It’s an inviting nose that effectively captures the essence of the genuine article.
Palate: This N/A beer has a super crisp body with slight citrus tones and a great, austere texture. It begins slightly fruity before cereal notes begin to dance all over the tongue. To shoot it straight, this definitely tastes like real beer — and a good one at that.
Finish: The succinct finish is really crisp and refreshing, making this a super crushable can of beer. Thanks to its N/A status, I can easily see a 6-pack of these babies disappearing quickly!
Bottom Line:
BERO is one of the newest brands on this list, but what they lack in experience, they more than make up for in effectiveness. We drank a ton of N/A beers in January and even featured them as a beverage option at the UPROXX “LA Check In” Grammy weekend event. It’s been a hit for us, just as it was a big hit at the event, so it’s safe to say we’ll definitely be enjoying it all year long.
Athletic Brewing is the preeminent N/A beer producer in America, and our preference in their lineup lies with the Run Wild IPA. Brewed with a blend of five Northwest hops, it has a refreshing yet approachable bitterness that authentically imitates the real thing.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Run Wild IPA opens with a strong hop presence and a light, underlying acidity in the form of lemon rind and apricots. There’s a bit of pine and malted barley on the nose as well, and overall, it does a fantastic job of giving off the authentic aromas of an IPA beer with alcohol.
Palate: Wow, this is refreshing on the palate. It’s hoppy and features a big citrus kick, but both tones are balanced and set against a backdrop of malted barley, dilute honey, and hay. It has a nice, medium-bodied texture and a twinge of bitterness from the yeast that, again, helps it imitate the sensation and flavor profile of authentic alcoholic IPA beer.
Finish: The finish is where the acidity kicks up a bit, as the citrus and yeast bitterness balance each other out on its way down your palate.
Bottom Line:
Here’s a secret: N/A beers are probably the most true-to-their-counterparts zero-proof drinks on the market. Athletic Brewing’s lineup just goes to show how authentic N/A beers can taste, and for us, their Run Wild IPA is the best of the best.
The St. Agrestis Phony Negroni is so popular as an N/A dupe that it almost has as many acolytes as the real Negroni. Developed and bottled in Brooklyn, NY, the Phony Negroni is made with 30 non-GMO, organic ingredients, including cane sugar from the Caribbean.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose rings true! That signature herbal bitterness stands out as you pick up on the juniper, citrus notes like blood orange, and the faintly floral aroma of lilacs and rosewater.
Palate: On the palate, this truly has the full-flavored taste of an authentic Negroni. The structure of the liquid’s body is a shade leaner than one might expect, but otherwise, the balance of botanicals and semi-bitterness with a touch of citrus comes together with great harmony.
Finish: The finish is lingering and flush with that herbal and baking spice semi-bitterness in the form of thyme, black pepper, juniper, and blood orange.
Bottom Line:
The St. Agrestis Phony Negroni has become a bar staple at this point, thanks to the fact that it works fabulously well as an N/A Negroni substitute. It maintains the flavor and the “spirit” of a real Negroni without including the actual spirit in a Negroni. This is pretty much the gold standard for N/A RTD cocktails.
WYNK Black Cherry Fizz is a THC- and CBD-infused seltzer. With a refreshing yet flavorful profile, fun branding, and a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD, it’s a balanced drink you can easily enjoy in moderation.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Yup, that smells like a flavored seltzer. While the nosing notes aren’t really applicable here, it does have a sweet fruitiness that doesn’t come across as artificial, which is a plus.
Palate: On the palate, the flavors are really crisp and balanced. The black cherry notes are juicy and ring authentic without leaving that dissatisfying muddled cloying sweetness that you can get from other artificially flavored beverages.
Finish: Not much to speak of, here, it’s a flavored seltzer! The best thing we can say is that it has little to no finish, which works in its favor as a refreshing drink.
Bottom Line:
With a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD, WYNK’s drinks give you a mellow and balanced head feel, which will keep you lucid enough to be the life of the party while uplifted enough to enjoy every minute of it. This one was a great alcohol alternative for us doing Dry January, but with that 1:1 balance, we have a feeling we’ll be enjoying it for the rest of the year too.
This RTD mocktail starts with a base of Lyre’s Dry London Spirit and adds tonic water for a zero-proof take on a Gin & Tonic. The results are an alcohol-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly refreshing mocktail.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes open with orange blossom, jasmine, and black pepper, with a touch of lemon zest and even juniper. It’s a surprisingly on-the-nose, refreshing take on a G&T that captures its essence well.
Palate: On the palate, you most definitely get the taste of quinine first, but the N/A gin punches through as it transitions to midpalate and the finish, picking up flavors like jasmine, tangerines, allspice, and candied lemon peels.
Finish: The finish is brief and crisp, leaving you with the flavor of quinine, black pepper, and candied lemon peels, with faint botanical notes lingering until it fully recedes.
Bottom Line:
Lyre’s G & T is pretty much the industry standard for RTD N/A cocktails, and for good reason, because it tastes great. This drink is super refreshing and a delicious stand-alone beverage, making it an excellent option for sober sippers and spirits enthusiasts alike.
Nowadays Micro Dose is a tasty tropical drink with 2mg of THC infused in every 1.5oz serving. That minimal dosage and fun flavor profile give it versatility in mixed drinks, as you can enjoy more of the flavor with a lower concentration of its mind-altering effects.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of tropical fruits like pineapples and coconuts, with some lemon zest and agave syrup. Overall, it’s light and sweet, similar to a lemon drop shot but with an infusion of tropical fruit.
Palate: On the palate, all those flavors from the nosing notes spring into action, heavily emphasizing the pineapple chunks and a more restrained showcase of coconuts and lemons. It has a medium-bodied texture, which gives it an extra bonus as a mixer.
Finish: The finish lingers a short while, and if you search hard enough, you can pick up traces of the THC, but overall those hints are faint, and the tropical flavors remain in the foreground.
Bottom Line:
Nowadays Micro Dose is such a tasty drink on its own, but due to its restrained dosage, it’s also a ton of fun to combine with other drinks for cocktails and highballs if taking shots isn’t really your style. It’s that tasty flavor combined with its unrivaled versatility that makes it one of the best N/A options on the market, and definitely one of the best THC-infused offerings.
The Pathfinder is a drink fermented from hemp, pot-distilled, and then blended with wormwood, angelica root, ginger, sage, juniper, saffron, orange peel, wild-crafted Douglas-fir, and natural terpenes. The results taste similar to a robust and flavorful amaro.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with an ebullient pine note, reminiscent of laying under a Christmas tree, anticipating gifts that The Pathfinder is eager to open for you. Those gifts present themselves as cola nut, cinnamon bark, rhubarb, and brandied raisins. It’s an alluring blend that works well and passes the smell test as an amaro alternative.
Palate: On the palate, this one is flush with pine notes and allspice, but that initial kick parts the curtain for more nuanced, and still forceful, flavors to enter the fray. Candied ginger, juniper, cinnamon bark, and rhubarb stand tall as the full-bodied beverage washes over your palate, coating your tongue with its pronounced flavor layers.
Finish: The lingering finish closes on an overtly herbaceous note, with a touch of brown sugar, licorice, sweet raisins, and black pepper balancing themselves on your palate until the last drop is gone.
Bottom Line:
This is definitely a drink for Amaro fans, but it also works particularly well as a mixer in N/A and alcoholic beverages alike that call for the Italian liqueur. During Dry January, this is the non-alcoholic drink I found myself savoring above all others, and now that the first month of 2025 is over, it’s safe to say this is the one I’ll be enjoying most frequently all year long.
It’s time for the Crumbl Cookie report! This week I was shocked to see that Crumbl’s lineup is down from eight to seven. Is this a sign that we’re heading back to a six-cookie week? We hope so because we think six cookies is the perfect sweet spot at Crumbl — it offers variety, and at the same time, a high level of quality control. If you’ve been following our Crumbl Cookie report, you might’ve noticed that a lot of the desserts we’ve been picking up lately haven’t exactly looked picture-perfect. We have always blamed the extended lineup for that, so let’s hope the bosses at Crumbl come to their senses.
This is a special week at Crumbl because Friday is Valentine’s Day, so if your valentine has a sweet tooth, rejoice because Crumbl has all sorts of themed cakes and cookies that’ll deliver on the sweetness. You even have the option of receiving your six-pack of cookies in a sexy red box. Cool? Certainly, someone will think so. For us? We just want the cookies.
Here is every cookie dropping at Crumbl this week, ranked.
7. Valentine’s Confetti
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I don’t want to go as far as saying this is a bad cookie, it’s very tasty, but it’s boring as f*ck. Over a soft chew sugar cookie base, you get heart-shaped sprinkles and… that’s it. There isn’t a lot going on here, if you like sugar cookies, you’ll like this one. If you don’t, there isn’t anything novel or interesting about this cookie that’ll convince you it’s worth your time.
For that, we have to name this the least essential cookie of the week.
The Bottom Line:
It’s just a simple sugar cookie. Every other cookie this week offers more flavor and a more interesting build than this one.
6. Strawberry Cake
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
My issue with the Strawberry Cake is that it’s too much strawberry. The cake is strawberry flavored, the cream cheese frosting is strawberry flavored — we need some sort of counterbalance in flavor to be excited about this one. And there are several other cookies on the menu this week that do just that, so unless you’re a hardcore strawberry fan, skip this one.
The Bottom Line:
For strawberry fans only.
5. Milk Chocolate Chip
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
You can’t go wrong with this cookie. It’s the perfect blend of brown sugar and butter, with a soft chew texture, and is loaded up with enough chocolate chips that every bite offers an explosion of chocolatey goodness.
It’s not our favorite chocolate chip cookie at Crumbl (that honor goes to the Semi-Sweet), but it’s hard to ever be disappointed in this cookie. We always think the best play here is to use your Crumbl Rewards points to pick this one up for free.
The Bottom Line:
One of the greatest Chocolate Chip cookies you’ll ever eat. But it’s available every other week, so if you’re on a budget, maybe skip this one.
4. Valentine’s M&M’s Cookie
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
If you love M&M chocolate chip cookies — and we do — you’re going to love the Valentine’s M&M Cookie. Aside from the pink and red M&Ms, there is nothing different about this cookie from your typical M&M cookie, it just looks cuter. Which is fitting for Valentine’s Day.
This cookie features a sweet buttery base that is joined by the occasional burst of milk chocolate sweetness. It’s a simple, but delicious cookie.
The Bottom Line:
A fun Valentine’s Day themed spin on a classic cookie.
3. The Original Pink Sugar
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Crumbl was smart to bring back the Original Pink Sugar for Valentine’s week. This cookie is a fan favorite, so we could totally see a person buying a whole box of this cookie for their Valentine this year.
If you’ve never experienced this cookie, remedy that shit. The cookie features an almond sugar cookie base and is topped with a thick layer of almond frosting. It’s nutty, creamy, and has gentle notes of cherry.
The Bottom Line:
It hits you over the head with intense almond sugar sweetness.
2. Molten Lava
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
I generally don’t like one-note cookies from Crumbl (see our entry on the Strawberry Cake), but if that single flavor note is chocolate, well that’s another story. The Molten Lava is the perfect cookie for people who can’t get enough chocolate.
Each bite is a rich and decadent experience of hot fudge and dark chocolate, with a heavy layer of soft and airy powdered sugar. It’s so rich and indulgent that you might need a big glass of milk to help you with this one.
The Bottom Line:
An explosion of chocolatey flavors in each bite. We love this rich combination of fudge and dark chocolate.
1. Chocolate Covered Strawberry
Dane Rivera
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Not only does this cookie feel like the most appropriately themed for the holiday, but it tastes better than everything else on the menu at Crumbl this week. This cookie features a rich chocolate cookies and cream base topped with a layer of sweet and refreshing strawberry cream cheese frosting, and a drizzle of semi-sweet chocolate.
Each bite is a mix of rich and indulgent flavors with a bright berry finish. It’s well-balanced and incredibly addicting.
The Bottom Line:
A mix of rich, indulgent, and refreshing flavors. A perfect marriage of chocolate and berries. We wouldn’t be mad if this was added to the menu bi-weekly.
$10 feels like a real sweet spot for fast food. It’s not so much money that it feels prohibitively expensive, but it’s enough money that you should be able to get more than one item from the menu. If you pay close enough attention to the menu at your favorite fast food restaurant, you can probably get away with spending even less than that!
Unfortunately, to get a deal like that, you’re going to have to look for it. The average combo meal at any given fast food restaurant will probably cost you somewhere in the ball park of $15. But the deals are out there so if the idea of spending $10 or less on fast food sounds appealing to you, we’re here to help!
To help you save a few bucks, we’re naming the best way to spend $10 (or less) at all our favorite fast food chains and then ranking the deals from good to great.
If there is a fast food restaurant missing from this list, it’s probably because there is truly no good way to spend $10 there. Let’s dive in.
16. Chick-fil-A — Chick-fil-A Sandwich + Fries
Chick-fil-A
Price: Sandwich $6.49 + Small Fries $2.99 = $9.48
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Straight up, Chick-fil-A isn’t the best place to eat if you want to spend only $10. There isn’t a single combo meal that comes anywhere close to that price, so our pick for the best bang for your buck is to just take the sandwich, and add some fries to it.
The sandwich is pretty bare bones consisting of just a breaded chicken breast filet and a couple of pickles, but when paired with your favorite sauce, it elevates this simple sandwich into something much more satisfying.
The chicken filet is tender and juicy, with a sort of buttery finish to it. The pickles help to accentuate the savoriness while adding some tang.
It’s rare that a chicken sandwich doesn’t need sauce, but Chick-fil-A’s filets are always tender and juicy enough that they get away with it. Having said that, we think dipping the sandwich in Chick-fil-A, Polynesian, or BBQ sauce goes a long way to making this sandwich much more decadent and satisfying.
A small order of fries is going to give you about six or seven waffle fries total, which admittedly isn’t a lot, but the fries have a nice earthy flavor to them which will taste great on the side of your sandwich, or inside of it!
The Bottom Line:
Not a great place to eat if you want to spend $10, but this small meal will get the job done.
15. Arby’s — Classic Roast Beef + Small Curly Fries
Arby’s
Price: Sandwich $5.99 + Fries $3.69 = $9.68
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
$10 is a steep ask at Arby’s, especially if you want to put together a whole meal, but it can be done! Our pick for the best spend is a Classic Roast Beef sandwich and an order of curly fries. The Roast Beef is Arby’s flagship sandwich; it’s sweet, smokey, savory, and beefy.
Pair that with the onion and garlic-heavy curly fries, and you have a meal that packs a whole lot of flavor.
The Bottom Line:
A one-two punch of Arby’s biggest and best flavors.
14. Shake Shack — ShackBurger
Shake Shack
Price: $7.99
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Here’s the thing — the ShackBurger may just be the greatest fast food cheeseburger. The patty is sumptuous and beefy, with flavor-packed caramelized edges, topped with fresh produce and a slice of melted American cheese, and features a tangy burger sauce that wraps all the flavors together like a savory bow.
But as good as this burger is, we can’t just pretend that it makes for a cheap meal. $10 is not enough money for Shake Shack. While this burger sits comfortably under $10, it’s also incredibly small. The whole burger is about the size of your fist. So, a single cheeseburger isn’t nearly satisfying enough. We wouldn’t eat here without at least $15.
The Bottom Line:
A great burger that lacks an affordable deal.
13. Jack in the Box — $6 All Day Big Meal Deal
Price: $6
You’re going to see some iteration of this meal again and again on this ranking. The fast food brands are going all-in on the value meal, and we’re here for it.
Jack in the Box’s $6 All Day Big Meal Deal features your choice of any of the following entrees: a Double Jr. Jumbo Jack with Cheese, a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, a Jr. Chicken Sandwich, or a Supreme Croissant plus two sides, which include French fries, curly fries, hashbrowns, five tiny tacos, or four chicken nuggets.
We have no hard opinions about which sandwich is best here. All your options are pretty middling at best. As for sides, we think Curly Fries and chicken nuggets is the best play here. JiB’s Curly Fries are zesty, lightly breaded, and seasoned with a mix of garlic, onion, and black pepper. The chicken nuggets are heavily processed, but the breading has a peppery flavor that pairs nicely with a variety of sauces, from ranch to barbecue.
The only thing holding this one back is that you’re dealing with Jack in the Box. There are better-tasting fast food chains out there with similar value meals.
The Bottom Line:
A great deal, but if you don’t like Jack in the Box, this combination of foods isn’t going to win you over.
This is approaching menu hack territories but bear with us for a second. It might not seem like $10 can get you much at Chipotle, but this surprisingly filling meal begs to differ.
Unless you order through the app, you might not be aware that you can order a single taco, and that single taco can be loaded up with more ingredients than you might expect. Right off the bat, you can ask for a side of rice and beans, so now at the very least, you have a meal that consists of one taco, rice, beans, chips, and guacamole. Arguably that’s a full meal!
Your taco build could be anything you want, but we’ve actually experimented with all sorts of builds and we find that the best option is a barbacoa beef taco with grilled vegetables, corn, red salsa, and cheese. That’ll give you a classic street taco build!
If you feel like you rather have the rice and beans in the taco, go for it, but we find this simpler build tastes a lot better and allows you to focus in on the beefy, herbaceous, and earthy flavors of the barbacoa and the bright heat of the red salsa.
The only real issue with this meal is it’s going to taste so good you’re going to wish you had more than one.
The Bottom Line: They aren’t ideal, but it’s fully possible to enjoy a mini meal at Chipotle with some smart ordering.
11. KFC — Taste of KFC 2 PC Deal
KFC
Price: $6
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
The Taste of KFC 2 PC Deal gives you a greatest hits package of KFC’s best flavors. You get an Original Recipe leg and thigh, a side of mashed potatoes, gravy, and a biscuit. As far as I’m concerned, the only reason to get KFC is the Original Recipe blend of flavors, you get the herbaceous notes of thyme and sage, zesty black pepper, and a heavy dose of garlic and onion flavor. Sure, it’s not crispy, but the flavor is undeniably delicious.
Pair that with some buttery mashed potatoes and gravy (which serve as a delicious dip for the chicken) and a biscuit, and you’ve got the perfect combination of KFC flavors. And if two pieces isn’t enough, you can bump that up to a four-piece meal and it’ll still only run you $10.
The Bottom Line:
A greatest hits package of KFC’s best flavors.
10. Taco Bell — Pretty Much Anything On The Menu
Taco Bell
Price: <$5
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
There isn’t a single menu item on the entire Taco Bell menu that is anywhere close to $10. If you really want to make your money spread, eat at Taco Bell. You can get any combination of your favorites here, be it Crunchy Tacos ($1.99), Bean and cheese burritos ($1.69), Steak and Garlic Nacho fries ($5.79), Crunchwrap Supreme’s ($6.49), or Mexican Pizzas ($6.19).
If you’re looking for a good combination, get a Mexican Pizza and a couple of tacos.
The Bottom Line:
$10 is enough to have you fed like royalty at Taco Bell.
9. Del Taco — Big Bundle
Del Taco
Price: $10
Del Taco’s Big Bundle will get you a Chipotle Chicken Burrito, a bean, rice, and cheese burrito, a snack taco, a mini cheddar quesadilla, and a snack-sized order of chips with guac. All that’s missing from this meal is an order of fries!
The highlight of the Big Bundle is the Chipotle Chicken Burrito, which is packed with zesty, earthy and peppery flavors. The only real weak notes are the chips and guacamole, which taste a bit bland and are too heavy on the onion. But that’s making a mountain out of a mole hill.
The Bottom Line:
A great platter of some of Del Taco’s strongest dishes. There is enough food here to feed two people.
8. Burger King — Trio
Burger King
Price: $8
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Burger King’s Trio allows you to put together any combination of three of the following: Whopper Jr, Chicken Sandwich, Bacon Cheeseburger, Medium Fries, Medium Soft Drink, or eight-piece chicken fries. Our build would be the Bacon Cheeseburger, fries, and chicken fries.
The bacon cheeseburger is a nice combination of smokey and charred flavors, the chicken fries are zesty, and the fries are salty and crispy. We think this combination gets you the best variety of flavors, but if you feel like tripling up on a Whooper — go for it you carnivore!
The Bottom Line:
A mix of charred, smokey, zesty, and ultra-salty flavors. Burger King’s Trio gives you access to a handful of the restaurant’s best menu items for a discounted price.
7. McDonald’s — $5 Meal Deal
McDonald’s
Price: $5
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
McDonald’s was at the center of last year’s “fast food is too expensive” discourse, so good on the brand for switching course and offering people a legitimate deal. The $5 Meal Deal gives you everything you could ever want from McDonald’s: nuggets, fries, a drink, and a double cheeseburger all for an affordable price.
We have no notes here, this is one of the greatest deals in fast food right now. The only reason it’s not number one is because we think there are better burgers out there, and we’d gladly spend a few dollars more for them.
The Bottom Line:
McDonald’s is really putting the “value” in value meal with this one.
6. Rally’s/Checkers — 5 Item Meal Deal
Rally’s
Price: $6
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Rally’s got the message that fast food is too expensive! The 5 Item Meal Deal is a treasure trove of flavors, you’ve got the choice between a Double Cheeseburger or a Spicy Chicken Sandwich (go with the burger, every time), an order of small Chicken Bites, a Medium order of Season Fries, a drink, and an apple pie.
Rally’s doesn’t have the best cheeseburger in all of fast food, but it’s solidly mid-tier (we ranked it 11th out of 20), offering a juicy beef patty that is nicely salted. The fries on the other hand are some of the best in fast food. They’re breaded and seasoned with a mix of garlic and onion powder, and black pepper.
As for the nuggets, like the cheeseburger, they’re solidly mid-tier with minimal processing.
The Bottom Line:
Rally’s 5 Item Meal Deal gets you a sampler’s plate of Rally’s best menu items for a cheap price. None of the food is mind-blowing (except for the fries), but each individual component is tasty enough that you don’t feel like you’re compromising flavor for a good deal.
5. Carl’s Jr. — California Classic Double Cheeseburger Combo
Carl’s Jr
Price: $9.99
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Generally, Carl’s Jr. is pretty expensive, but the brand does have a few combos that you can still snag for under $10. Our pick is the California Classic Double Cheeseburger Combo.
The burger might not have that decadent thing going for it that Carl’s Jr. is known for, but this standard burger build is effective and delicious. The sandwich features two charbroiled grilled patties, two layers of American cheese, grilled onions, Carl’s Jr.’s Classic sauce, lettuce, and tomato. The meat has that toasty charred flavor typical of Carl’s, while the sauce brings in some tang and accentuates the savory quality of the beef.
The fries aren’t the best, but they get the job done and taste even better when you put them in the burger.
The Bottom Line:
Even though this is one of Carl’s Jr’s simpler burgers, it still captures some of that charbroiled magic that makes this brand beloved.
4. In-N-Out — Single Cheeseburger (Combo # 2)
In N Out
Price: $9.29
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
In-N-Out may not have a value menu, but their prices are so low that they don’t need one. You can order a single cheeseburger, fries, and a medium drink for under $10. That’s a steal!
So why isn’t it number one? Because the definitive order at In-N-Out is the Double Double. The single cheeseburger pails in comparison because of its meat-to-bread-to-cheese ratio. The beef patties are too thin and tiny for this to be a truly enjoyable experience. You can taste echoes of how good this burger is, but it never really comes together as a single.
So if you want to come away from your meal satisfied I think there are a few better options out there.
The Bottom Line:
If you want the full meal, go ahead and get a #2, but I rather spend about $5 on a Double Double with no sides and call it a day. That’s how much better the Double Double is over the single.
3. Popeyes — 3PC Signature Chicken Deal
Popeyes
Price: $8
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Right now Popeyes is offering its own version of a value meal with the 3PC Signature Chicken Deal. Available in both Classic and Spicy, white or dark meat, the meal consists of three pieces of chicken, a side, and a drink.
Our pick is Spicy, White Meat, with a side of Cajun Fries, but really you can’t go wrong here. Both Popeyes’ Classic and Spicy chicken are tender, ultra flavorful, and deliciously crunchy, and the only side order at Popeyes we consider weak is the coleslaw.
It doesn’t have the same allure as the Popeyes chicken sandwich, but this is the cheapest you’re going to be able to experience that addicting Popeyes flavor.
The Bottom Line:
We’re going to take this time to remind you that Popeyes’ bone-in chicken is every bit as delicious as the chicken sandwich.
2. Dave’s Hot Chicken — Slider With Fries
Dave’s
Price: $10.49
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Okay we are .49¢ above the threshold, but we’re going to make an exception here because not only is this a pretty good deal, but it’s probably the best order at Dave’s Hot Chicken for any amount of money! It’s amazing that this also happens to be the cheapest combo on the menu. How is two tenders and fries more money than a full a** sandwich?
Whatever, we won’t question it.
This combo consists of a chicken slider that consists of a giant chicken tender served in a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, and a drizzle of Dave’s creamy and smokey comeback-style sauce.
The sandwich is available in seven different layers of heat. We suggest the “Hot,” option, which has a nice balance of cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder. It packs a lot of savory flavor and has a kick of heat, but isn’t prohibitively spicy.
The sandwich comes with a side of paprika-dusted fries, which taste equal parts earthy, smokey, buttery and salty. It’s a great meal and gives Chick-fil-A a run for its money.
The Bottom Line:
One of the best deals in all of fast food right now. If you want a flavorful chicken sandwich and a side of fries, it’s hard to find anything else this high quality for this cheap. Dunks on all the big chains out there right now.
1. Wendy’s — Bacon Double Stack Biggie Bag
Wendy’s
Price: $8
Thoughts & Tasting Notes:
Wendy’s Bacon Double Stack Biggie Bag is the best way to spend under $10 in all of fast food. The double cheeseburger is made with fresh beef, which none of the competition aside from the fast-casual restaurants (In-N-Out, Shake Shack) offer. A burger made to order from fresh non-frozen beef can’t be beat. The burger is juicier, beefier, and overall more flavorful than a burger made from a frozen patty.
Add to that some of the most legitimately spicy nuggets in fast food, some solid mid-tier fries, and a drink and you’ve got the greatest deal in all of fast food. Wendy’s Biggie Bag delivers quality food, an affordable price, and a large variety of different flavors. It doesn’t get better than this.
The Bottom Line:
The best-tasting deal in all of fast food. You’re not sacrificing anything with the Biggie Bag. This is affordable fast food at its finest.
“It’s this band called Khruangbin I want to work with. This might be crazy, but I would love to get Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter on a hook. […] I have some ill ideas.”
Scott was then asked about the close chart race his Days Before Rodeo and Carpenter’sShort N’ Sweet had in September 2024; Carpenter ended up debuting at No. 1, but the difference in equivalent album units earned between the project for that week was less than one percent.
Well, Scott didn’t seem bothered and even gave Carpenter some props, saying, “Charts, shmarts, man. Who measures that? Her album’s cool. Days Before Rodeo is 10 years old. It all works.”
Meanwhile, he also discussed his upcoming album, saying, “I want to say the title right now, but people aren’t going to understand it. I have some more tweaking to do. […] I feel like for Utopia, I was striving to push things to a high level. I’m still reaching for that. I’ve been having so much fun with music and sh*t that I think it’s cool to be artistic and have fun with it. I’ve been producing more, making a lot of the album, and going in on that level is making it more exciting. I can’t wait, actually.”
The Golden State Warriors will be the host team for the upcoming NBA All-Star Weekend, as the basketball world will descend on San Francisco for the annual midseason festivities. All-Star Weekend has become more than just a basketball showcase, as it’s become a cultural event with stars from the worlds of music, TV, film, and entertainment all coming through.
This year, the Warriors are using All-Star to shine a light on the Bay Area and their unique musical scene with an album, “For The Soil”, that’s being released through the team’s label, Golden State Entertainment. P-Lo is producing the album and we spoke with him earlier in the year about the project and why he was so excited to partner with the Warriors to bring together some of the biggest names in Bay Area hip-hop for it. On the latest single from that album, “Had To,” P-Lo is joined by two of the Bay’s most legendary artists, E-40 and Too Short.
You wouldn’t get far in a conversation about Bay Area hip-hop without mentioning E-40 or Too Short, and they lend their distinct style and sound to the track. Both are big Warriors fans, with E-40 noting his status as a courtside season ticket holder in his verse, and a celebration of music in the Bay would’ve been incomplete without them.
It’s been a while since Oklahoma indie favorites Broncho released 2018’s Bad Behavior, their most recent album. Now, the drought it about to be over: Today (February 10), the group announced Natural Pleasure, the fifth album and first in six years.
It arrives on April 25, and today, they’ve shared two new songs. The group’s Ryan Lindsey notes “Imagination” “was written in the early hours of a pandemic morning in my garage,” adding, “I imagine the whole neighborhood might have heard me writing that one.” He also says of “Funny,” “Although none of our songs are written about any one subject, ‘Funny’ is loosely based on my ability to steal my girlfriend’s jokes.”
The album was recorded primarily at Blackwatch Studios in Norman, Oklahoma. A press release notes of the LP, “Listening to Natural Pleasure is a sensory journey — a plunge into a dimension where reality blurs into something more fluid and profound. With this record, Broncho reaffirms their status as indie rock stalwarts, delivering a masterpiece that’s alive, unpredictable, and deeply human.”
Listen to “Funny” and “Imagination” above. Below, find the Natural Pleasure album art and tracklist.
Calvin Klein cultivated a distinct, clean aesthetic in the ’90s, and Lucy Dacus is paying tribute to it in her new video for “Best Guess,” the latest preview of her upcoming album Forever Is A Feeling.
The video (for which Dacus had an open call earlier this year) features a bunch of models — among them Cara Delevigne, Towa Bird, and Muna’s Naomi McPherson — doing model things (playing pool, arm wrestling, throwing darts, lifting weights, dancing, striking poses, and what have you) in white rooms and black rooms, mostly wearing some variation of a classic black suit with a white shirt.
Dacus previously said of writing the album, “I got kicked in the head with emotions. Falling in love, falling out of love. […] You have to destroy things in order to create things. And I did destroy a really beautiful life. […] You can’t actually capture forever, but I think we feel forever in moments. I don’t know how much time I’ve spent in forever, but I know I’ve visited.”
Dacus’ Boygenius bandmates Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker appear on the album, along with Hozier, Blake Mills, Bartees Strange, Madison Cunningham, Collin Pastore, Jake Finch, and Melina Duterte.
Watch the “Best Guess” video above.
Forever Is A Feeling is out 3/28 via Geffen Records. Find more information here.
TV audiences can’t quit their spy and assassin stories coupled with covert romance. Not even Killing Eve‘s Game of Thrones-esque series finale could dampen long-lasting enthusiasm for the fusion of espionage and romance, either, so word of the Mrs. & Mrs. Smith reboot’s renewal was met with enthusiasm. Then silence. Then award nominations. And more silence.
At least that cliffhanger ending will see followup, so let’s talk about what we can expect when the second season finally arrives.
Plot
Amazon
By all indications, the existing structure will stick. Married assassins will appear as part of a vast network in which Smiths might cross paths with other Smiths. Those Smiths might be out to assassinate the Smiths that accrue too many strikes from the mysterious bosses. The TV show has also taken a very episodic approach, even picking up months later and with unclear timelines on various assassin assignments. (With that said, the show would do well to take a trip back and visit Alexander Skarsgård ^^^ and Eiza González’s John and Jane, if only for an episode, no matter who the next “main” Smiths are.)
For the second season, Donald Glover is onboard as ongoing writer and executive producer. Will he appear onscreen again? That remains a mystery, but his schedule is perpetually packed, and he recently postponed Childish Gambino tour dates over an unexpected medical condition. A similar situation exists for Maya Erskine, who announced a pregnancy last spring.
For that matter, we do not know whether Glover and Erskine’s John and Jane survived the first season finale, but it sure as hell didn’t look possible. With only one bullet left between them and John seemingly close to death, it’s extremely unlikely that either of them survived a hail of bullets (with blasts visible in the window during the season’s closing shot) coming from Parker Posey’s Jane. Speaking of which, Posey recently spoke with Screenrant and disclosed that nobody has called her about the second season. She did, however, praise her John, portrayed by Wagner Moura, as a “a dreamy guy.” Moura’s character surely didn’t recover from his wounds, which adds to the possibility that none of these four characters will return.
Showrunner Francesca Sloane previously declined to confirm or deny who lived and died, although she noted that she and Donald found supposed “source” claims to be hilarious: “[W]e’re like, ‘Who are these sources?’ We wrote a cliffhanger, we thought about it long and hard. It was one of the first things that we wrote. Why in the world — we haven’t said anything — but why in the world would we ruin a cliffhanger based on a headline?” Erskine has further stressed to Entertainment Weekly the importance of staying mum:
“I totally understand why there’s speculation. It was funny when the article came out proclaiming that we’re not in it because there was no announcement made. But Fran said it best. She talked about how it’s sort of like Christmas: Don’t open the presents until it’s Christmas day. You don’t need to peek inside. I’m trying to follow along in their footsteps because I have a big mouth, and if I could, I would just say everything right now, but I can’t. I don’t want to ruin it.”
News will eventually arrive, but hopefully, that happens soon because the first season arrived nearly a year ago.
Cast
With the way that both Maya Erskine and Donald Glover have been down for teasing (both on late night shows), it sounds like they could be in for a quick cameo, maybe pre-death if their characters didn’t survive for more. Perhaps they will even take the form of Ultra High Risk Smiths that Parker Posey and Wagner Maura did in the first season. But if they do not return, and a central pair of Smiths enter the assassin field this season (and Deadline has reported that this is the case), the return of supporting cast members Michaela Coel or Paul “Hot Neighbor” Dano would be a joy, too.
Bottom line, however, is that Amazon hasn’t announced a replacement set of main assassins or who might return, but Variety has reported that Anora‘s Mark Eydelshteyn has been added to the cast in some shape or form.
Release Date
This season’s development has been so secretive that late 2025 might be possible if Amazon is keeping new cast members under wraps. If they’re waiting for Donald and Maya to be available again, then 2026 is more likely.
Trailer
In lieu of related footage, rewatching the first two minutes of the series could stir up desires to see the backstory of squirrel-loving assassins.
11 minutes into Kendrick Lamar’s historic Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, about halfway through his trademark juggernaut of a diss song, “Not Like Us,” an unexpected guest appeared on millions of American’s television screens: international tennis superstar Serena Williams. Standing under a lamppost, the athlete-turned-mogul exhibited a joyous, familiar demonstration of the South Central Los Angeles-spawned, gang-related two-step, the crip walk.
For those deep into Kendrick Lamar lore, the appearance was fitting; like the Pulitzer Prize-winning rap poet, she hails from South Los Angeles’ Hub City, Compton (as does this writer), a point of pride for both and contention for their critics. Furthermore, her appearing during a song dissing one of hip-hop’s most recognizable figures made sense, as well; the two were occasionally linked romantically by tabloid writers throughout the early 2010s.
But there was a third dimension to Williams’ appearance, the one I think both Kendrick and Serena were most concerned with. Because, you see, on Super Bowl Sunday, February 9, 2025, “Not Like Us” ceased to be just about Drake. Just like Kendrick’s entire set, it was a challenge to America. It was a shot at an institution. It was a message. It was a reminder. You can’t cancel Black history. There are no diversity and inclusion initiatives you can kill that will erase this nation’s original sin. You are Not Like Us.
America wants to be like us. It tells itself stories of overcoming adversity. Like Drake, it lies about starting at the bottom. It takes credit for the innovations and creativity of those it oppresses. It demands entertainment of those whose humanity it refuses to acknowledge. I don’t have to provide examples. You know. Even as you fix your lips to deny it, even as you poise your thumbs to type out that “I don’t see color”… you know, in your heart of hearts, the truth.
Before it celebrated the accomplishments of a Black girl from the city of Compton (you call it an “inner-city,” despite it being a suburb, and you call it a ghetto, when it produces celebrities, cowboys, MBAs, and music writers), America spat on Serena Williams and her sister Venus. When Serena was on their way to becoming the winningest women’s tennis player of all time, America had nothing but criticism for her braids, her attire, her attitude, her drive, her figure, her business moves, her audacity to be Black in a sport that prides itself of its…”exclusivity.” That prides itself on telling Black folks “you are Not Like Us.”
America had so very much criticism for Serena when, upon winning the Wimbledon tournament in 2012, she danced a few steps of the C-walk in celebration. The first question she fielded upon leaving the court was, “All people know that the crip walk is not just a dance… I was wondering, do you have any regrets doing it in front of everyone?” As though celebrating your history, your heritage, your community, is something to be ashamed of. At the Super Bowl, Serena, alongside Kendrick, reversed the dynamic. They were the center of attention. They held the spotlight. And with it, a mirror. We are who love, who you want to be, who you emulate, who ask to create your biggest cultural moments. And you are Not. Like. Us.
The grin that slid across Kendrick’s face as he delivered the slick “Say Drake” that kicks off the most vicious stanzas of “Not Like Us” was his acknowledgement of the fact that so many in the audience would miss the point. They’d miss it, despite his incorporating Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam to level exactly the same indictments that America has issued to Black artists for over 100 years in a knowing satire. They’d miss it, despite his dancers coming together to form the image of an American flag, draped in red, white, and blue, co-opting the jingoism that has taken over the NFL and its consumer base in the same way they’re so happy to co-opt the language and the look of hip-hop. How many country stars these days started out as “rappers” and still fill their songs with 808s and AAV?
Throughout the course of his set, Kendrick highlighted just how long his Cold War with Drake had chilled before the cold snap of 2024. Songs with layered, sublimated shots sizzled with the scintillating realization that he was always pointing the finger in indictment. But not just at Drake. Drake was just a useful puppet, an effigy. Drake was just the Great and Powerful Oz; Kendrick always wanted the man — or rather, the system — behind the curtain. The one that props up empty vessels like Drake, the one chooses which version of hip-hop to prop up — the combative, fractious battle rap, the deleterious gangsta rap, the toxic drug rap — and slipped up, just this once, and let in the one that would stand on the field at the single most-watched television event of the year and demand some accountability.
There’s a lot of chatter online today about how Kendrick “should have” played his older hits. He should have made us dance. He should have — and this is the quiet part they think we can’t hear — shut up and dribbled. Tap danced. Put on that ol’ grease paint and that great big smile. He smiled, alright. Smiled as he got away with it. Smiled as he spoke truth to power. Smiled as he did what they didn’t want him to do. He reminded America that there is no America without Black history. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to like us. If you hate us, it’s only ’cause you ain’t us.
It is what it is. But you need us. You like having us around. That’s cool. We aren’t going anywhere. Just remember: We are the standard. We are the bar. And you are…
Not. Like. Us.
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