Best Burgers at National Fast Food Chains

Best Burgers at National Fast Food Chains
4 August 2019

Tested using fave condiments of : lettuce, tomato, real cheese (not American, preferably Cheddar but only if high quality, otherwise, either another cheese if high quality or NO cheese), mayo, RAW onions (preferably red),  pickles. If very good sauteed mushrooms are also available, those can be worth adding, such as at Mooya.

1. Mooya Burger (for cheeseburgers: just sub out the American cheese for cheddar - high quality cheddar there,  which is rare for fast food places!) A- 

2. Shake Shack A- overall (great buns!)

3. Smashburger (just sub out the American cheese for Cheddar! - high quality cheddar there!) A-

4. The Habit. B++ overall. (graded this high using raw onion; it grades lower if you order it with their default carmelized onion) (Meat B+, bun B)

5. Culvers. B+ overall (meat B, bun, buttered and grilled! B+)

6. Five Guys B/B+ overall (meat B+, bun B+)

7. Burger King B/B+ overall (meat quality B- but char flavor B/B+, bun B-. This is an odd one, because at times they seem to lower the quality of meat and buns and this burger rates lower. This grade is when they are at their best, maybe with the freshest of buns and meat, with newly cooked meat.)

8. Wendy's B/B+ overall (meat B+, bun B)

9. In & Out B/B+ overall (meat B-, bun B/B+; note: the big raw onion slice helps it a lot - a fun place to go because of shakes and fries there are better than average and the places has a great vibe)

10. Carl's Jr. a. Star Burger B overall (meat B, bun C) 
                     b. Original Thickburger B- overall (meat C, bun B+: next to the top 3 above in quality of bun but only                           for this Original Thickburger, not for the Star Burger!)

11. McDonald's Quarter Pounder overall B (meat B-/B, bun C+). Note: their other burgers rated a tad lower. Still, it's a go-to place because of the fries, which have a "secret ingredient" that makes them so good - beef stock!)

12. DQ (Dairy Queen). Overall C+ 

13. Sonic C

14. Del Taco C- 

BEST KETO BURGERS 
(RATED FOR TASTE OF MEAT ONLY): 
(Get lettuce instead of buns. The rating below is for taste of meat only:)

1. Mooya B+
2. Smashburger B+
3. Shake Shack B+
4. The Habit B+
5. Five Guys B+
6. Wendy's B+

MEAT QUALITY DROPS DOWN FOR THE OTHERS, RATED IN THIS ORDER: 
7. Burger King (only if freshly cooked! - tasty charred flavor but low-grade meat) B/B+
8. Culvers. B
9. Carl's Jr. Star burger B
10. McDonald's Quarter Pounder B-/B
11. In & Out B-
DQ, Sonic, Del Taco are all lower

Best Homemade Vanilla Extract Ingredients

Best Homemade Vanilla Extract Ingredients
posted 24 July 2019

For a 6 oz bottle, use 5 long (6 inch) Madagascar Beans, plus just under 6 oz of liquor, to meet qualifications of FDA for single strength vanilla extract. 

I tested these vanilla extracts in 3 categories, doing several tests in each category. I always tested all 7 head to head:

1. First, I tested the vanilla extracts with "sweet cream" ice cream - which is vanilla ice cream with no vanilla. I added the extracts to it to make vanilla ice cream. I used my favorite brand, a super premium, McConnell's, out of the Oakland area, sold in local stores and Whole Food Markets.

2. Secondly, I experimented with French toast, which is better with vanilla extract.

3. Third, with Scrambled eggs. The vanilla extract was whisked into and cooked with egg and milk, fried in a pan with butter.

The brands of the spirits used were the most highly recommended in each category per several lists of magazine reviewers and taste-testers - 2 corn vodkas, rye vodka, potato vodka, white rum, bourbon.

6 of the 7 batches were 3 to 4 months old when tested. Those batches will be better after a couple years. 

1 of the 7 batches was 2 years old. That was the winner, using Costco vodka. Grade A. It tastes very similar to Grey Goose, and may be Grey Goose. 

(Note that extract works at 6 weeks old, but is much better at 6 months, and better at two years old.)  

The most accurate test came from using with scrambled eggs, per the following formula:

1/2 T (tablespoon) vanilla extract

1 T whole milk

1 egg

1 T butter in skilled.

RESULTS WITH SCRAMBLED EGGS and also with French toast:

1. Costco's vodka (likely Grey Goose), resting in glass jar with vanilla beans for 2 years. Grade A ALL THE REST BELOW WERE TESTED WITH SPIRITS ONLY 3 TO 4 MONTHS OLD:
2. Grey Goose vodka (corn). Grade A-
3. Titus vodka (corn). Grade B-/B
4. Monopolova Vodka (potato). Grade C+
5. Bellvue Vodka (rye). Grade C
6. Captain Morgan's White Rum. Grade C-/C
7. Maker's Mark Bourbon. Grade D (even using 1/2 the amount of the others, it tastes bad for extract. Using the same amount as the others makes it horrible).

RESULTS WITH SWEET CREAM ICE CREAM (which lacks vanilla until added for our tests):

GRADES IN ORDER OF CHRONOLOGICAL TESTS for Sweet Cream Ice Cream:

TEST 1     TEST 2     TEST 3

Costco vodka, likely Grey Goose brand, but aged 2 years with vanilla beans:

A                B+            A

THE FOLLOWING BATCHES WERE ONLY AGED 3-4 MONTHS WITH VANILLA BEANS, tested 18 May - 12 June 2019:

Grey Goose vodka (corn)

A                 A-             A-

Titus vodka (corn)

B                  B-             B-/B

Bellevue vodka (rye)

D                   C              C

Monolopova vodka (potato)

D+                 D+            C+

Captain Morgan's white rum

D+                  B               C-/C

Maker's Mark bourbon

D                      D              D

Best Chocolates Candies in Utah / Best Chocolate Shops in Utah

Best Chocolates in Utah (fine chocolates)

2022 TEST

Best Chocolate Candies in Utah

NOTE: Missing from this 2022 test are chocolates from three companies that were tested in 2019, the results of that 2019 test are posted further below, after this 2022 test. Leonidas Belgian (available mailorder) would be #1 again. The other two not re-tested in 2022 are Ethel M's (mailorder) and 
CK Cummings, SLC. 

BEST CHERRY CORDIALS AND MISC CHERRY CHOCOLATES

10 Jan 22

A

Godiva cordial, dark

B++

Cummings Studio cordials, dark (milk: B)

B+

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory? Rum cherry cordial, milk

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Black Cherry Truffle, milk only tested

B/B+

Rebecca Black Cherry crème, dark (no liquid, so it may be a creme rather than cordial)

Chocolate Covered Wagon Black Forest, dark

B

Sees Cherry Cordial, dark

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Cherry Cordial, dark (milk: also B)

Rebecca Cherry Cordial, dark (milk: B-)

B-

Godiva Black Forest, dark (extra dark choc ganache with 72% cacao dark choc infused with cherry flavor in dark choc shell)

C+/B-

Nightingale Chocolatier Cherry Blossom – cherry flavored milk chocolate ganash with dark and white shell

Condies Candies, dark

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Black Cherry Cream, dark

C/C+

Chocolate Cottage, dark

C

Hatch Family Chocolates, dark (milk: C+)

C-

Chocolate Covered Wagon Cherry Cordial, dark

Cavanaugh, dark

D+/C-

Sees “Mayfair” (cherries and mixed nuts) in milk chocolate (tested with dark chocolates)

Chocolate Covered Wagon Cherry Cheesecake in milk chocolate (tested with dark chocolates)

D+

Rebecca “Cherry Hill” – cherry cream, dark (with strong artificial cherry flavor) (milk: also D+ but better than dark)

Best Chocolate Truffles

15 Jan 22

DARK TRUFFLES

B+

Godiva Truffle, dark chocolate souffle (mailorder: “Dark Chocolate Truffles” box of 24) (double dark choc filling in dark choc shell)

B/B+ (in order)

Godiva double dark gelato (mailorder: “Dark Chocolate Truffles” box of 24)

Godiva 72% cacao extra dark chocolate (darkest ones) (mailorder: “Dark Chocolate Truffles” box of 24) (extra dark choc ganache with 72% cacao dark choc wrapped in dark choc shell dusted with black pearl cocoa powder)

Godiva Cacao dark chocolates (mailorder: “Dark Chocolate Truffles” box of 24)

Godiva truffle, 50% cacao, dark (mailorder: “Dark Chocolate Truffles” box of 24) (dark choc ganache with 50% cacao dark chocl surounded by dark choc shell)

Godiva dark chocolate lava cake (mailorder: “Dark Chocolate Truffles” box of 24) (dark c hoc liquid fondant with dark choc ganache in dark choc shell dusted with powdered sugar)

Lake Champlain (mail order) Legendary Dark 54% truffle or 72%

B/B+

Godiva “Masterpieces: dark chocolate ganache heart” (in store bag at Costco)

Godiva “Midnight swirl,” 85% cacao, dark chocolate ganache and dark shell in gold collection

Godiva “Dark Chocolate carre” in gold collection

Godiva “Dark Chocolate ganash heart, dark” in both “Gold collection” (C) (and above: Godiva's Materpieces bag at Costco B/B+)

Godliva “Dark Chocolate ganache bliss” 72% cacao ganash, dark shell – in gold collection

Godiva Aztec Spice in box of 24 (dark choc ganache with cinnamon, vanilla, and spices in dark choc shell sprinked with red cocoa)

B

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory semi sweet truffle, dark

Harry and David

B-/B

Godiva Dark Chocolate Truffles (dark choc with dark choc filling) (4 oz own store bag)

V Chocolates dark truffle, dark

Sees Dark Truffle

Nightingale Willete (not in order with above 2)

B-

Sees Deep Dark Truffle

B- -

Condies Candies Fudge, dark

Godiva, dark “Chocolate Lava Cake Dessert Truffles, layered” store bag)

B- - -

Rebecca truffle, dark

C/C+

Chocolate Cottage truffle, dark

C

Nightingale Madagascar

C-

Chocolate CoveredWagon “Dark decadence” truffle

C- -

Chocolate Cottage 701 Fudge

C- - -

Chocolate Covered Wagon – “all dark” truffle

D+/C-

Condies Candies chocolate crème, dark

MILK TRUFFLES

B

(in order)

Cummings truffle, milk

Truffles Cottage truffle, milk

Sees chocolate truffle, light

V's truffle, milk

Rebecca truffle, milk

B-

Cummings Dark (in test with milk chocolates)

B- -

Condies Candies Choc Creme milk

C+/B-

Lake Champlain (mail order) “All milk” truffle

C+

Hatch chocolate cream

C

NOT IN ORDER:

Cummings Plain Fudge Milk

Hatch Choc Cream milk

IN ORDER:

RMCF truffle, milk

Sees Butter cream, milk

C-/C

Chocolate Cottage truffle milk

C-

Cavanaugh truffle, milk

C- - - -

Cummings truffle, dark

C- - - - -

Hatch truffle, dark

D++

Cummings Plain Fudge, dark (not truffle)

D

Chocolate Covered Wagon all milk truffles

CHOCOLATE TOFFEE

27 Dec 21

B+

V's Chocolate – almond

Garden Gate (no chocolate)

B

Chocolate Cottage

Rebecca

Cummings Studio, dark

Cummings, milk

B-

Chocolate Cottage, dark

C+/B-

Condies, dark

RMCF, dark

RMCF, milk

C

Cavanaugh, dark

Cavanaugh, milk

C-

Sees, milk

Chocolate Covered Wagon almond

NUT - CARAMEL CHOCOLATES

1 Jan 22

A-

Condies Pecan roll (no chocolate)

B/B+

Cummings Studio Pecan roll – no chocolate

Cummings Studio caramel pecan slow poke, dark

Cummings Studio caramel pecan slowpoke, milk

B (not in order)

Sees caramel almond

Lake Champlain – honey caraamel, dark

C+/B-

Hatch – almond coconut caramel (almond flavor too strong), dark

C+

Hatch – caramel pecan

Hatch – almond coconut carmel, milk

Caramel chocolates

(winner has no chocolate)

1 Jan 22

A

Nightingale Chocolatier (no chocolate)

B

Godiva Salted Caramel

Truffle Cottage Bordeaux

NOT IN ORDER:

Lake Champlain honey caramel

C++

Chocolate Covered Wagon Seat Salt Caramel (non-store made) (tastes artificial)

C

Chocolate Covered Wagon – sea salt caramel (store version: made in store)

C-/C

Godiva salted caramel truffle

C-

Lake Champlain salted caramel (mailorder)

C- -

Godiva – gold collection: caramel lion of Belgium

D+

Chocolate Covered Wagon – caramel truffle, milk

NUT CHOCOLATES

2 Jan 22

B/B+

Condies Boston Fudge with pecans, dark

B

Lake Champlain hazelnut mail order, milk

B- -

Condies Almond crème? Dark

B

Cummings Studio Virginia fudge with pecans, dark

Cummings Studio Virginia fudge with pecans inside and almonds outside, light

B-

Condies Boston Fudge with pecans, light

Sees - Chelsea (pecans inside a soft chocolate center)

C+/B-

Hatch – marzipan

C+

Rebecca – chocolate fudge nut with crème center, dark

C/C+

Rebbeca chocoalte fudge nut, milk

Hatch – almond cluste,r dark

C

Cummings – Walnut Fudge “rough,” milk

Cummings – pistachio truffle, dark

Lake Champlain – hazelnut (mailorder)

C-/C

Lake Champlain – green mountain

MAPLE & MAPLE NUT CHOCOLATES

20 Dec 21

B/B+

Cummings Maple pecan, milk

Lake Champlain maple crunch (no maple flavor, it's like toffee) (Mailorder)

B-/B

Cummings maple pecan, dark (rare to find a dark one not as good as milk/light ones)

Sees maple walnut

B-

Rebeccda Vermont maple fudge, milk

B- -

Rebecca Vermont maple fudge,dark

Cavanaugh maple

C/C+

Lake Champlain maple caramel, dark

C

RMCF aspen cream

BLACK WALNUT CHOCOLATES

20 Dec 21

B/B+

Cavanaugh, dark

Cavanaugh, milk

C-/C

Cummings Studio black walnut cream, dark

C-

Cummings Studio black walnut cream, milk

RASPBERRY /STRAWBERRY / BLACKBERRY CHOCOLATES

25 Dec 21

B+

Godiva raspberry truffle, dark (rd and black raspberry puree inside dark choc shell)

Lake Champlain white chocolate (chocolate raspberry ganash with white shell)

B

RMCF raspberry truffle (perfume flavor)

B-/B

Sees raspberry crème, dark

B-

Cummings raspberry truffle, dark

Cummings raspberry truffle, milk

Sees raspberry truffle

C+/B-

Godiva – gold collection – raspberry ganash twirl (white choc ganash with raspberry, dark)

C

Rebecca blackberry truffle

Hatch strawberry crème, dark

Hatch strawberry crème, milk

Truffle Cottage raspberry truffle, dark

Godiva gold collection: Raspberry caramel Duet, dark

C-/C

Rebecca raspberry truffle, dark

Chocolate Cottage raspberry crème, dark

C-

Rebecca raspberry truffle, milk

Cummings Studio white raspberry crème

Rebecca raspberry crème, dark

Chocolate Cottage raspberry truffle, dark

C- -

Rebecca Raspberry crème, milk

Rebecca cranberry truffle, dark

D+

Condies raspberry cfreme, dark

Hatch raspberry crème, dark

D/D+

Hatch raspberry crème, milk

Hatch strawberry crème, milk

CITRUS CHOCOLATES

December 2021

B/B+

Rebecca orange truffle, milk

B

Cummings Studio orange crème, dark

Hatch orange creme, dark

Hatch Apricot, dark

Rebecca BL truffle, dark

B-/B

Hatch Apricot, milk

Condies orange cram, dark (artificial, strong orange)

Godiva key lime truffle, dark

B-

Hatch orange crème cream, milk

C+

Truffle Cottage orange, dark

C+/B-

Rebecca BL truffle, milk

Hatch sour grapefruit, dark

C/C+

Condies lemon, dark

Rebecca lemon crème, milk

RMCF? – pina colada

C

Rebecca orange crème, dark

Hatch lemon crème, dark

C-/C

Condies orane crème (artificial, strong orange), milk

C-

Rebecca lemon crème (strong), dark

Condies lemon crème, milk

Cummings Studio orange, milk

Chocolate Cottage orange crème, dark

C- -

Hatch lemon crème, milk

COCONUT CHOCOLATES

Dec 2021

B

Cummings Studio coconut roll, dark

Rebecca (brown spots on top), dark

B-/B

Rebecca coconut Supreme (crème) (like Almond Joy)

B-

Cummings Studio coconut roll, milk

C

Nightingale German chocolate

C-/C

Godiva Gold – coconut pyramid, dark

C-

Cummings Studio coconut roll, dark

RMCF coconut haystack

Rebecca (brown spots on top), milk

D

Chocolate Cottage coconut cream, dark

Penuche & similar chocolates with sugar crème fillings

4 Jan 22

B-/B

Chocolate Cottage – penoche

B-

Condies salted crème brule, dark

C+

Godiva French vanilla, dark

C/C+

Condies penuche

C

Godiva gold collection – Lady Godiva

C-/C

NOT IN ORDER:

Cummings pecan penuche, dark

Cummings pecan penuche, milk

Hatch penoche, milk

Rebecca penuche, milk

C-

NOT IN ORDER:

Cummings Studio, Opera, dark

Cummings Studio Opera, milk

Rebecca Butter Creme, dark

MINT CHOCOLATES

6 Jan 22

B

IN ORDER:

Cummings double dip mint

Cummings Mint truffle, dark

Cummings Mint crème, dark

NOT IN ORDER:

Condies Meltaway Mint, dark

V – pattie, dark

Rebecca – mint - dark

B-/B

Cummings Mint truffle, milk

Cummings mint crème, milk

Rebecca – mint, milk

B-

Godiva – gold collection: mint medallion

RMCF – peppermint

V – pattie, milk

B- -

RMCF – mint truffle, milk

C+

V- mint truffle, milk

C/C+

Condies – mint crème, dark

C

Lake Champlain – evergreen mint, dark crunch peppermint (mailorder)

C-/C

Hatches – mint crème, dark

Hatches – mint crème, milk

C-

Hatches Bavarian mint truffle, dark

Hatches Bavarian mint truffle, milk

C- -

Chocolate Cottage truffle

C- - -

Chocolate Covered Wagon – Bavarian mint

COFFEE FLAVORED CHOCOLATES

5 Jan 22

B

Lake Champlain salted caramel latte (mail order)

B-/B (not in order)

Cummings coffee truffle, dark

Godiva Cappacino, dark

RMCF Kalua

C

Cummings coffee truffle, milk

C- (in order)

Lake Champlain (mailorder) Cappucino, milk

Rebecca mocha truffle, dark

Rebecca mocha truffle, milk

LIQUER FLAVORED CHOCOLATES

(winner is in cordials list above)

6 Jan 22

B+

Rebecca Rum cherry cordial, milk (also in Cordials)

B

Rebecca rum cherris Bacadi, dark

C+ (NO IN ORDER)

Rebecca Rum Victorian, dark

Sees Rum Nougat

RMCF Irish Creme

C/C+ (NOT IN ORDER)

Cummings Grande Mariner coconut milk truffle

Cummings rum victora, milk

Rebecca rum not, dark

C (NOT IN ORDER:)

Rebeccca Rum victoria, milk

Rebecca rum nut, milk

Rebecca rum truffle, dark

Hatrch Rum nut dream, dark

Hatch Rum Nut cream, milk

Cummings rum victoria, dark

C-/C

Cummings rum victoria, milk

C- (NOT IN ORDER:)

Rebecca rum truffle, milk

RMCF rum truffle

Condies Rum coconut cream

Chocolate Cottage victoria rum, dark

Chocolate Covered Wagon Grande Mariner truffle

Chocolate Covered Wagon Irish creme

Cummings Bacardi Butter rum, dark

Cummings Bacardi Butter rum, milk

Truffle Cottage Butter rum truffle

MISC CHOCOLATES

B

Lake Champlain: peantu butter chocolate, milk (cup shaped)

B-/B

Lake Champlain: like Reeses but in truffle shape

B-

Lake Champlain: Peanut butter milk

C

Dark chocolate ganache heart, Dark COMPARE TO BAG!!!

2019 TEST

11 July 2019, addition 14 Aug 21 

Note: Godiva Truffles were tested after all these were tested side by side; it rated 2nd to Leonidas Belgian in Dark Truffles, and first in Milk Truffles.

DARK TRUFFLES

A+ 

Leonidas Belgian (via mail order in New York City and shops in London, Chester, UK)

A

Cumming Studio

A-/A

V Chocolates

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

B-/B

C. Kay Cummings ("double chocolates")

B-

Sees Candies

B- -

Sam's Choice (at Walmart)

C+

Dove

C

Lindor

MILK TRUFFLES

B++

V Chocolates

B/B+

Cummings Studio

B-

C. Kay Cummings

C+

Sees Candies

C/C+

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

C

Sam's Choice (Walmart)

C-/C

Dove

C-

Lindor

DARK CHOCOLATE CHERRY CORDIALS

A+

Leonidas Belgian (via mail order New York City and shops in London, Chester, UK)

A

Cummings Studio

B

C. Kay Cummings

C++

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

C+

Sees Candies

Note: not made by V's, Sams Choice, Doves, Lindor

MILK CHOCOLATE CHERRY CORDIALS

A

Leonidas Belgian (via mail order New York City and shops in London, Chester, UK)

B+

Cummings Studio

B-/B

C. Kay Cummings Studio (note: their chocolate marachino cherries rate B/B+)

B-

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (note: their cherry truffle rates C/C+ with artificial flavor)

C

Sees Candies

OTHER HIGH-RATED CHOCOLATES

B++

Cummings Studio: Coconut cream

B+

Cummings Studio: Black Walnut
Sees Candies: Maple Walnut

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Almond Cluster
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Kalua truffle

OTHER RATED CHOCOLATES
B/B+

Cummings Studio: Penoche Pecan dark chocolates (milk chocolates B)

Cummings Studio: Nutty Fudge Walnut dark chocolates

Cummings Studio: Maple Pecan (but with artificial, strong maple)
Cummings Studio: Rum truffle - dark chocolate 
Cummings Studio: Rum truffle - milk chocolate

B
Cummings Studio: Penoche Pecan milk chocolate
Cummings Studio: chocolate fudge
Cummings Studio: opera pecan dark chocolate
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: rum truffle
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Irish Cream

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Grapefruit truffle
Sees: Nutty Fudge Walnut

B-/B
Cummings Studio: Vegan coconut truffle - milk chocolate with orange atop
Cummings Studio: Pina colada dark truffle - dark chocolate (milk choc is C+/B-)

B-
Cummings Studio: fruit bark 57% cacao Ecadorian 
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: haystack (coconut) - dark chocolate
Sees: Vanilla coconut cream

B - - 
Sees: Vanilla cream with walnut

C+/B-
Sees: mocha valencia
Cummings Studio: Pina colada truffle - milk chocolate

C+
Cummings Studio: chocolate covered almonds
Sees: coconut cream - milk chocolate

C/C+
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory cherry truffle (artificial flavor)

C
Sees: walnut milk chocolate
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: aspen cream maple

C-
C. Kay Cummings: Moscato and orange chocolate
Sees: Chelsea

C- - 
Sees: Bourbon milk chocolate

DARK CHOCOLATE (bars?)

Rocky Mountain A-

Cummings Studio B/B+

Sees C+