Once a Waitress

Always a Waitress

Flower
«
»

Don’t try this at home

McCain chicken Parmagiana

Please don’t hate me…

I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. It’s just… I love Parmas. I really, really love them. Even after I saw the incredibly bad (and sexist) ad for this product on TV, I still had to try it. I’m a fool. Normally, I wouldn’t go within ten feet of an “instant” meal, but I saw an opportunity for mirth, and there you go.

I did purchase this product with the intent of writing a semi-serious review, however the inevitable happened, and that is, I came home quite drunk at 2 am this morning and I ate it. So, I don’t really remember much and I feel like I’ve let the team down. But, handing over $6.79 of my hard earned cash once for this product was enough (not to mention that I was very embarrassed buying it in case anyone saw me that I nearly went to Coles in a disguise) that this is all you are going to get.

McCain chicken parmagiana

Before…

Two cooking options. I had originally intended to go with the 35 minutes in hot oven option, thinking it would probably improve the chances of this meal being edible. But my drunk self went “Microwave!” and so I microwaved it.

McCain chicken parmagiana

After…

I think it looks a lot better than it actually was. The peas were alright, but those potato cubes were horrid. They kind of acted like a vegetable silica gel, absorbing moisture from the rest of the dish to become a soggy granular cube. The Parmagiana itself was probably a bit crispier for this reason, so I suppose they served their purpose.The dog seemed pretty happy to help me eat it, which probably wasn’t a good idea considering the low-nutritional value, high fat levels and salt count, but she always preys on my weaknesses (ie. alcoholism).

There are actually other varieties on offer, so it gets worse. You could have “sweet chilli” or “Hawaiian.” I’ve no idea what genius think-tank came up with those options. It’s kind of hard to believe that there are people out there who live off TV dinners, it was hard enough to force this one down for research purposes.

Would I do it again? No. Should I have done it in the first place? No. Am I slightly less hungover today than I would have been if I didn’t eat anything when I got home last night? Yes.

Tags: ,

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 20th, 2010 at 3:06 pm and is filed under fast food. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 Responses to “Don’t try this at home”

  1. June 20th, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    essjayeats says:

    The things we do for the sake of research. I am particularly impressed by your dedication in getting drunk first. That’s true research that is. I think you should sample the entire trio.

  2. June 20th, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    Nola says:

    I don’t think I can have any more TV meals. I need to detox.

    Yep, I am SO dedicated. :)

  3. June 20th, 2010 at 10:14 pm

    Injera says:

    That ad is hideous, as is the look of the microwaved product. I think essjay’s suggestion that you try all three varieties might be hazardous to your health, but… aren’t you just slightly curious as to how this one would be in the oven? No?

  4. June 20th, 2010 at 10:43 pm

    Nola says:

    If anything… I actually want to make my own from real ingredients. I’m not a recipe blogger but if I make one I’ll put it up.

    I think it’s best I don’t really remember properly!

  5. June 21st, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    Lucy says:

    the poor dog!

  6. June 21st, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    The IC says:

    always suspected you were a phoney foodie now I’m convinced and all under the transperent disguise of the ‘intrepid reporter’ give us a break-c u in melbourne soon I guess?

  7. June 21st, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    Nola says:

    “Foodie,” I hate that word.

    I’ve never proclaimed to be anything. I just do what I do, I enjoy writing about food. It’s fun. And if you don’t like it, go elsewhere. There are more than enough blogs to choose from.

  8. June 21st, 2010 at 10:58 pm

    The IC says:

    yea but the common theme in your blog is this supposition that you are somehow ‘linked to food’
    I think you have latched onto this to help your career which is revealed in the shallowness of your content.
    There’s nothing on your blog to actually demonstrate otherwise so I’ll take your advice and move onto something else with more substance, integrity and depth.
    At least I’ll know others are writing about a subject they actually care about
    Cheerio

  9. June 21st, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    Tim says:

    Bwahahahahhhhahhhahhahhhahhhaaaa!!!!

    What a gigantic turd.

    Love the attempt to introduce a class system amongst PEOPLE WHO LOVE FOOD.

    Cause yeah, just ANYONE was chiming in.

    Nice work Nols. If this guys in Melbourne, could we get him booted?

  10. June 21st, 2010 at 11:56 pm

    Lisa says:

    The trolls are hungy…

    You know, I really don’t like the term “foodie” either but I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think it sounds a bit cheap and childish but beyond that, well, that’s my problem.

    I loved this post. I’ve been there except I don’t have drunkenness as my defense, just pure, unadulterated laziness, and I’ve always regretted it. However, I have found myself drinking during and after said liaison so perhaps alcohol is definitely a factor.

    And just for the record, I hate chicken parm.

Leave a Reply