Review: AMC Theaters Nachos

After having the Super Nachos previously, I had to go back to try the basic movie theater nachos. Instead of Lincoln Square (a Cinemark Theater) my schedule dictated that I try out a local AMC theater and their "Movie Nachos Combo". I will have to go back to Lincoln Square to see if their nachos are better than AMC.

This time I paid for my nachos out of my own pocket. It was only a $1 more to add a dock-your-jet-ski-sized Coke to I picked up one of those as well (more on this later).

Ingredients

• Tostitos "Bite Size" tortilla chips
• AMC Movie Nachos Real Cheese (i.e. semi-liquid nacho cheese)

First impressions

I didn't quite know what to expect here so it should have been no surprise that a national chain-theater used mass-produced ingredients in their basic nachos. I just wasn't expecting them to be prepackaged chips and cheese, each in a different container. The separate containers for chips and cheese obviates a problem that the Super Nachos experienced where the cheese soaked into the chips, making them a little soggy. This is simply not possible with separate containers.

The prep time was incredibly fast: as long as it took the attendant/cashier to grab the chips and cheese packages and put them in serving box. After a quick pit-stop at the napkin/condiment table to remove the tops I was ready for my movie nacho experience. I find it amusing that theaters always put a salt shaker at their napkin/condiment tables, as if the popcorn didn't already have a month's worth of salt in it...

Joy of Eating

This movie nacho experience started off with a problem: I walked into the theater just as the trailers were ending, which means the house lights were turned off and I would have to eat my nachos in the dark. This turned out to not be a problem since there was one container of chips and another of cheese. The process was simple:

1. Find chip big enough to dip (some chips were broken and simply to small to effectively dip)
2. Dip in cheese
3. Eat
4. Repeat

HOLY SALT BATMAN!!!

The salty cheese compounded with the already salty chips satisfied my salt intake for the week. Or possibly the month. After a few minutes the cheese was simply inedible so I continued to work on just the chips. It tasted like someone took some cheese sauce and then poured in a couple teaspoons of salt as a joke. Yes, it was that bad.  

The Coke I purchased earlier came in handy to get rid of the massive salt taste in my mouth but the sugar in the Coke caused suger-overload and made it so I couldn't finish the drink either.

In the end I finished the chips and about 1/4 of the drink. I tried the cheese one more time just to make sure I didn't miss something and ...WHOA... yep, still salty. 

Nachoness Index

• Visual Presentation: 3 points
• Quality of ingredients: 1 points
• Overall nachoness: 5 points
• Chance of causing world peace: 0 points

Total: 8 points out of 100 possible points

Will it help resolve world problems?

No, in fact it might hurt the peace process. If world leaders were served this dish they might pull out a culturally significant ceremonial weapon of some sort and threaten your life. I know I would.

Parting Thoughts

I gave these nachos 3 out of 10 on presentation because of the separate containers alone. That allowed for quick service, easy visually-impaired eating in a darkened movie theater, and no "soggy chips". This also contributed to the overall nachoness.

Did I mention the cheese was salty? Wow. This pulls the scores for ingredients and nachoness VERY LOW and is an experience I will not be repeating. Save yourself the trouble next time and get the big tub of popcorn at the movies. I'm sure you'll get less salt that way.

And even if isn't salty enough, just remember this: you can always add MORE salt at the condiment table.

Stay Cheesey! }B^)

Review: Lincoln Square Cinema Super Nachos

Last month I went to see the new Avengers movie with a bunch of friends from work at the Lincoln Square Cinema, a Cinemark Theater, in Bellevue's Lincoln Square. We were given food vouchers from work. I have no problem buying over-priced theater food with someone else's money.

On the menu they had "nachos" and "super nachos". Well, how can you see a super hero movie without trying out the super nachos?

I was delighted to see that it was more than the typically-VERY-bad theater nachos-

Ingredients

• Corn tortilla chips
• Liquid nacho cheese (as opposed to grated/melted real cheese)
• Black olives, sliced
• Sour cream
• Guacamole
• Generic red salsa (most likely medium spice)
• Optional: jalapenos (I usually decline jalapenos)

First impressions

The ingredients were mostly canned, not fresh, so it didn't look too bad. It was served in a convenient paper bowl. 

Joy of Eating

The first problem I ran into was that there was a LOT of cheese, possibly more cheese than chips. If this was real cheese, as opposed to liquid cheese out of a can, this would not be as much of a problem since real cheese is easier to eat with chips. I couldn't find any forks at the condiment/napkin counter and I did not ask the counter staff. They probably had forks available but I was in a hurry to watch the show. 

Flavor was not as bad as I thought it would be. The cheese mixed well with the sour cream, guacamole, and salsa which gave a mixed palette of flavors.

The eating experience degraded quickly: within 10 minutes the chips had begun to absorb the liquid cheese at an alarming rate making them very flexible. This made it very hard to scoop up ingredients with the chips without a fork (doh!). Note to self: ask for a fork next time.

I ate the entire thing myself but this could easily accommodate 2 people. Since I was hungry the nachos were finished before the lights went down for the main show. I can't imagine trying to eat these in the dark without a fork.

Nachoness Index

• Visual Presentation: 3 points
• Quality of ingredients: 4 points
• Overall nachoness: 15 points
• Chance of causing world peace: 5 points

Total: 27 points out of 100 possible points

Will it help resolve world problems?

Probably not but I doubt it will hurt. If world leaders were served this dish they might try it but I doubt they would eat the entire thing. 

Parting Thoughts

As far as movie food goes this was pretty good. It is definitely better than the typical bag/bucket of popcorn but probably similar in terms of calories due to the large amount of liquid cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.

I will need to try the generic movie nachos next time to get a sense of the lowest-possible rating.

Stay Cheesey! }B^)