Kulinary Korner: Zach Sheely samples new Loco Cool Ranch D’Reet Tacs
“I’m of the opinion that Taco Bell is best enjoyed one of two ways – in the secrecy and privacy of one’s own vehicle, while parked in the parking lot of the Bell itself, or at home, with friends after a night of vigorous drinking.“
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When Taco Bell and Doritos partnered last year to create the Doritos Locos taco, it had many wondering, “what the hell took so long?”
Taco Bell has always been known for its promotional and seasonal menu items, but the Doritos Locos taco – essentially a standard Taco Bell crunchy taco filled with ground beef, lettuce and cheese in a Doritos Nacho Cheese flavored shell – was a universal hit, recording sales in the hundreds of millions after its initial release last March. Taco Bell and Doritos became a match made in corporate heaven.
The aforementioned taco being such a success, it was only a matter of time before Taco Bell and Doritos delved into more flavor offerings. Sure enough, just last week, the Doritos Locos Cool Ranch taco was unveiled.
Taco Bell, which spends millions to market to the masses, has been pumping the minds of television watchers, radio listeners and online surfers full of cravings for the new taco for weeks. So much so, that a Twitter riot broke out when Taco Bell moved the release date up by a day last week and many outlets couldn’t meet the demands of loco fans seeking the new loco taco.
As a taco and Taco Bell enthusiast, I too couldn’t wait to try one.
As I’m wont to do, I made a run for the border to get my hands on one of these new tacos.
Waiting in the drive-thru line at my local Taco Bell and admiring the slick new, blue Cool Ranch signage adorning the restaurant windows and menu, my mouth began to water.
As a fan of Doritos Nacho Cheese chips, my love for the original Locos taco was organic and unquestioned. Sodium, caloric and fat intake far from my mind, I only imagined that Cool Ranch would instantly satisfy my cravings for both Taco Bell tacos and Doritos Cool Ranch chips at once.
I pulled to the squawk box and expertly placed my order. Rather light compared to usual in this case, (I once put down a Taco Bell taco twelver in one sitting) I went with one of each of the Doritos Locos tacos flavors.
I’m of the opinion that Taco Bell is best enjoyed one of two ways – in the secrecy and privacy of one’s own vehicle, while parked in the parking lot of the Bell itself, or at home, with friends after a night of vigorous drinking. For the first taste of Cool Ranch however, I wanted my distractions limited, so I toted my bag containing the two tacs’ home with me, knowing there was no one else there.
Voraciously diving into the bag, I could hardly contain my excitement. I grabbed a plate and neatly arranged the tacos with their handsome, custom shrouds on it and sat down, mouth watering, ready to embark into a flavor excursion only seen in my dreams and vision quests.
I opted for the supreme variety of each, which of course Taco Bell fans know to carry an extra cost, but also come prepared with additional accoutrement, as tomatoes and sour cream are included with the obligatory beef, cheese and lettuce. I dressed mine up in my customary way, with two fire sauce packets. I then grabbed the tanned shell of the Cool Ranch with my right hand, my head automatically settling into its customary position, titled ever so slightly to the left, thus affording my mouth the proper taco-consumption position, and dug in.
The results upon initial bite were inconclusive, so I took two or three more bites, sat back and analyzed the flavor fiesta happening on my palette. Magnifico!
They nailed it again!
Bursting with Cool Ranch flavor and clean finish, the taco melted in my mouth and before I knew it, it was gone.
While not as robust as the original Locos taco, the flavor was unmistakably Cool Ranch and it was delicious, far more so than the standard crunchy taco of a bygone era.
Some folks view the taco as a sacred art form. The Doritos Locos Cool Ranch taco will probably not garner any such praise, but for a $1.29 per ($1.69 for supreme), it offers a nice, tasty treat after a long night on the town or long day at the office and I’d recommend it to any taco, Taco Bell or Doritos aficionado.
