None Of This Rice Was All That Nice

Here’s how our twisted logic works sometimes: College football season is well under way, meaning there’ll be bowl games before long. So why not serve The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel some microwaveable rice bowls?

Actually, the decision had more to do with the fact that a couple of new bowl brands recently arrived in area stores, from Uncle Ben’s (the rice people) and King’s Hawaiian (the sweet bread people).

We matched their chicken teriyaki versions against one that’s been around for a while, from Rice Gourmet (made by Delimex, which scored big a few months ago with its frozen tamales).

While each bowl had its cheerleaders, there was no clear winner.

Uncle Ben’s, the slim favorite, had probably the best chicken pieces. But its appearance was bland — no green veggies — and the flavor was overly sweet for teriyaki.

The King’s and Rice Gourmet bowls were more similar, and both split the panel, with some tasters finding them flavorful and others dubbing them dull.

Our national champion? Once again, the polls were inconclusive.

As a warm-up, we pitched panelists a snack more commonly associated with baseball: caramel corn with peanuts.

That one pitted the popcorn people - Orville’s new Gourmet Popcorn Clusters - against the peanut people, Planters Fiddle Faddle, and an American classic, Cracker Jack.

Orville’s, sweeter and lighter in both flavor and color, edged the more traditional Fiddle Faddle, which some panelists thought was too salty and had a burnt aftertaste.

Then there was Cracker Jack, a veteran confection that’s clearly over the hill but keeps living off its reputation. The flavor was flat, the nuts were lacking and the “prize” was some sort of small plastic airplane - a paltry trinket indeed in a Nintendo age.

Please, take Jack out of the ballgame. And we don’t care if he ever comes back.

Uncle Ben’s Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

Price: $3.44 for 1 (12-ounce) bowl.

Nutrition: 430 calories (10 percent fat calories); 1,260 milligrams sodium per bowl.

Taste: ***

Value: ***

Comments: “The nutty sesame oil and almonds really complement the full-flavored chicken pieces. Uncle Ben-ihana did well with this.” - Beverly Smick

“Tastes good - for a rice bowl - but it has no distinguishable flavor. It is sweet, but what flavor?” - Ann Finke

King’s Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken Bowl

Price: $2.79 for 1 (13.25-ounce) bowl.

Nutrition: 380 calories (18 percent fat calories); 1,500 milligrams sodium per bowl.

Taste: ***

Value: ****

Comments: “As pleasing to eat as it is to behold - lots of colorful veggies and chicken.” - Angela Roth

“Lots of veggie variety for color, but flavor was not this rice bowl’s strong suit.” - Ella Gordon-Stowe

Rice Gourmet Grilled Chicken Teriyaki Bowls

Price: $8.49 for 4 (12.5-ounce) bowls.

Nutrition: 460 calories (8 percent fat calories); 1,370 milligrams sodium per bowl.

Taste: ***

Value: ***

Comments: “I like it! Nice pieces of chicken and veggies with a great flavor.” - Rich Clemson

“I saw it going onto my fork, put it in my mouth - unfortunately, I didn’t taste a thing.” - Skip Hubbard

Orville’s Gourmet Popcorn Clusters, Peanut Caramel Crunch

Price: $3.19 for 10 ounces.

Nutrition: 130 calories (19 percent fat calories); 135 milligrams sodium per 3/4-cup serving.

Taste: ****

Value: **

Comments: “Light, buttery taste with a hint of sweetness. Nice, large pieces of popcorn. Orville knows what he’s doing.” - Jeannie Coffey

“Crunchy and too sweet. Very little popcorn flavor. Peanuts (what there were) were kinda soggy. Where’s the caramel flavor and color?” - Vicki Deschaine

Planters Fiddle Faddle Caramel Popcorn With Peanuts

Price: $1.09 for 5 ounces.

Nutrition: 120 calories (21 percent fat calories); 220 milligrams sodium per 3/4-cup serving.

Taste:

Value:

Comments: “Very traditional caramel taste. I felt like I was walking in the mall with a big bag of caramel corn.” - Lisa Arsenault

“A little too salty to satisfy a sweettooth craving.” - Angela Roth

Cracker Jack Caramel Coated Popcorn & Peanuts

Price: $1.69 for 7 ounces.

Nutrition: 120 calories (13 percent fat calories); 70 milligrams sodium per 1/2-cup serving.

Taste: **

Value: **

Comments: “Gets popped away by the competition. Really, it has no texture or flavor compared to the rest. A family icon ruined. Cheap trinkets, too.” - Rich Clemson

“While this looks like other caramel popcorns, the popcorn just collapses when you bite it. The peanuts are burned, too. No wonder they feel like you deserve a prize for eating this stuff!” - Tina Johnson