This truly an example of popular demand. Our plans were to feature the product only through May 23, but millions of Double Down fans have spoken and we won’t disappoint them. You’ll continue to be able to get the Double Down at KFC this summer.

So what will be seen once this is removed from the menu?  Well, I was contacted yesterday and shown an advertisement for what could be the Double Down’s successor:  The KFC Triple By-Pass. Now, like the Double Down, this “sandwich” contains no bread and looks to be just as difficult to eat (if not more-so). Let’s check out the breakdown:

• Eight Original Recipe Chicken Fillets
• Bacon
• Sausage
• Pork Roll
• Fried Eggs
• American, Swiss, Cheddar & Pepper Jack Cheeses
• Leaf Lettuce

Not too shabby for its $12.95 price tag (the combo price isn’t listed), but the big question is: Will it sell?

Gaze into the abyss and see what stares back...

To be honest, I’m not thinking it will, but not because of the price.  For those of you who looked at the full image you’ll not that it’s not real, sadly.  No, this “advertisement” is a creation by MAD Magazine for their upcoming 504th issue (which you can pick up June 15th), and yet, could very well be a real item some day in the future.  In fact, there already is an item for sale called the “Triple Bypass,” and while it isn’t chicken, it may be able to kill you.  Yes, I’m speaking about the burgers from the Heart Attack Grill:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbKRSYAuSNg

I’m not even sure that many patties even legal on a sandwich, but at least you eat free if you’re over 350 lbs.  Good thing all the waitstaff dress in nurse uniforms… perhaps it’ll get you into the ER faster?

So, this whole discussion has left me with a couple questions that I’d love to hear your answers to:

1. Since the KFC Triple By-Pass isn’t available to purchase (due to it not being real), who out there will be willing to create one and eat it in the name of delicious, delicious science?
2. What will be the next “extreme” menu item at a national fast food franchise?  What could you dream up and for who?

Really, at this point almost nothing is off the table, so I’d love to see what people think, and if anyone out there wants to actually take on the challenge of creating (and eating) the Triple By-Pass, shoot me an e-mail!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh_JXJoV2Yo

That was Fox News… please note that there was no mention of the blog or anything else.  Because of this I have now watermarked the photos and hope that no one else decides that they can just swipe images I took and make no mention of it.  Really, just because it is on the internet doesn’t mean it is free for you to use without asking.

The least they could do is at least mention where they got the images and where people could go to see more.  Now comes the fun part of trying to contact Fox…

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Update: 09/26/09

It looks like MSNBC likes to use images without sourcing as well:  Watch Zeitgeist “borrow” my photo Well, because of all this I took the advice of a few people and threw up a new “Terms & Conditions” page… never thought I’d hafta do that!

Why can’t everyone be like the Kansas City Star?  Not only did they apologize and update their article, they also wrote the following:

A new test-market “sandwich” from KFC has been making the Internet rounds recently, and a poll about whether readers would want to try it or not showed up on KansasCity.com’s Stargazing blog last night. The item used a photo of the “Double Down” that has shown up all over the place — but without credit.Jason Kelley of Food Geekery e-mailed me this morning to request that KansasCity.com credit his photo, which many media sources are using similarly uncredited. As he writes in an item on his site, “Really, just because it is on the internet doesn’t mean it is free for you to use without asking.”

Amen. KansasCity.com and The Star expect others not to use their content improperly, so they should obviously do the same. Jason’s site merely requests that others using the image note where it came from. That’s reasonable and generous. The Stargazing item has been fixed.

Thank you, guys.

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New Follow-up!!!  The Double Down will be released nation-wide on April 12th!!  Details here:

KFC: Return of the Double Down

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With the sudden popularity of this post, I would like to ask that if anyone wants to use the images, feel free, just please add a note somewhere on your blog/site crediting foodgeekery.com.  Thank you!

___________________________________

I saw this commercial yesterday and couldn’t find anything about it online or even on the KFC website.  I thought I had dreamed it up, but when it came on today I snagged it with my cellphone (sorry ’bout the quality):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLwEZRf3www

You just saw the KFC Double Down Chicken Sandwich.  Who dreamed this up?  This is perhaps the most insane “sandwich” I have ever seen. A fried chicken patty, 2 slices of cheese, 2 slices of bacon, and another fried chicken patty.  Wow.  Sorry I don’t have much else to say, it is like the Monster Burger of chicken.  My mind is boggled… the funny thing about this sandwich is that it is part of the “unthink kfc” advertising, which has previously only been for grilled chicken.

So, upon seeing this I did what anyone would do and drove over to KFC to buy the beast.  The “meal” is $6.99, but you can buy the sandwich for a mere $4.99.  The description from the horse’s mouth:

• 2 Original Recipe Filets
• Bacon
• Pepper Jack Cheese
• Swiss Cheese
• Colonel’s Sauce

So, what does it look like?  Check out some photos:

Behold the sign!

The unboxing...

There she is.

A bit of a closeup for ya…

The KFC Double Down Sandwich... it's.... something, alright!

So, what does it taste like?  Well, let me let Jess tell you:

That’s it?  That is the sandwich?  That’s not worth five dollars.  <takes a bite>  Oh… oh my God.  That is the best thing ever.  I don’t know what “Colonel’s Sauce” is, but it is like a party in my mouth.  This is completely worth the five dollars.  Unfortunately I’m going to end up weighing 700 lbs after this, but it is simply amazing.

Now, I didn’t get that orgasmic feeling from it, then again, I’m not a huge fan of fast food.  So, there you have it.  Thoughts on this new offering from KFC?

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Update -- 08/21/2009

______________________________

Looks like the world has made it to my sleepy little corner of the web.  Thank you Consumerist, This is Why You’re Fat, 9 News and all the other blogs and news articles!

Now then, it looks like some people are doubting this is a true sandwich, so for SCIENCE I decided to go down and get some more shots to prove to you that yes, you can legally harden your arteries with this monster (plus, Jess is addicted to them).  Here we go!

Outside:

The sign of things to come...

Who's that in the window?

Inside:

What to choose... what to choose?

Perhaps this will quench my hunger!

Making & Receipt:

Caitlyn makes these like a pro!

2 DBL DOWN SND

The Sandwiches (one opened, one split in half):

Feed me Seymour, feed me!!

Ninja chop!!

Need any more proof?