Here To Eat: Ace Eats America 10 Plates at a Time

Price: $2.50
Rating: **** / *****

I didn't realize that the meatloaf was in a ketchup sauce until after I bought it. I didn't like the idea of ketchup sauce because I thought it would just taste like ketchup. Ketchup on a loaf of meat. This may seem normal for people who ate meatloaf growing up, but I had only seen it on television. I am reminded of the Boy Meets World episode where that leeching rebel Shawn refused to eat the meatloaf that Cory snuck into the room because it didn't have ketchup on it. "It's like a brick," he said. Well, fuck you Shawn. The guy's just trying to feed you after you ran away for the sixth time that season. You were always a flake and I laughed wholeheartedly whenever you had to talk to Mr. Feeny, a man who would've lost all will to live if you were real, for guidance. If I ever see you on the street I'm going to slap you for your formulaic plotlines and predictable teenage angst. And before I strike you, I'm going to sharpie the word "life" on my hand and make you think about the symbolism. Oh, the irony will be lost on the spectators but I will revel in my wit!

...but wait. The meatloaf.

Doesn't mean that this meal is a hamburger without the bun? Stouffer's sold me a bunless hamburger...at least that's what I thought. I was seconds away from taking my homemade molotov cocktails down to the meatloaf factory, but I decided to give it a shot. Thankfully, it was a lot better than a bun-less hamburger at McDonalds. While I thoroughly enjoyed 29 cent hamburger wednesday in my childhood, it's not something I'd like to eat with mashed potatoes.

The sauce was mildly tangy like ketchup, but had a more natural beef juice(this is more appetizing in reality than in print) and real tomato taste. The loaf of meat had discernable chunks of celery, bell pepper, and tomatoes, and none of them were overpowering. I was quite pleased with the moisture of the substantially thick loaf, as it was not like a brick at all. This part of the meal went great with the mashed potatoes, which were decent even though the dash of the paprika they shake on top was rather worthless. I ended up licking my plate of ketchup sauce; quite a grotesque sight for anyone peering through the window, but delightful for my pallette.

I thought the meal was a bit small at first, but for a meal under 10 ounces, it really filled me up. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say that this was due to the richness of the meal and not because I had a bag of cheesy puffs while throwing the thing in the microwave. Somehow five minutes in the microwave always seems like an eternity, doesn't it? I reccomend this meal for those who are looking for comfort food that's actually flavorful. And for the rest of you: find a soul you heartless animal.

Posted by Anthony Nguyen on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at 4:29 PM | Permalink