This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Denny Balmaceda. It has been edited for length and clarity.
In February, I boarded my plane that would fly from Newark Airport in Jersey City to San Francisco. My business-class seat had been booked by a clothing brand I had been working for at the time. My seat on row 11 was a window seat with my own little nook, a treat for me, who usually flies in the economy seats.
As I settled in, neatly arranging my things in the compartment above my head and around my seat, a woman I didn’t recognize kindly asked if I would mind switching seats with her so she could sit next to her husband.
I quickly said, “Sure.” I know that in economy, this kind of question can produce mixed feelings, because if you’ve booked a window seat, you’re not going to want to switch to a middle seat. But in business class, all the seats are good, so I didn’t mind.
I hadn’t realized who her husband was
Just as I responded to her request, I looked up and saw Keegan-Michael Key. I was switching seats with his wife, so she could sit next to him. She continued, explaining she thought she had booked them to sit next to each other.
I took her seat in row 10, and she took mine in row 11.
So not only did I get to travel in business class — already a lot of fun for me — I also got to travel in front of a celebrity that I absolutely love. He’s literally one of my favourite actors.
Denny Balmaceda sat right in front of Keegan-Michael Key on a plane.
Courtesy of Denny Balmaceda
His wife leaned over and said Key would be happy to take a photo with me. He did, and he was so nice. Throughout the flight, he was the same with everyone who came up to him — a real gentleman.
He was so nice
Every single person who came up to him got his time and never once seemed annoyed. He talked to everyone and let people take photos with him.
When his wife needed help with anything, he helped.
And as the flight came to an end, I asked if he could grab my bag, and he didn’t flinch — he was fine with it.
There was no sense that he thought he was above anyone on that plane. He was just a real person who happened to be a celebrity.
Working in the fashion industry, I know there are both celebrities who are rude and those who just have bad days. I know that sometimes, people just want to be themselves without the fame. They just want to travel on planes and not be recognized. But he didn’t fit into any of these categories.
After the flight landed and before we went our separate ways, I took a couple of photos of us together to show my wife.
It was a one-in-a-million chance that I’d switch seats with someone famous, and I was very happy and surprised to get to experience it.
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As empty nesters who work from home, my husband and I love shopping at Aldi.
The Elevation energy bars and Summit Popz prebiotic sodas are good substitutes for pricier brands.
I love snacking on the Simply Nature coconut clusters and Southern Grove trail mix.
As empty nesters who both work from home, my husband and I try our best to choose nutritious food options while keeping our grocery costs low.
Luckily, shopping at Aldi helps us achieve both of these goals. Here are some of our favorite products to buy.
My husband enjoys the peanut butter Elevation energy bars.
Elevation energy bars are a great afternoon pick-me-up. Amy Barnes
My husband recently stopped buying Clif Bars and replaced them with the more budget-friendly Elevation energy bars from Aldi.
These come out to just about $1 per bar, and he says the taste and texture are great.
He likes to enjoy them as a snack or an afternoon pick-me-up.
I love snacking on the Simply Nature coconut clusters.
The Simply Nature coconut clusters are made with pumpkin, sunflower, and hemp seeds. Amy Barnes
The Simply Nature coconut clusters satisfy my sweet tooth, with only 160 calories per serving.
These crunchy clusters are made with a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, and hemp seeds.
Southern Grove trail mix is great for when I’m hiking.
This Southern Grove trail mix is made with cranberries, sunflower kernels, almonds, edamame, chocolate, and peanuts. Amy Barnes
Whenever I head to Aldi, I like to grab snack-size portions of trail mix. I especially love the Southern Grove version because it doesn’t include raisins.
Packed with cranberries, sunflower kernels, almonds, edamame, chocolate, and peanuts, this mix is easy to snack on at home or when we’re hiking with our dog.
I prefer Aldi’s egg bites to the Starbucks version.
The Whole & Simple egg bites are easy to heat up in the morning. Amy Barnes
I’m always hunting for delicious protein options to start my day, and I often find myself craving the egg bites from Starbucks. However, my wallet doesn’t love them as much as I do.
So, I’ve switched to Aldi’s Whole & Simple version, made with bell peppers, uncured ham, and cheddar. I think they taste similar to the Starbucks version and they’re easy to heat up at home.
We love the Happy Farms spreadable cheese wedges.
There are lots of different varieties of Happy Farms spreadable cheese. Amy Barnes
Since we both work from home, my husband and I are always looking for quick lunch options. We like the Happy Farms spreadable cheese wedges, which cost less than $3 each, and taste great on their own or in wraps.
Simply Nature popcorn is great for movie night.
Each cup of Simply Nature sea-salt popcorn contains 35 calories. Amy Barnes
At only 35 calories per cup, I like to have Simply Nature popcorn with my lunch or as a movie-watching snack when the kids come back home. It’s also a good source of fiber and is gluten-free.
Aldi’s steamed vegetable medleys make dinner easy.
I love the Season’s Choice Asian-seasoned vegetable medley. Amy Barnes
Whenever I take a trip to Aldi, I look for the Season’s Choice steamed vegetable medleys. These bags of brightly-colored veggies are reasonably priced and easy to make.
I like to season my veggies with Burman’s stir-fry sauces.
Burman’s stir-fry sauces are a great way to add flavor to steamed vegetables. Amy Barnes
Instead of ordering take-out, I like to season my steamed vegetables with Burman’s orange or sweet and sour sauces. I just add some chicken to create an easy stir-fry meal.
Aldi sells a great substitute for brand-name probiotic sodas.
I love the Summit Popz prebiotic sodas. Amy Barnes
Staying hydrated while working from home is a necessity, and I love sipping on the Summit Popz prebiotic sodas. I think they’re a great alternative to the more expensive Poppi sodas.
Hannah Donovan is four months pregnant. And with two little ones already at home, she and her husband had been banking on one family trip before life got even more hectic.
Puerto Vallarta was meant to be a babymoon — a chance to meet up with family nearby, soak up the sun, and actually relax for a few days.
However, less than 24 hours before they were set to head to their airport in Idaho, videos and pictures of burning cars and billowing smoke began circulating on social media.
Donovan said the images she saw online followed reports that Mexican forces carried out an operation on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco, that killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The incident sparked retaliatory violence across multiple cities in Mexico, including in Puerto Vallarta.
The Donovans have since canceled their trip to Mexico and will play it by ear on whether they’ll try to visit Puerto Vallarta later.
“We’re incredibly grateful we’re not there, but we’re worried about the people who are, including travelers and our family who live there,” Donovan, 28, told Business Insider. “We’re definitely a little traumatized by the situation.”
Americans are rethinking their travel plans to Puerto Vallarta
The Donovans are among many Americans rethinking trips, moves, and stays in the region after chaos flared across parts of Mexico following the killing of Oseguera Cervantes on Sunday. Four people at the scene were killed, according to authorities. Three others — including Oseguera Cervantes — were wounded and later died, and two people were arrested. Three members of the armed forces were also wounded.
It comes after President Donald Trump designated the cartel a foreign terrorist organization. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US provided intelligence support for the operation, but stopped short of offering details on how. The administration has prioritized cracking down on Latin American cartels, urging leaders to take a harder line and deploying military force against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
In the hours since, the US and Canadian governments have urged citizens in some areas to shelter in place, and said most domestic and international flights in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta were grounded. On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for calm in the country, but many of those flights remained canceled.
Smoke over the city of Puerto Vallarta.
@morelifediares via Instagram/Youtube/@morelifediares via REUTERS
Mexico has become increasingly popular with American tourists, drawn by its vibrant nightlife, strong culinary scene, and affordability compared to other trendy international destinations such as France and Japan.
“Americans, especially on the West Coast, have long used it as an inexpensive place to go on vacation,” Robin Ingle, a specialist in travel security, told Business Insider.
Mexico has also seen a surge in tourism from people who previously would have traveled to the US but are avoiding the country for various political or financial reasons, he said.
“A lot of the people I’ve spoken to over the weekend would have gone to places like Florida, California, Arizona — now they’re going to Mexico instead,” he said of the tourists he’s spoken to since cartel violence broke out.
But as unrest spreads, some Americans who had planned to vacation or relocate there, or who are already in Mexico, are watching those plans unravel.
Business Insider spoke with three of them about what comes next.
Doug Howell will return to the US if things get worse
Doug Howell, a retired sales and distribution executive from the Spokane, Washington area, bought a rental place in Puerto Vallarta and now spends roughly six months a year there — a routine he’s kept up for the past 20 years.
“It’s very vibrant,” Howell, 63, told Business Insider. “I like to walk around the neighborhoods, everything is pretty close, or a short bus ride away if you want to check out the beaches or the waterfalls. There’s always something to do, and the food is incredible.”
Doug Howell and his daughters.
Courtesy of Doug Howell
On Sunday, Howell said he was standing on his balcony when he started hearing explosions, then saw plumes of smoke rising nearby. Before long, he said, he noticed highways and roads in and out of the area had been blocked off.
He was scared at first, he said, and hunkered down with neighbors.”We just stayed inside all day yesterday, and I didn’t go anywhere,” he recalled. “They actually bombed a store on a corner and a car on the bridge that’s not even a quarter of a mile away.”
By Monday, Howell, a member of MedJetHorizon — a global air medical transport and security response membership that provides evacuations— said things had calmed down in his neighborhood.
“They’re already on it today, and people are supporting each other in the community — that’s what I like about it,” he said. “One question everybody asks me: Is it safe? And it’s like, yeah, it is, unless you go to the wrong place at the wrong time. And that’s anywhere in the world.”
For now, Howell plans to stay in Mexico, but if things worsen, he said he plans to return to the States.
Linda Armijo worries about the future of the city
Linda Armijo and her husband have been visiting Puerto Vallarta for the past 25 years.
In January, they returned for a three-month stay in the city’s Marina Vallarta district, an upscale, waterfront area in northern Puerto Vallarta.
Armijo said that on Sunday, after her husband’s massage therapist warned that roads downtown were blocked, she went up to the rooftop terrace of their condo, which overlooks the city. From there, she said she could see five or six plumes of smoke.
Linda Armijo and her husband have been spending time in Puerto Vallarta for 25 years.
Courtesy of Linda Armijo
Smoke isn’t entirely unusual in Puerto Vallarta — controlled burns are common — but Armijo said this was more than she typically sees. “I came down to our condo and told Anthony, ‘There’s something going on, there are fires everywhere,'” she recalled.
Armijo said the city was hit by a series of disruptions, including the blast of an engine as a car was set on fire, interruptions to water service, and highways and roads blocked off. Although the uncertainty has left tourists and locals scrambling, they’re relying on each other to get by.
“I met two girls from LA who are renting a condo upstairs. They were meant to fly out yesterday, and threw away all their food and supplies before learning their flight was canceled. I shared some water with them,” Armijo said. She added that a building worker told her they were also accommodating those who needed to extend their stay.
Tourists watching fires in Puerto Vallarta.
Stringer/REUTERS
Armijo plans to stay put for now and said she isn’t especially worried about her safety. Instead, she’s thinking about what this could mean for the city.
“I feel safe in my building, and we have plenty of food and water,” the Spanish-speaker said. “It’s a minor inconvenience not being able to leave, but my biggest emotions are sadness and concern for the people of Puerto Vallarta.”
Long-term impact
In the near term, Ingle, the travel security specialist, said he expects to see an impact on the tourism scene.
“I know there’s going to be a blowback in the next month, people deciding not to go, because there’s a percentage of the population that doesn’t want to take risks,” he said. “Governments are putting out warnings, and that affects travel insurance.”
When it comes to the long-term impact, however, Ingle doesn’t see this weekend’s violence creating a lasting stain on Puerto Vallarta’s ability to attract tourists.
“If all the violence dies down quickly and gets cleaned up, I think this will go away,” Ingle said. “Normally, this will take a couple days, and then it will fix itself.”
On a recent trip to France, Dr. Meghan Garcia-Webb was struck by an age-old paradox.
Everywhere she looked, she saw people enjoying cheese, wine, and bread — yet the average person seemed much healthier than the typical American.
In France, despite their reputation for rich cuisine, the obesity rate is a fraction of what we see in the United States, for all our calorie-counting and protein maxxing.
“There isn’t this pervasive diet culture of going to a restaurant and seeing how many calories are in this and how many carbs,” Garcia-Webb told Business Insider. “I do find it is refreshing in the sense that there’s not this fear around food, and the food is very satisfying.”
It’s just one example of how stressing less about your diet can lead to better weight loss and long-term health, she said.
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In her concierge medicine practice, Garcia-Webb specializes in helping high achievers, such as CEOs and attorneys, manage their weight. A lot of her job is pushing back on extreme diet fads, including the trend of tracking everything.
“I really enjoy food and the more I do this work, the more compelled I feel to show people that it actually is possible to be healthy and really like to eat,” she said.
Garcia-Webb said her favorite food hack makes it easy to eat well without turning your food journal into a full-time job. Here’s how to try it at home for more nutritious meals.
A stress-free guide to healthy eating
Everyone loves a food hack, and Garcia-Webb said hers is simple: when you prepare a meal, start by making half the plate fruits and non-starchy vegetables.
Filling half your plate with produce is a simple way to eat well without measuring each bite, calorie, or gram of protein.
Magda Tymczyj/Getty Images
“It’s actually very easy,” she said. “You don’t even have to cook them if you don’t want to.”
Think carrots, cucumbers, peppers, greens, tomatoes, berries, grapes, citrus — anything you’d find in the produce aisle (except potatoes). To make it even easier, opt for pre-cut options that are ready to eat or frozen produce, which is as healthy as fresh.
From there, Garcia-Webb builds a full meal by adding a source of protein, like lean meats or fish, to fill another quarter of the plate. The last quarter of the plate is for starchy foods like whole grains, pasta, rice, or potatoes.
The strategy makes it simple to get five servings a day of fruits and veggies. Each serving is about a handful when you’re eyeballing it.
As you fill up on produce, the high-volume, high-fiber food keeps you full and satisfied after eating, so you’re less likely to reach for junk food later. That means you’ll find yourself eating healthier without having to count a single calorie or even measure a portion.
When to track your food for weight loss
There’s nothing inherently wrong with tracking your eating habits, and calculating every gram of protein is fine if that works for you.
Still, for most people, too much tracking can be a burden, taking away the enjoyment of food and making you less likely to stick to your healthy habits long-term.
Instead of trying to track everything you eat forever, Garcia-Webb recommends keeping a food log for a few days: it can give you a baseline sense of your current habits and what you can change to move toward your goals.
“You build this intuitive knowledge, and then you have a rough sense of what it looks like for you,” she said.
A temporary habit of food tracking can be helpful if you feel like you’re doing everything right and wonder why you aren’t losing weight.
Food labels can mislead you by making a processed snack seem healthy because of added protein, but sneaking in extra sugars.
Luke Chan/Getty Images
Garcia-Webb said if you’ve never tracked your habits, it’s common to eat more and exercise less than you realize.
These days, plenty of convenience foods disguise ultra-processed junk with a “health halo” of added protein or other nutrients to make you believe you’re making a nutritious choice.
“People think that they’re eating healthier than they are,” Garcia-Webb said. “Something that we can all fall prey to is very good marketing.”
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I tried the signature burgers from three fast-food chains: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King.
I thought McDonald’s Big Mac was underwhelming and needed more sauce.
I liked the smoky flavor of Burger King’s Whopper, even though it was the priciest burger.
As a food reporter, I’ve tried and tested many burgers over the years.
But for my latest taste test, I decided to go back to basics.
While I’ve compared the biggest burgers at fast-food chains and practically every fast-food double cheeseburger, I wanted to see if the signature burgers from three of America’s most beloved chains really are classics.
I tried the McDonald’s Big Mac, the Wendy’s Dave’s Single, and the Burger King Whopper to determine which is best in terms of taste and value.
My least favorite of the signature burgers I tried was McDonald’s Big Mac.
The McDonald’s Big Mac was released in 1968. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Arguably the most iconic fast-food burger, the Big Mac is a staple on McDonald’s menu. Created by owner and operator Jim Delligatti of Pittsburgh in 1967, the first “Big Mac” featured a triple-decker burger and sold for 45 cents, according to McDonald’s.
The burger rolled out across the US in 1968 and quickly became the chain’s signature burger.
Today, an estimated 900 million Big Macs are sold each year around the world.
A Big Mac comes with two 1.6-ounce beef patties, pickles, shredded lettuce, chopped onions, a slice of American cheese, and layers of Big Mac sauce on a sesame-seed bun.
The burger came topped with lettuce, pickles, and Big Mac sauce. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The Big Mac cost me $8.29, excluding tax, at my local McDonald’s in Brooklyn, New York.
Right away, I wasn’t obsessed with the flavors or texture of this burger.
The extra bun made the burger taste dry. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burger I received was mostly lettuce, which covered up the flavors of the cheese, meat, and sauce. I wanted more of a tangy flavor from ketchup, mustard, or simply more Big Mac sauce.
My second-favorite burger was the Dave’s Single from Wendy’s.
Wendy’s Dave’s Single with cheese is considered its signature burger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Named after Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, Dave’s Single is Wendy’s signature burger. It is available in multiple sizes, from a single to a triple-stacked burger.
It features one of Wendy’s signature square patties and is the chain’s take on a classic cheeseburger.
The Dave’s Single burger comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and onions.
The burger came with classic toppings like cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burger cost me $8.74, excluding tax, at my local Wendy’s in Brooklyn.
The burger was noticeably saucier than both the Whopper and the Big Mac.
The burger was much saucier than the Big Mac. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
It was practically dripping with sauces, which I didn’t necessarily mind. Some of the flavors were slightly covered up by the two condiments, but I thought the cheese was tangy and the onions cut through the sweeter elements of the burger.
There was also a generous serving of pickles and a large slice of tomato.
Overall, I thought this was a good, classic cheeseburger.
The burger checked a lot of boxes. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, if I had to change one thing, I might remove or ask for a half-serving of mayonnaise.
I thought it was an overall solid choice for a late-night snack.
My favorite burger was the Whopper with cheese from Burger King.
The Whopper has been around since 1957. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Burger King’s signature burger has been around for decades. Released in 1957, just four years after the chain opened, the Whopper was 37 cents compared to Burger King’s original burger, which cost 18 cents.
Whoppers — and all Burger King burgers, for that matter — are flame-grilled, giving their burgers a distinct smoky flavor.
You can order a Whopper with or without cheese.
The burger came without cheese, but I added it to my order. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
For the sake of this experiment, I decided to order a Whopper with cheese to ensure a fair comparison with the other signature burgers.
The Whopper cost me $9.17, excluding tax, at my local Burger King in Brooklyn.
A Whopper comes with a quarter-pound beef patty, pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise on a sesame-seed bun.
The burger came with pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayonnaise. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Right away, I could tell this burger was going to pack tons of flavor. Thick layers of ketchup and mayonnaise oozed out of the sides of the burger, while the bun was large and held the other ingredients together perfectly.
The flavorful burger was my favorite for both taste and texture.
This burger impressed me with its smoky flavor and size. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The lettuce, tomatoes, and onions all tasted very fresh, adding a delicious crunch to the burger.
The burger patties had a smoky, savory flavor that made the sandwich taste fresh off the grill. I also thought the patty’s shape, which was larger in circumference but flatter than some of the other burgers, made the sandwich easier to eat.
Overall, I think the burger was worth the higher price tag.
When comparing the three signature burgers, I found myself feeling like a fast-food-eating Goldilocks: One burger was too dry, one was too moist, and one was just right.
Micah Ronald, a 19-year-old college student in Arizona, was looking for fragrance recommendations on TikTok about six months ago when he came across rave reviews of Le Labo.
He bought the $135 discovery kit and instantly became a fan of Another 13.
“It’s a fresh, clean scent that doesn’t smell too much like laundry,” he said.
Le Labo describes the perfume on its website as a hypnotizing and “addictive dirty potion.” When I tried it, I smelled jasmine, citrus, vanilla, and musk.
Malcolm Walker-Hendricks, 30, who is based in Quebec and works in sales and content creation, said Another 13 is his favorite scent “without a doubt or hesitation.”
“It reminds me of being in Lisbon, Portugal, because it’s very light, airy, and sweet, with a little twang,” he said. “I probably use it as much as I drink water in a day.”
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We ranked double cheeseburgers from 13 fast-food chains to see which one reigns supreme.
7th Street Burger, the smallest chain, blew me away with its saucy smash burger.
I thought In-N-Out’s famous Double-Double was great value and delicious.
Double the patties can mean double the deliciousness, but not all fast-food double cheeseburgers are created equal.
For a definitive ranking, I tried practically every double cheeseburger on the market to determine which one was best based on taste and value.
I tried double cheeseburgers from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Shake Shack, White Castle, Whataburger, P. Terry’s, Five Guys, Cook Out, Checkers, Sonic, 7th Street Burger, and In-N-Out.
Here’s every fast-food double cheeseburger ranked from worst to best.
My least favorite double cheeseburger was from Burger King. It cost me $4.09.
Right away, I tasted the thick beef patties. The burger had traveled a little more than 15 minutes from my local Burger King to my apartment, but the meat was still juicy and the cheese nicely melted.
The pickle slices were thick and crunchy, and I enjoyed the sesame-seed bun, which added a nice textural element. But I thought there was just a little too much ketchup, which will likely vary depending on who’s making your burger that day.
It was also a little heavy for my liking. It filled me up a little more than I had anticipated before jumping into the rest of the burger comparison. Still, for a burger that costs just under $4, that might be more of an asset than a hindrance if you want a filling, inexpensive lunch.
Next was Wendy’s double cheeseburger, which the chain calls a Double Stack. I ordered it for $4.49.
But I had to get a few bites in to reach the toppings in the center.
The toppings themselves were amazing. I thought the pickles were the most flavorful out of the burgers I tried, and I liked the use of an onion ring rather than diced onion, although I would’ve liked more.
It was slightly more expensive than Wendy’s version but had more toppings. It came with an extra slice of American cheese plus chopped onions, and I thought it was still relatively affordable.
The double cheeseburger from McDonald’s comes with two beef patties, pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, mustard, and two slices of American cheese.
The bun held everything together and was a good size, but it was a little too soft and didn’t have a lot of flavor on its own. But I enjoyed the amount of condiments and didn’t find them overpowering.
The chopped onions added a lot of flavor, and the burger patties were juicy despite being thinner than the Burger King ones. I liked the added cheese, but didn’t think it was necessary.
Next up was the double-meat Whataburger with cheese.
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
It costs $8.75 at a Whataburger in Austin, excluding tax and fees.
I ordered it with a large bun, American cheese, grilled peppers and onions, pickles, and ketchup.
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burger was a decent size and I could see the gooey cheese peeking out from underneath the soft potato bun.
Unlike the other double cheeseburgers, this burger had sliced jalapeño peppers that I imagined would add quite the kick.
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The ingredients definitely set this burger apart from the others.
I thought the burgers had a delightfully crispy texture to them, and the toppings added a ton of flavor.
Whataburger double meat burger with cheese. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The bun was light and fluffy, but I did think the burger patties could have been a little thicker and juicier.
Coming in ninth was the double cheeseburger from P. Terry’s Burger Stand, a regional chain I visited in Austin.
P. Terry’s double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burger cost $5.25, making it one of the cheaper burgers I tried.
Despite being less expensive than the Whataburger double cheeseburger, the P. Terry’s burger was larger.
P. Terry’s double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I ordered it with pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard, and American cheese.
I again thought the cheese could have been more melted, but the size definitely made up for that small detail.
P. Terry’s double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
One of the benefits of ordering from P. Terry’s is that you can easily customize your burger and add a number of toppings, including grilled onions, the chain’s special sauce, tomato, lettuce, and more.
I thought the burgers were juicy and the pickles had a tart crunch to them.
P. Terry’s double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The bun was slightly underwhelming, but I thought it was an excellent, large burger with tons of flavor, especially for the low price. I also thought the mustard really came through and added a lot to the burger.
The double cheeseburger from Shake Shack was the second most expensive burger I tried.
The burger patties were perfectly crispy on the outside and covered in gooey melted cheese. The pickles also looked large and homemade. It was even heavy to pick up.
The toppings were generous and the chain’s signature Shack sauce, which is a mayo-based sauce with a slight mustard flavor, made it really tasty.
The burger was huge, which was both an asset and a hindrance. I struggled to get through more than a few bites.
However, despite being the second most expensive burger, I thought it was worth the price. The burger patties were much thicker than the other burgers I tried, and the toppings took it over the edge in terms of flavor.
Overall, I was impressed … but stuffed.
In seventh place was the double-decker burger with cheese from Checkers.
The burger has since been replaced with the Big Buford, which has all the same ingredients but a bakery-style bun instead of a sesame-seed bun. The burger costs $8.39 at my local Checkers in Brooklyn.
I thought this burger was a little pricey for the size.
I also thought the American cheese was very tangy and flavorful. Overall, I enjoyed the combination of flavors. However, the price prevented this burger from ranking higher.
I also tried the double cheese slider from White Castle.
White Castle double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
White Castle sliders tend to be eaten in pairs, so I ordered two. Each burger cost me $3.69, so I ended up paying $7.38.
The burgers were small but packed with flavor.
White Castle double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The burgers smelled strongly of onions and condiments the second I removed them from the bag.
The amount of toppings on each burger was generous.
White Castle double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The pickles were crunchy and flavorful. Though the burgers each had a bun sandwiched in the middle of the burger, it wasn’t too bready — instead, it allowed the flavors to really come together while still being filling.
I was blown away by the cheeseburgers from White Castle, a result I admittedly wasn’t expecting.
White Castle double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
As the cheapest and smallest burgers, I was expecting them to be a little lackluster. However, I found that good things definitely come in small packages. The onions, condiments, and pickles were flavorful, but it was the beef that really impressed me.
The small-but-mighty burger was one of the most flavorful out of the ones I tried, easy to eat, and perfectly priced.
My fifth-favorite double cheeseburger was from Five Guys.
Five Guys cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Five Guys doesn’t technically have a “double cheeseburger” — its regular cheeseburgers already come with two slices of cheese and two beef patties.
My burger cost $13.55, excluding taxes and fees, making it the most expensive burger I tried.
I was able to customize my toppings, but I ordered the burger with pickles, grilled onions, ketchup, and mustard.
Five Guys cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Right away, I noticed that the toppings were generous. The pickle slices were large, and none of the toppings cost extra to add.
The burger was large without being too intimidating.
Five Guys cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I thought it was a perfect size. It required two hands to pick up and eat, but it wasn’t as heavy as the burger from Shake Shack. Slices of melted American cheese coated each burger, and there wasn’t so much sauce that it dripped out from underneath the sesame-seed buns.
The burger patties were crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside.
Five Guys cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I thought the pickle slices were thick, crunchy, and tart. I also really enjoyed the choice of a sesame-seed bun — it added a bit of texture to each and every bite.
The grilled onions also really impressed me. They were soft and almost caramelized, adding a lot of flavor that I didn’t get from any other burger.
My fourth-favorite double cheeseburger came from Sonic Drive-In.
The SuperSonic double cheeseburger was the only burger I tried that came with lettuce and tomato. Since this was the default option, I decided to try it with these toppings rather than specifically remove them.
The burger cost me $9.75, excluding taxes and fees.
The burger came with a hearty serving of shredded lettuce, tomatoes, two slices of cheese, diced onions, pickles, mayonnaise, and ketchup.
Sonic double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
Unlike Sonic’s quarter-pound double cheeseburger, which comes with two junior patties, the full-size burger has a combined half-pound of meat.
The bun was perfectly soft but still held the sauce-covered burger together.
Sonic double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The ingredients tasted fresh and vibrant. The tomato wasn’t too watery, the lettuce was crisp, and the burgers tasted well-seasoned and juicy. Plus, the burger was a very generous size.
However, despite all these accolades, I thought the price was a little steep compared to what I got from Cook Out and In-N-Out.
My third-favorite double cheeseburger came from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.
Cook Out big double burger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
You can order a “big double” from Cook Out any way you wish, but I ordered mine with cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions, and pickles. It cost me $4.99, not including tax.
The burger came wrapped in foil and featured two juicy patties.
Cook Out big double burger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
It also had thick slices of fresh onion and large pickle spears layered on top of the burger.
For the price, I thought the burger was out of this world.
Cook Out big double burger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The cheese slices were thick and tangy, and the burger was perfectly moist and medium-rare. It was also very large, and, after already eating dinner, I struggled to get through more than a few bites, though I kept wanting to go back for more.
At an amazingly low price, this burger definitely earned the second-to-top spot on my ranking.
My second favorite came from 7th Street Burger, a smaller chain based in New York City.
7th Street Burger double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
7th Street Burger is a small chain of quick-service burger restaurants with 19 locations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC.
Since it opened in 2021, the chain has quickly grown a reputation for its no-frills approach to smash burgers, which feature crispy patties, gooey cheese, and the chain’s signature sauce.
I ordered a double cheeseburger, which comes with two beef patties, American cheese, onions, pickles, and house sauce on a Martin’s potato bun. It cost $11.21, excluding tax and fees.
There wasn’t much customization to do for this burger — you can’t order it with lettuce or tomato.
7th Street Burger double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
However, this burger was perfect exactly as the chain designed it. The burger patties were delightfully crispy on the outside yet managed to stay juicy.
Melted slices of cheese oozed between the two thin, expertly griddled, and charred beef patties, all smothered in the chain’s signature sauce, a creamy, tangy take on classic burger sauce.
The burger was served on a pillowy-soft potato roll, which kept things simple.
7th Street Burger double cheeseburger. Erin McDowell/Business Insider
There were no lettuce or tomato slices to cut through the rich, savory indulgence, but that only added to the burger’s savory flavor. I didn’t miss the opportunity to customize my burger with additional toppings. It was probably the best smash burger I’ve ever had.
With pickles and onions to round out the flavor, the double cheeseburger offered a satisfying, nostalgic flavor that elevated the classic smash burger experience.
In my opinion, the best double cheeseburger I tried was the famous Double-Double burger from In-N-Out.
It cost me $4.90, which I thought was an excellent deal for the large burger sitting in front of me. One of the first things I noticed was how thick the burger patties were — they were much thicker than other burgers I tried at a similar price point.
Most Double-Double burgers come with lettuce, tomato, onions, and spread.
To keep my burger similar to the other burgers I tried, I ordered it with onions, pickles, and spread, which I thought tasted similar to Thousand Island dressing.
The first thing I noticed about the In-N-Out burger was how juicy the burger patties were, followed by the incredible layers of cheese.
When it came to a double cheeseburger, the West Coast chain really nailed it. The burger was beyond flavorful, the perfect size, and, in my opinion, very good value for money.
The next time I’m in a state with an In-N-Out, I know where I’ll be filling my burger craving.
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I’ve been looking for a high-protein, meatless recipe that I could use for quick, easy lunches.
I decided to try Martha Stewart’s crispy fried tofu recipe, and it’s become my new go-to.
The tofu is flavorful enough on its own, but I love adding it to grain-and-veggie bowls.
Traumatizing: that’s the word I’d use to describe my first experience with tofu.
The first time I tried cooking tofu at home, it was completely flavorless, and worse yet, the texture reminded me of a soggy marshmallow.
It was almost enough to make me swear off tofu completely, but I’ve been on the hunt for high-protein, plant-based recipes, so I thought I’d bravely give it another go with Martha Stewart’s crispy fried tofu.
Stewart says that her recipe is not only a cinch to make, but also yields super-crunchy tofu. After trying it myself, I agree.
Not only was this tofu delicious, but it filled me up for several hours.
Extra-firm tofu in particular, which this recipe calls for, contains about 14 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving, although this can depend on the brand and product you buy.
Here’s how I make it.
You only need a few ingredients.
The ingredient list was short and sweet, and I already had several in my pantry. Rebecca Strong
Conveniently, I already had most of the required ingredients for this recipe in my pantry and fridge.
Aside from extra-firm tofu, the recipe calls for a neutral cooking oil (like safflower), salt, and cornstarch.
Stewart also recommends grabbing mayonnaise and Sriracha for a dipping sauce, as well as chopped scallions and lime wedges for serving.
First, drain the tofu to ensure crispy results.
In my experience, taking some time to drain the tofu is worth it. Rebecca Strong
Although draining liquid out of tofu may take a little extra time, trust me when I say it’s worth it — because excess moisture will prevent your tofu from crisping up.
Stewart recommends lining a baking sheet with multiple layers of paper towels, arranging the sliced tofu on top, and then layering more paper towels on top of the tofu before weighing it down with another baking sheet topped with some heavy cans.
Then, wait 30 minutes for the liquid to drain onto the paper towels.
Stewart suggests slicing the tofu lengthwise into long strips, but I prefer to cut mine into cubes — I find that smaller pieces yield crispier edges.
Don’t forget to dredge the tofu.
Next, I coated the tofu in cornstarch. Rebecca Strong
After draining the tofu, coating it in cornstarch is key: When I first tried a fried-tofu recipe, I didn’t follow this step, and it didn’t crisp up nearly as well.
Stewart suggests mixing any of your preferred spices into the cornstarch prior to dredging, so I added garlic powder, sea salt, and sesame seeds. Other options mentioned in the recipe include Cajun seasoning, onion powder, and ground cumin.
To coat it, pour the cornstarch and spices into a large bowl or container, then add the tofu. Once everything’s in the bowl, either toss it with your hands or pop on a lid and shake it all up until all the sides are coated.
Next, it’s time to fry.
I used organic canola oil to fry my tofu. Rebecca Strong
Heat up your oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium.
Stewart’s favorite oil for this recipe is safflower, since it has a high smoke point and neutral flavor — but canola oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, and peanut oil also work. I used organic canola oil because it’s what I had on hand.
If the tofu is too crowded in the pan, it won’t get evenly crunchy on the outside — so, Stewart says it’s best to split the tofu into two batches.
Fry each batch until the exterior of the tofu has just turned golden brown, turning every minute or two to ensure all sides make contact with the oil.
This should take five minutes, according to Stewart, but it took me closer to seven — perhaps because I like mine extra crunchy.
Finally, transfer your tofu to a paper-towel-lined plate and season it.
The tofu came out looking crunchy and delicious. Rebecca Strong
Once the tofu is done cooking, transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up any excess oil.
This is when Stewart recommends seasoning the tofu with salt, but because I already added salt to the cornstarch coating, I skipped that step.
Stewart’s favorite dipping sauce for this tofu is a mixture of mayo and Sriracha. I’m not a huge mayo fan, so I used a spicy tahini for a similar but nuttier vibe.
I did, however, follow her tips to garnish with scallions for a pleasantly peppery bite.
Now, I love adding this tofu to grain-and-veggie bowls for easy, high-protein lunches.
This tofu is great on its own, or as the starring ingredient in a veggie bowl. Rebecca Strong
Miraculously, this recipe completely transformed my feelings about tofu.
I was amazed by the satisfying, crunchy texture and the sheer amount of flavor it held when seasoned well and served with the right sauce.
Best of all, this tofu is super versatile. Since falling in love with this recipe, I’ve started adding it to grain bowls with veggies for a super-satiating lunch or dinner.
My favorite combo is quinoa or white rice with roasted or sauteed Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli. Sometimes I’ll toss in some avocado for creamy texture and healthy fats, or take a cue from Stewart and add a squeeze of lime.
I also believe this tofu would be a tasty addition to a Caesar salad, lettuce wrap, or taco with black beans and avocado.
