[Mary Brown's Chicken] Big Mary Monday increases to $4.99, starting Jan. 4, 2022

See now, this is my whole point! It's okay for inflation to be what it is, but the $4 or less rule (in Ontario) still gets to sit pretty at the same $4 and never ever increase!! Why is that???
Not only is there in increase of a dollar on the sandwich, but there will now be 13% tax instead of 5%. ($5.65 instead of $4.20)
It's just stupid. Raise the $4 level now please Mr. Ford! Thanks!

Noooooo. A full loonie or 25% + tx in Ontario more!

Finally raising prices after so long, not sure why they waited so long since they were so cheap

But it's always been bonkers to me how to get a combo, it's like $4+ extra for taters and a pop

Tried Mary Browns Chicken for the first time recently cuz AirMiles had a MC Cardlink Offer running + BBB 2021 … STACKABLE
I still haven’t 100% made my mind up about this place

We bought a 9 pc feast …
Mary definitely had Better Cut Breasts than KFC
But I think KFC is a tad tastier as far as the 11 Herbs & Spices go

Will give their Chicken Sandwiches (Big Mary) a try next time
For a quick fast food meal on the go
Before I pass final judgement on the place

But for now … Fried Chicken Buckets & Sides … staying with KFC

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ But I think KFC is a tad tastier as far as the 11 Herbs & Spices go

Judging strictly on taste I think Mary Browns is growing on me.
KFC was extremely good like 20 years ago but lately it's still good but it's more on the okay side than "damn this is good chicken"
For the price though, KFC is still one of the better deals, although that's gonna change if they all move to 13 cut instead of 9 cut.

There's a local joint (John's Chicken) that reminds me of the old KFC and that's "holy crap this is good".

But for now … Fried Chicken Buckets & Sides … staying with KFC

I wish they'd improve their fries though. IMO worst fries in the national fast food game
Only thing worse is crinkle cuts. *barf*

Not much of a deal then

death_hawk wrote: ↑ Judging strictly on taste I think Mary Browns is growing on me.
KFC was extremely good like 20 years ago but lately it's still good but it's more on the okay side than "damn this is good chicken"
For the price though, KFC is still one of the better deals, although that's gonna change if they all move to 13 cut instead of 9 cut.

There's a local joint (John's Chicken) that reminds me of the old KFC and that's "holy crap this is good".


I wish they'd improve their fries though. IMO worst fries in the national fast food game
Only thing worse is crinkle cuts. *barf*

Ya gotta agree on the KFC fries.

They just are not as crispy as those at McDs so they just get limp & cold
Unless you pile the KFC Gravy on them … then they are ok

When I was a kid in the 60s
KFC had not made its way to Montreal yet

The first time I had fried chicken was at a place in Nearby Laval
Hot, crispy … and meant to be dipped in honey
That always struck me … how good the combo of fried chicken is with honey

I was trying to find the name of that fried chicken place … I vaguely remember a bear being their mascot
After a bit of GOOGLING I found this = https://www.thesuburban.com/news/laval_ ... 7dd9f.html

When it comes to restaurants, number one on my family’s list of favourites was Mama Bear’s on Labelle Blvd. (I know it’s Curé Labelle Blvd now, but allow me this nostalgic indulgence.)

My mouth still waters thinking about this place. Generally, we took the meals home, but occasionally we ate in the restaurant, which had very personable owners.

In those days, we ate the chicken legs, skin and all, before there was wide awareness that the fat content of that part of the bird could be unhealthy (these days, I restrict myself to the breast, without the skin). What great, juicy chicken it was, and when combined with honey, I was in heaven.

Also delicious was their ribs, which came with a thick ketchupy sauce. I still remember the delectable tang.

Seems the writer, had similar fond memories

Also found this … on Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken (like I said I initially only could remember the Honey and the Bear signage).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogi_Bear ... ed_Chicken

Wondering now if the place in Laval got its start cuz the owner had discovered honey & fried chicken at the first Yogi Bear’s in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina … as the timing would be about right for when Myrtle Beach began to be a vacation hot spot on the East Coast (my own family made their first visit there in the mid 1960s)

Whatever it was that inspired it … the fried chicken at the place in Laval was delicious!

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ Ya gotta agree on the KFC fries.

They just are not as crispy as those at McDs so they just get limp & cold

Hopefully they're next on the block to "fix" their fries.
Wendys for example has really good fries. They also used to suck.

Unless you pile the KFC Gravy on them … then they are ok

Another sore spot for me.
10-20 years ago it was amazing. Today it's good and I'll still drink it, but it's not nearly as good as it was.

Hot, crispy … and meant to be dipped in honey
That always struck with me … how good the combo of fried chicken is with honey

I think this is why chicken and waffles is popular too. Maple syrup is (apparently) good.
Personally I hate salty/sweet so both are out for me, but everyone else likes it.

Seems the writer, had similar fond memories

It's always sad when a place closes up shop and something amazing disappears forever.
Then again... it's worse if something starts out amazing then it gets sold and cost cut into oblivion.

It'd be nice to relive some of those amazing food memories.
Old KFC, Old Tim's cruellers, and apparently Yogi's chicken.

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ The first time I had fried chicken was at a place in Nearby Laval
Hot, crispy … and meant to be dipped in honey
That always struck me … how good the combo of fried chicken is with honey

I was trying to find the name of that fried chicken place … I vaguely remember a bear being their mascot
After a bit of GOOGLING I found this = https://www.thesuburban.com/news/laval_ ... 7dd9f.html

Wondering now if the place in Laval got its start cuz the owner had discovered honey & fried chicken at the first Yogi Bear’s in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina … as the timing would be about right for when Myrtle Beach began to be a vacation hot spot on the East Coast (my own family made their first visit there in the mid 1960s)

Whatever it was that inspired it … the fried chicken at the place in Laval was delicious!

He may have even discovered it at KFC in Ontario. I remember the early 60s when KFC included a little packet of Honey for each meal. I always wondered why/when they discontinued that practice. Another side of KFC that I have not seen in over 40 years was their Vegetable medley salad; corn, cabbage, peas, beans(grn) in a cole-slaw type dressing.

PointsHubby wrote: ↑ The first time I had fried chicken was at a place in Nearby Laval
Hot, crispy … and meant to be dipped in honey
That always struck me … how good the combo of fried chicken is with honey

Every so often Swiss Chalet gives Honey Garlic chicken a try. They never did try it with their fried chicken though.

(this is an older image. A higher price will most likely surface, should honey garlic chicken return to Swiss Chalet)

rcmpvet wrote: ↑ He may have even discovered it at KFC in Ontario. I remember the early 60s when KFC included a little packet of Honey for each meal. I always wondered why/when they discontinued that practice. Another side of KFC that I have not seen in over 40 years was their Vegetable medley salad; corn, cabbage, peas, beans(grn) in a cole-slaw type dressing.

Maybe so

My own first experience with KFC was early 1960s (1962 ? ) on a car trip thru the USA. Think we were in Kentucky. My family definitely loved it.

I was a kid, but I don’t recall us seeing much in the way of KFC here in Canada (Quebec or Ontario) until the late 60s or early 70s. Even though GOOGLE tells me the first KFC in Ontario opened in Orillia in 1962.

Your post brought back a memory tho … I totally had forgot about those honey packets coming with KFC Chicken.

And ya I vaguely remember the KFC Veggie Salad. Cannot say I was a fan … afterall I was a kid … and there were veggies involved.

My interest were the Macaroni or Potato Salads … which are still my faves.

Lol and I never understood the electric green coleslaw. Still don’t. Spoiled of course by St Hubert Coleslaw

playnicee1 wrote: ↑ Every so often Swiss Chalet gives Honey Garlic chicken a try. They never did try it with their fried chicken though.

(this is an older image. A higher price will most likely surface, should honey garlic chicken return to Swiss Chalet)

Honey glazed chicken have always been a thing.

The difference was in the fact that this was honey served up in a bowl for dipping along side fried chicken.

Kids like dipping sauces. As we all now know.

Interesting cuz this was the 1960s … long before McDonalds realized they needed a chicken solution that appealed to a wider audience and most famously came up with Chicken Nuggets … and dipping sauces

As they say … the rest is history

NOTE - Interesting Tv Series … The Food That Made America. They did a few episodes on chicken that touched on the history of KFC and then McNuggets @ McDonalds. These two companies are vastly different … but they truly are direct competitors in many ways. This tv food series is very informative

In b4 buy a whole roti chicken at Costco for .....

playnicee1 wrote: ↑ Every so often Swiss Chalet gives Honey Garlic chicken a try. They never did try it with their fried chicken though.

(this is an older image. A higher price will most likely surface, should honey garlic chicken return to Swiss Chalet)

I wonder if the jerk sauce is still coming to the SC once in a while? I have a good memory of that one.

Dealmaker1945 wrote: ↑ I wonder if the jerk sauce is still coming to the SC once in a while? I have a good memory of that one.

Ya they seem to do the various alternate sauces during the winter season IIRC
I expect we’ll see them again in 2022

Past Line Ups
* Sriracha Lime
* Peri Peri
* Baja BBQ
* Butter Chicken
* Jerk Chicken (introduced in 2020 )

most of these sauces are supposed to be put into the chicken before it is cooked. SC is putting it on after.

evilYoda wrote: ↑ most of these sauces are supposed to be put into the chicken before it is cooked. SC is putting it on after.

Exactly. When I make jerk chicken, I marinade it at least overnight.

If they are only putting it on afterwards, they aren't doing it right. But to be expected from a typical big chain where mostly white people ignorant of real jerk chicken eats there.

bobfan3 wrote: ↑ Exactly. When I make jerk chicken, I marinade it at least overnight.

If they are only putting it on afterwards, they aren't doing it right. But to be expected from a typical big chain where mostly white people ignorant of real jerk chicken eats there.

White people ignorant of jerk? Don't racialize food! Jerk is ubiquitous now, served in many restaurants here that are run by the people who invented it and most people have eaten it. There are several Jerk restaurants even in a white-bread town like ours. Sorry, jerk belongs to the world now. We have eaten it in the Caribbean and make it at home too with Jamaican ingredients. We even grow the hot peppers. Yup, we are white and Asian folks but we know from jerk. So we will not listen to the food snobs here and enjoy the jerk as a change of pace dipping sauce with our SC chicken lol.

Dealmaker1945 wrote: ↑ I wonder if the jerk sauce is still coming to the SC once in a while? I have a good memory of that one.

My guess is their plan is to start doing various things in rotation, but not all at once on the same menu.