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Phantom Gourmet: Mozzarella Sticks Taste Test

BOSTON (CBS) -- Phantom recently purchased four boxes of frozen mozzarella sticks at a local supermarket. The cheesy contenders were Alexia, Farm Rich, Giorgio, and TGI Fridays. See if you can guess which gooey snack ended up at the top of the food chain.

mozzarella sticks phantom gourmet
TGI Fridays mozzarella sticks. (WBZ-TV)

TGI Fridays finished in last place. At first glance, Phantom was encouraged by the hefty appearance of these flat slabs. But upon first bite, he quickly realized most of that bulk could be attributed to the outrageously thick panko breading that completely overpowered any cheese flavor. Making matters worse, the marinara dipping sauce included in the box was just plain terrible.

mozzarella sticks phantom gourmet
Giorgio mozzarella sticks. (WBZ-TV)

Giorgio mozzarella sticks fared only slightly better. The bland, pale breading was almost as forgettable as the lackluster cheese it was filled with. If this is the 'new and improved flavor' that the box boasts about, Phantom would hate to have tried the old recipe. On the upside, these sticks were the only entrant to offer microwaveable instructions in addition to traditional oven preparation--but neither method resulted in a satisfactory snack.

mozzarella sticks phantom gourmet
Farm Rich mozzarella sticks. (WBZ-TV)

The runner-up is Farm Rich. Plump and golden, this brand was the best looking of the bunch, with just the right amount of breading encasing plenty of gooey mozzarella cheese. Adding to the appeal, the included marinara sauce was excellent, and came in a convenient cup for easy dipping. Unfortunately, the sauce was much better than the sticks, which just didn't have enough punch to take the top spot.

mozzarella sticks phantom gourmet
Alexia mozzarella sticks. (WBZ-TV)

At the top of the food chain is Alexia. The competition wasn't even close, as this brand put the other snack sticks to shame. The crunchy, well-seasoned breading is loaded with Italian herbs and olive oil that compliment, rather than overpower, the salty, tangy mozzarella. Adding to the appeal is a simple, straightforward ingredient list that almost made phantom feel like he was eating something wholesome, rather than a piece of breaded fried cheese. That's why Alexia mozzarella sticks are at the top of the food chain.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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