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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM

Title: Hot and Now
Post by: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM
I was hungry and only had a $5 on me, so after going to the K-Wings game, I went to McDonalds and got a three dollar combo.  Going to Mickey D's reminded me of another nasty burger joint that we had in Michigan called Hot and Now (sometimes called Hot N Nasty or Rotten Cow).  I was curious if this chain was anywhere else in the United States or if my fellow boardmates had a similar kind of place local to them.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: kevinb1994 on October 27, 2019, 03:47:03 AM
Quote from: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM
I was hungry and only had a $5 on me, so after going to the K-Wings game, I went to McDonalds and got a three dollar combo.  Going to Mickey D's reminded me of another nasty burger joint that we had in Michigan called Hot and Now (sometimes called Hot N Nasty or Rotten Cow).  I was curious if this chain was anywhere else in the United States or if my fellow boardmates had a similar kind of place local to them.
There's a few around here (Krystal Burger, Hardee's, Whataburger) that we haven't hit in months due to their so-so quality.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Scott5114 on October 27, 2019, 04:10:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on October 27, 2019, 03:47:03 AM
Quote from: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM
I was hungry and only had a $5 on me, so after going to the K-Wings game, I went to McDonalds and got a three dollar combo.  Going to Mickey D's reminded me of another nasty burger joint that we had in Michigan called Hot and Now (sometimes called Hot N Nasty or Rotten Cow).  I was curious if this chain was anywhere else in the United States or if my fellow boardmates had a similar kind of place local to them.
There's a few around here (Krystal Burger, Hardee's, Whataburger) that we haven't hit in months due to their so-so quality.

Around here, Whataburger puts out a pretty good product but they sure don't seem to be in much of a rush to do it. Doesn't help that the line is constantly backed up.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: kevinb1994 on October 27, 2019, 05:52:10 AM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 27, 2019, 04:10:11 AM
Quote from: kevinb1994 on October 27, 2019, 03:47:03 AM
Quote from: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM
I was hungry and only had a $5 on me, so after going to the K-Wings game, I went to McDonalds and got a three dollar combo.  Going to Mickey D's reminded me of another nasty burger joint that we had in Michigan called Hot and Now (sometimes called Hot N Nasty or Rotten Cow).  I was curious if this chain was anywhere else in the United States or if my fellow boardmates had a similar kind of place local to them.
There's a few around here (Krystal Burger, Hardee's, Whataburger) that we haven't hit in months due to their so-so quality.

Around here, Whataburger puts out a pretty good product but they sure don't seem to be in much of a rush to do it. Doesn't help that the line is constantly backed up.
It should be noted that Whataburger is a product of Texas. Don't mess with Texas. ;)
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Max Rockatansky on October 27, 2019, 09:24:05 AM
From what I remember Hot and Now was all over the Midwest for a couple decades.  I seem to recall the food was on a low tier with the liked of White Castle. 
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: formulanone on October 27, 2019, 10:34:07 AM
Hot and Now actually had a few short-lived locations in South Florida in the early-1990s. Nothing remarkable except it was cheap and near a branch of my bank.

I saw the last remaining one in Sturgis, Michigan a while back. The menu looked like a cobbled-together afterthought, but I ate there anyway and didn't get sick, so that makes it a success based on very low expectations.

It looks like it's still operational, so good for them.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Big John on October 27, 2019, 12:37:40 PM
They used to be in Wisconsin, but they closed.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: hbelkins on October 27, 2019, 07:20:03 PM
I first thought this was going to be about Krispy Kreme doughnuts when I saw the thread title.

Never heard of this chain, but I'm always up for a cheap greasy local burger.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Flint1979 on October 27, 2019, 07:43:57 PM
I drove past the Sturgis location not too long ago the lone one left
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: ce929wax on October 28, 2019, 02:54:35 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 27, 2019, 07:20:03 PMNever heard of this chain, but I'm always up for a cheap greasy local burger.

You wouldn't like this particular one because the burger was made with ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion with no exceptions and no substitutions.  I remember you saying that you didn't like onion because it causes you distress a while back.  I don't like onion simply because I don't like onion.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: adventurernumber1 on October 28, 2019, 01:54:15 PM
Quote from: ce929wax on October 28, 2019, 02:54:35 AM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 27, 2019, 07:20:03 PMNever heard of this chain, but I'm always up for a cheap greasy local burger.

You wouldn't like this particular one because the burger was made with ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion with no exceptions and no substitutions.  I remember you saying that you didn't like onion because it causes you distress a while back.  I don't like onion simply because I don't like onion.

I do not like onion either (it is one of the few foods I don't like). I actually stopped eating Krystal burgers a few years ago, because there was never a time when no onions were left on the burger when I asked for them left off. I spent a good 20 minutes scraping off all the small, diced onions each time, and did enjoy the burger(s) (I'd get four, then have to scrape onions off them all first) once the task was done, but it became useless to me and a waste of time after a while, so ever since then at Krystal, I just get chicken (sandwiches, nuggets), and stuff like Po-Boys when they were offered.

So with that said, I probably wouldn't enjoy the restaurant mentioned in this thread if a burger without onions is not an option, and if the quality of the food is just very low anyway, as mentioned.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: MNHighwayMan on October 28, 2019, 04:17:48 PM
I love onions. About the only onion thing I won't eat is a raw whole onion. White Castle is one of my favorite restaurants (despite the quality), and their burgers are full of minced onion (pretty much exactly like Krystal, but without the mustard.)

P.S. Don't feed your pets anything with onion! Onions (and anything in the onion family: garlic, leeks, shallots, etc) are toxic to both cats and dogs, especially the former.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: renegade on October 29, 2019, 03:26:14 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on October 27, 2019, 07:20:03 PM
I first thought this was going to be about Krispy Kreme doughnuts when I saw the thread title
Same here, until I remembered the sign that says "Hot Doughnuts Now" and now this has me craving a hot doughnut ...
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: hbelkins on October 29, 2019, 07:04:28 PM
I've discovered that the diced onions on a small McDonald's burger (not the slivered onions that come on a Quarter Pounder) or the onions on a White Castle/Krystal burger don't bother me. But I would have to take the pickle off because I don't care for pickles, so in the process would probably remove the onions as well.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: mgk920 on October 30, 2019, 10:40:00 AM
The only problem that I ever have with onions is that even though I very much really like both, for me onions and (American) bacon have always clashed badly when they are cooked together.

Beats me as to why.

:meh:

Mike
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Scott5114 on October 30, 2019, 04:33:30 PM
I like onions but American restaurants tend to put so many of them on a sandwich you can't taste anything but onion.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: webny99 on October 30, 2019, 08:24:20 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 30, 2019, 04:33:30 PM
I like onions but American restaurants tend to put so many of them on a sandwich you can't taste anything but onion.

I agree, but:
American restaurants as opposed to...?
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Scott5114 on October 31, 2019, 04:39:06 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 30, 2019, 08:24:20 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 30, 2019, 04:33:30 PM
I like onions but American restaurants tend to put so many of them on a sandwich you can't taste anything but onion.

I agree, but:
American restaurants as opposed to...?

I have no idea if restaurants in other countries have the same tendency because I've never eaten in them.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: briantroutman on October 31, 2019, 05:53:12 PM
Quote from: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM
Going to Mickey D's reminded me of another nasty burger joint that we had in Michigan called Hot and Now (sometimes called Hot N Nasty or Rotten Cow).  I was curious if this chain was anywhere else in the United States...

Hot n' Now rode a brief wave of "double drive thru"  fast food restaurants–joints in small prefab buildings with drive thru windows on either side of the building, offering little to no inside seating, and selling cheap burgers and fries at rock-bottom prices. When your advertising message is that you have a burger that's 30¢ less than a Jr. Whopper on Burger King's value menu (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G28-EAx4L5o), you clearly aren't shooting for a very discriminating audience.

Anyway, PepsiCo bought Hot n'Now in 1990 (http://web.archive.org/web/20110227035301/http://www.99w.com/evilsam/ff/hotnnow.htm) to provide the company a burger chain to compliment the tacos (Taco Bell) and fried chicken (KFC) in its portfolio. Pepsi briefly opened about 100 locations across the country before giving up on the chain in 1997. The company changed hands a few times and most locations closed, leaving a dwindling number of stores, mostly in the chains original home of Michigan. Supposedly one location remains–in Sturgis, MI (https://goo.gl/maps/fbBbpgNBo9tMrboK9).

Apparently, the only national chain from the double drive thru boom that survives largely intact today is Checkers/Rally's.

Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: webny99 on October 31, 2019, 09:35:57 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 31, 2019, 04:39:06 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 30, 2019, 08:24:20 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 30, 2019, 04:33:30 PM
I like onions but American restaurants tend to put so many of them on a sandwich you can't taste anything but onion.
I agree, but:
American restaurants as opposed to...?
I have no idea if restaurants in other countries have the same tendency because I've never eaten in them.

In that case, I guess we better leave open the possibility that it's not a problem specific to America.  ;-)
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: thspfc on October 31, 2019, 10:15:28 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 31, 2019, 09:35:57 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 31, 2019, 04:39:06 PM
Quote from: webny99 on October 30, 2019, 08:24:20 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on October 30, 2019, 04:33:30 PM
I like onions but American restaurants tend to put so many of them on a sandwich you can't taste anything but onion.
I agree, but:
American restaurants as opposed to...?
I have no idea if restaurants in other countries have the same tendency because I've never eaten in them.

In that case, I guess we better leave open the possibility that it's not a problem specific to America.  ;-)
Because the word American is the whole entire point of the post.  :pan:
I wish we could write things on here without going into offhand conversations about things completely beside the main issue.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: webny99 on November 01, 2019, 08:55:37 PM
Uh... what main issue?
If the OP had invited a focused and substantive discussion of an important issue, then we'd stay on-topic.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: US 89 on November 01, 2019, 10:05:58 PM
Quote from: webny99 on November 01, 2019, 08:55:37 PM
Uh... what main issue?
If the OP had invited a focused and substantive discussion of an important issue, then we'd stay on-topic.

This forum does and does not stay on topic.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: ce929wax on November 02, 2019, 12:16:59 AM
Technically, talking about the amount of onions on a burger is on topic, since the topic is hamburgers.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: mgk920 on November 02, 2019, 01:10:15 PM
Quote from: ce929wax on November 02, 2019, 12:16:59 AM
Technically, talking about the amount of onions on a burger is on topic, since the topic is hamburgers.

You mean like if you fry up a couple of slices of an onion and then sprinkle bits of ground meat over them?

:nod:

Mike
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: ce929wax on November 02, 2019, 11:37:52 PM
Sure, if that is what you like.  I'll pass.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: Finrod on November 03, 2019, 01:13:40 AM
I remember a Hot and Now in Lafayette Indiana that I ate at moderately frequently back in 1993, near the Lafayette Square mall.  Recently I was looking at that area on Google Maps and discovered the area where it was, SW of the mall, has been completely redeveloped so of course it's gone now.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: renegade on November 03, 2019, 12:32:32 PM
We had one of those in Ypsilanti.  It was closed for several years before it was finally torn down.  I thought it would have made a good drive-through marijuana store.

:awesomeface:
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: US71 on November 03, 2019, 10:52:04 PM
Quote from: ce929wax on October 27, 2019, 03:42:11 AM
I was hungry and only had a $5 on me, so after going to the K-Wings game, I went to McDonalds and got a three dollar combo.  Going to Mickey D's reminded me of another nasty burger joint that we had in Michigan called Hot and Now (sometimes called Hot N Nasty or Rotten Cow).  I was curious if this chain was anywhere else in the United States or if my fellow boardmates had a similar kind of place local to them.

I was never impressed with Mattoon, Illinois' Burger King. There are others that have left me underwhelmed, but the names escape me.
Title: Re: Hot and Now
Post by: rawmustard on November 04, 2019, 01:33:20 PM
Quote from: briantroutman on October 31, 2019, 05:53:12 PM
Apparently, the only national chain from the double drive thru boom that survives largely intact today is Checkers/Rally's.

And probably not coincidentally, many of their new locations are remodeled Hot 'n' Now sites.