Where's the beef?
So goes the popular Wendy's tagline from a few years ago. And, from the newest line of Wendy's products, their Garden Sensations Salads, one really doesn't miss the beef so much. In fact, the addition of these salads makes Wendy's one of my new favorite spots for a quick and cheap meal and has inspired me to focus on the smaller of the burger giants for this month's newmoanyeah Gourmet.

The marketing is what got to me. I saw the ads on TV and they worked like a charm. I needed one of those salads. I must confess, I'm somewhat of a salad connoisseur. I love fresh, crisp salads with interesting ingredients and delicious dressings. And that's just what the ads made these salads out to be.

Must Listen to TV Gods
So I went. I just had to try the Mandarin Chicken Salad ($3.99). On TV, at least, it looked like a wonderful mix of fresh salad greens, mandarin oranges, chicken, almonds, and crispy Chinese noodles. The Asian sesame dressing sounded delectable. I ordered my salad, and since it was already prepared, it took me about 5 seconds to get my salad and find a table. I lifted the lid to the oversized bowl of goodness only to find a salad as fresh as the one I saw in between the Simpson's and Malcolm in the Middle the night before. Even better, the almonds and the crispy noodles came in their own little pouches to prevent sogginess. I added the pouches and the dressing, and tasted. Deeeeeelicious! After that first bite, I knew I'd be back soon to try another of the salads.

And back I went. This time, I tried the Garden Salad ($2.99); a mix of fresh salad greens, grape tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers, and onions. Added to this were honey, roasted pecans, croutons, and a simple vinaigrette dressing. I enjoyed this one as much as the Mandarin Chicken Salad (in part because I'm nuts about pecans.)

Since my first couple of visits to Wendy's for their new menu item, I've tried three of the four salads. The BLT Chicken Salad ($3.99) with chicken, and bacon added to greens, grape tomatoes, and cheese was also a very good salad; the honey mustard dressing was the perfect topping.

I have yet to try the fourth salad, the Taco Supreme Salad ($3.99), but if you like Taco Salad, it looks to be a fierce competitor with any Taco Salad I've ever seen.

Fresh, Tasty, and Cheap
Gourmet they may not be, but fresh, tasty, and cheap Wendy's salads are. In my book, that deserves two thumbs up from the newmoanyeah Gourmet.