US vs UK Christmas Specials 2022 | Food Wars | Insider Food

From festive pizzas to reindeer cake pops, we wanted to find out every difference between UK and US Christmas fast food specials. This is Food Wars.
0:00 - 0:08 Introduction
0:09 - 05:04 McDonald's
05:05 - 07:18 Domino's
07:19 - 17:49 Starbucks
17:50 - 20:20 KFC
20:21 - 21:29 Subway
21:30 - 33:00 Festive Snacks
MORE FOOD WARDS VIDEOS:
India vs UK Nando’s | Food Wars | Food Insider
• India vs UK Nando’s | ...
US vs India Dunkin’ | Food Wars | Food Insider
• US vs India Dunkin’ | ...
US vs India Pizza Hut | Food Wars | Food Insider
• US vs India Pizza Hut ...
------------------------------------------------------
Insider is great journalism about what passionate people actually want to know. That’s everything from news to food, celebrity to science, politics to sports and all the rest. It’s smart. It’s fearless. It’s fun. We push the boundaries of digital storytelling. Our mission is to inform and inspire.
Visit our homepage for the top stories of the day: www.insider.com/food
Insider Food on Facebook: / foodinsider
Insider Food on Instagram: / insiderfood
Insider Food on Twitter: / foodinsider
Insider Food on TikTok: / foodinsider
Food Wars on Snapchat: / 9045577297
US vs UK Christmas Specials 2022 | Food Wars | Insider Food

[@JoeAvella]

Thanks for watching everyone. I hope you like my 🎄Christmas tree / decorative 🐸frog/holiday Sonic the Hedgehog 🦔 outfit!

[@mrnekokittycatsaki1419]

We're gorge from Japan

[@claudiaweidman1004]

Looks festive 🎉

[@fubytv731]

We're gola from Italy

[@andykosec]

my Christmas tree actually got jealous while i was watching you

[@JoeAvella]

@@mrnekokittycatsaki1419South America right now I think.

[@stanttv6479]

Mcdonalds UK also has a festive pie, which is made in the same way as apple pies. instead of apple, its a mince pie and custard filling

[@DeanRavencrest]

Came here to say this too, I feel like its the most festive thing they do

[@CarolineElanorMcloughlin]

@@islagilmour I've tried both the festive pie and celebration mcflurry and I like both

[@xxPenjoxx]

Good call making your own pizza to match the UK. That was a nice touch. Also, Harry's crisp fact has me a bit shocked, I knew we liked our crisps, but we eat more than all of Europe? Holy moly! The lidl roast turkey crisps are delicious. Also, Pepsi and milk? Are y'all okay over there? Poor Joe looked like he was regretting life decisions!

[@EiKk4__]

The Olive & garlic crisps from Lidl were also really good when they had them during the Greek food-campaign (really strong and pleasant garlic flavour + some acidity from the olives). I have to try to find those roast turkey crisps, if they have them here.

[@xxPenjoxx]

@@EiKk4__ ooh I remember all the Greek food, I'll keep an eye out for them next time it rolls around, thanks.

[@Urlocaldrwhostan]

I am in UK

[@aidanharker]

Can't beat a good crisp sandwich are you crisp in or crisp out 🎉

[@ThePixelBuilder1]

@@aidanharkercrisp in gang

[@martinjmcc1981]

This is a Christmas tradition for me now! Thank you all!

[@stuffandfaff]

Why do I love these comparisons so much! Australian vs UK would be good too ☺️

[@uumuu]

The McDonald's near me (in the US) has a "Holiday Pie". I tried it and it was basically a birthday cake flavoured pie.

[@masongrundy4000]

in the uk we have a “festive pie” it’s basically a mince and custard pie, its vile

[@DogeDoesStuffYT]

@@masongrundy4000 I actually found it not that bad, the mince pie filling went well together, but no matter what you think about it, at least it isn't Pepsi and milk

[@Rogan1280]

The McD's close to me had the holiday pie... yuck, my kid liked it though.

[@masongrundy4000]

@@DogeDoesStuffYT it’s not the mince for me it’s the custard

[@doratheexplorer9921]

i bought one expecting something like peppermint, i didnt expect it to be birthday cake. not dissapointed tho

[@Lil-Dragon]

Nice to see Sam return this year, these episodes get me in a Christmas mood.

[@eimaan_editss]

Whose Sam it’s joe + harry

[@quintonlee4107]

@@eimaan_editss I think he means South Pole Sam on the Starbuck's menu

[@eimaan_editss]

Yh ik I didn’t watch it

[@zomerkoninkjes]

Loved Joe’s judgement on whether something was Christmassy enough or not!

[@caraeuler2927]

The chocolate oranges have been available in America as well for many decades. As a child in the 70s and '80s my parents would get me one every christmas. I assume it's the same brand and I have fond of memories of them.

[@NAcHO-wx5vg]

Both are Terry’s branded which is a Uk based company. So yes they seem to be the same.

[@gokaury]

I just got one last week from a co-woker. Seen them all the time growing up too.

[@peaxn]

60 yr old on yt sounds wack

[@WarthogRacer]

I discovered those in the 90s and they are so damn good!

[@WellBattle6]

@@peaxn Check your math again. They’re around 50 years old.

[@doreenjoybarber1079]

This was great! Would absolutely love, love to see an episode focusing on Japanese Christmas specials. It's really interesting to see some of the differences between US and UK flavours laid out in an easy video format like this. I'm from the US but have been living in the UK for over a decade. Although I saw some chocolate and orange flavoured things in the US when I lived there, it wasn't anywhere near the extent as it is here in the UK, where you can get chocolate orange hot chocolate and all sorts. One thing you don't see over here in the UK as much as you would in the USA is the chocolate and peppermint flavour combo. Mint chocolate is much easier to find as a flavour in America.

[@Ray_Vun]

i don't expect there to be much to say on japan for christmas, since only about 1% of japanese people identify as christian. christmas to most japanese people is more of a funny thing they do that they don't really understand how to celebrate, like americans celebrating mexican holidays. i know it's common in japan to buy big buckets of kfc for christmas. and there's also a christmas cake, because the japanese learned christmas was jesus' birth, so they assumed on his birthday there'd be cake

[@DarkCobra88]

@@Ray_Vun Your right and wrong here. Your correct in that they don't celebrate Christmas in the way the west does (to them its just a festive thing to attach to winter i guess, they don't get holidays or anything special and most work as normal on xmas, though it does usually fall in the winter break for schools though its not 100% to happen) and they kind of just treat it as a romantic thing (younger couples usually have it for a "date night" thing so your right on all that. What is interesting is they do ironically have a fair bit of festive items, its not uncommon for Mc D's and KFC to run festive items (though KFC being their staple Christmas dinner food might reduce much of this), Starbucks too, they of course have their huge range of Kit Kats and a few winter ones is always there. I guess a lot of Japan's items are more Christmas based on their own items which aren't seen abroad though so its probably hard to run comparisons to the west here on snacks local to themselves.

[@SoCalGuppy]

Joe-- you could mix the Irish cream cold brew with a bit of whiskey! Merry Christmas to Joe and Harry and the entire team of Insider Food!! Thank you!!

[@DustyJones1997BGCL]

Happy Holidays Joe and Harry Christmas food wars is always a treat for us thank you ❤️😍

[@ilovethewalkinggdead]

I’ve been waiting for this!! Merry Christmas to you both :)

[@JoeAvella]

Thanks you too!

[@themoviedealers]

"Pilk" was actually the favorite drink of Laverne on the TV show Laverne and Shirley...and that show was set in the 1950s.

[@lckittyqueen]

as a uk resident I’ve never wanted to try something more than the starbucks sugar cookie latte

[@MegaCooperr]

Would love to see an Australian cuisine comparison and Canada maybe??

[@rivarimimahardikamahalin999]

I agree to you boss Meg

[@carlosocasio2247]

1:34 so about the creme flavor, I work in chick-fil-a and I can tell you that the cookies n cream shake there has no other flavorings, it is vanilla. The only difference is we add Oreo cookie pieces to it and then twist it with a regular vanilla milk shake. The cookie pieces MIGHT have a bit of creme, but not by much. Just so you know.

[@agamer2024.]

Merry christmas guys and every year harry is an elf while Joe is always something different

[@theparttimestitcher]

I didn’t realize that some fast food chains come out with special “holiday themed” menu items (well, except for Starbucks/DD/Krispy Kreme). I was expecting you to pull out the Fruit Cake favored Mtn Dew at the end; however I wouldn’t waste my time 😂

[@eriways2018]

Perfect as always!! 😸💕

[@JoeAvella]

[@saintthomaspcoh7968]

I might be showing my age, but milk and Pepsi isn’t a new idea. I remember that flavor combination from the old TV show Laverne and Shirley. Laverne would drink milk and Pepsi after a break-up or when she was feeling down. It was sort of her comfort drink, which I found kinda strange given the fact that she worked in a brewery. I know of a few similar combinations similar to milk and Pepsi. One was a Coke float, which was Coke and vanilla ice cream and a cream ale, which was Vernon’s ginger ale with half-and-half. So, milk and Pepsi is neither new or strange. Take care and happy holidays!

[@erwandywijaya9965]

Thats true! My kfc in my town sell it in various mixes besides coke/pepsi and ice cream. Theres ovaltine milk, mocca milk, etc. :)

[@fayesouthall6604]

A coke float is Coca Cola in a glass with a scoop or two of ice cream on top. It’s great, not had one for years! 😊

[@Ray_Vun]

when i was little i used to mix coke/pepsi with mango flavored ice tea. it was delicious

[@peabody1976]

The second I saw the first ad, I thought of Penny Marshall (RIP) and Laverne drinking milk and Pepsi on the show, and in looking it's something she grew up doing (but she knew it was odd, and did it on the show as a joke). I can't believe Pepsi decided to run with it. I'm just sad Penny isn't here to see it.

[@Ceuwchi2Phat]

Yeah I just showed this to my mom and she said it was something my grandma used to drink when she was a teenager

[@moogleking]

Nice to see this every christmas keep the tradition going

[@hollimurray8856]

I'm just seeing this now! I was on chat last night and I had no idea what the live chat was about lol. Merry Christmas and a Happy Hogmanay 😊

[@screamlikecookies]

I like the expressions from both of them🤣

[@bishalbiswas824]

Loved the episode

[@meglinnett26]

Loved this episode! I tried the festive Domino’s a few weeks ago and I have to say, it actually turned out to be one of my favourite toppings! I’ll be quite gutted when they discontinue it 🍕🎅🏼

[@andykosec]

lol ".... if you get sick of the Twix shape" lol. Joe, I lover your off-the-cuff one-liners!

[@Ray_Vun]

i only had ferrero at home growing up at christmas, my grandparents would always gift me a box. they're so good but so expensive, so they're really seen as a fancy treat. if that big ferrero was full like the small ones, i think i'd just be sitting suckling on it all night

[@DessertGeek]

Now I want to make some kind of seasonally appropriate hot chocolate (peppermint? gingerbread?) to watch all of this!

[@jason-uk]

Merry Xmas to you all been another great year of content thanks for the videos

[@JoeAvella]

Thank you

[@VelvetTeacake]

The mushroom & truffle crisps from Sainsbury's are quite tasty and a little bit seasonal heh.

[@StephenShinn]

Gotta love Insider Food!

[@leighhollis7909]

Ferrero Rocher is around for pretty much all US holidays. The big gold ones pop up for Christmas and Easter. My hubby loves them so I try to stock up for him.

[@Supermikes]

Yay, the Christmas Special! Joe, did you enjoy wearing that outfit? Great special!

[@JoeAvella]

Nope

[@hopelser]

i genuinely got so happy when i saw this on my home page

[@Teallen96]

McDonalds in the UK also has a festive Pie (like a hot apple pie, except it has mince meat and custard to make it similar to a mince pie), and the Celebrations McFlurry.

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Merry Christmas Joe.

[@TheGarlicShrimp]

Here in Russia, we have the "big tasty" as a standard menu item that is available throughout the whole year. Well, given that now mcdonalds in Russia goes under the "Tasty, period" label

[@JoeAvella]

Yeah, you're doing your own thing over there. Is there Tasty, Period merch? If so can you send me some?

[@childofnature4402]

It's a good job that there's a comma in that slogan. Without it you've got something a whole lot more disgusting lol.

[@emetanti]

Germany also has the Big Tasty Bacon as a stable.

[@bushidobrown9857]

14:25 Las Vegas based chain Capriotti's has a thanksgiving sandwich that is essentially the same thing. award winning thing, sooo good

[@randymousley1427]

They call it “The Bobby”😉

[@BenBulks]

Love the video idea’

[@JoeAvella]

thanks! What did you think of the videos execution?

[@r9eaper]

Oreo Snowballs are over here in the UK too, have been for few years in fact. Always sold in local cornershops and some supermarkets ( 2 for £1) mainly.

[@savannah3760]

I love Terry’s Dark Chocolate Oranges!!

[@DawnDavidson]

I loved some of the crisps I had in Britain back around 2003. There was something ham flavored I liked. The stuffing balls sounded pretty good, actually. But there’s no way that I’d even try the Christmas Pudding flavored crisps! 😂 But thanks for explaining your obsession with Christmas Puddings in general! I’m surprised I never learned about that from the GBBO! 😉 (But you can give me all your Chocolate oranges!)

[@tylerreed8855]

2020 uk vs us christmas 2021 uk vs us vs japan christmas 2022 another uk vs us christmas i love this show so much joe harry george nikill good job guys keep it up🌲 i miss george he's funny

[@izziekawaiicat4127]

this gives me joy

[@jytvreal]

Merry crispmas and happy holidays!

[@marilynturcotte5304]

Love Turkey and Cranberry Sammies!! Merry Ho-Ho from Canada.

[@thedeadman82988]

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all!!!!

[@nhemchomroeun6970]

Merry christmas and happy holidays :D

[@lukeroberts3464]

Harry is back yay 😁.

[@kinsleysmith5114]

Coffee and trees ☕🎄 ~ together at last ❤ 😆 Yes, pistachios get extra attention during the holidays, specifically in cookies.

[@MoonlightFlamingo]

Here where I live (UK) we have a celebration mcflurry!

[@unFILMEDtv]

I’m in the US, but 16 years ago my wife and I were in Italy for 2 weeks for our honeymoon. We were on a daily budget and wanted to buy a piece of art so we decided to have lunch at McDonalds and order whatever wasn’t in America. We had THAT giant Big n Tasty burger and those fried Camembert bites… in Italy 16 years ago! I’ve been saying McDonalds has way bigger portions overseas ever since, but I guess it was probably just a limited time sandwich. That thing should be permanent on every menu, it was far better than ordinary McDonalds.

[@vsc1701]

Milk and Pepsi was a thing in (mostly) north eastern America in the 50s. Not so much here in Canada. In fact on the old sitcom Laverne & Shirley one of the characters (Laverne?) used to drink it.

[@dragonwitch27]

Seems like it’s supposed to be some version of an egg cream?

[@emilyg1993]

What about the UK Christmas Maccies sweet offerings!? The festive pie and Celebrations McFlurry!

[@GinaisnotGeorge]

Oh no you missed the festive pie at McDonald's uk! They're my faveeeee

[@liamdempsey6648]

UK McDonald’s also has a Celebrations McFlurry and a Festive pie as well

[@CaspianK]

Some things that they do in scotland (i’m sure they do it otherwise in the UK too!) McDonalds have a specialty mince pie, Subway have pigs in blankets, gravy and something else that I can’t remember, KFC actually changes their gravy recipe too (or I swear they do) we also get Reese’s trees and reese’s advent calendars!

[@DawnDavidson]

The expression on the gingerbread latte! 😂

[@duchenefan]

The co-op have roast potato crisps which are quite nice

[@kylegoodwright5874]

I miss the popping candy Terry's chocolate orange! Was the best one! Bring it back

[@LeilaLamb]

Merry Christmas!

[@irock550]

The sugarplum danish is shockingly amazing 14:08

[@DigiRangerScott]

Also the holiday pies are back

[@rose2fame1]

Lol…the face that he made ( UK ) after he tasted the gingerbread Starbucks drink …lol. 😂

[@ajsworld5042]

i love food wars!

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@musicfananita2]

Hot chocolate deluxe has spray cream on and a chocolate powder cocoa thingy dusting hehe

[@Jake_5693]

No festive stack this year at Maccies in the UK! It was so good last year, we've been shortchanged!

[@ThatCronus]

We have had Terry's Chocolate Oranges in the US for decades. I get one every year at Christmas time.

[@Rogan1280]

Joe the Jolly Christmas frog?? It works.

[@JHSIUNG98]

Merry Christmas harry and joe (plus george🇯🇵 and nikhil 🇮🇳)

[@michaelcarter4522]

The Pepsi and Milk was Laverne's favorite drink on Laverne and Shirley.

[@pablopablo3834]

A lot of people eat Christmas pudding with Sliced Cheddar cheese or some form of cream, Baileys Cream is quite popular.

[@Flibbles]

We usually eat Christmas cake with cheese.

[@3pehrs]

long time waiting for this clip 👍 yeah HHhH

[@izziamor6652]

"Toffee nut muffin" Harry says as showing the chocolate and caramel muffin lmaooooo

[@lufixu]

this is what ive been waiting for YEAHHHHH

[@jessallaround13]

The Snowman is one of the most effed up horror movies I've ever seen! What a random reference!

[@junipeayt]

gingerbread bearista, south pole sam and north pole nat are the holy trinity of starbucks holiday baked goods

[@iamtheeggman1986]

Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

[@robertadavies4236]

Back in the 1970s "pilk" was called London Fog, and I drank plenty of it. It should be half milk and half cola. Always pour the milk in first, otherwise it foams too much. The basic idea is that you get a fast energy bump from the sugar in the cola, and then longer-lasting and more filling nutrition from the milk. A pint of it makes a pretty decent fast, light meal.

[@aoc2344]

U missed the UK mcdonalds festive pie and the celebrations mcflurry also elf on a shelf has been popular in the UK for the last few years.

[@claireishification]

For McDonald's you missed off the festive pie basically a mince pie and custard version of the apple pie. Very tasty

[@RageChocobo]

Eggnog takes better if it is homemade! I should know, my mom makes a lovely homemade eggnog.

[@80sGamerLady]

Sounds wonderful! I always just get the jug from the store. Never made it homemade before.

[@koo44m]

mcdonalds hot choc deluxe is just a regular hot chocolate but they add whipped cream and chocolate drizzle on top, but it melts very quickly so that's probably why it wasnt noticeably different

[@what_im_eatin_uk]

You forgot the Celebrations mcflurry in the uk

[@darknorman2914]

We had the Big Tasty as a normal menu item in the UK (at least in my home country of wales) for at least a year or two now and it’s not a seasonal item.

[@fayesouthall6604]

Yes I remember it

[@niseplank4527]

Camembert cheese at McDonald's. It sure is different in the rest of the world.

[@user-ey4jx3oe5m]

wow

[@justsurfin5013]

Raindeer treats, LOL Was hoping for Venison nuggets

[@gothhydran2241]

Walmart has those giant Ferrero Rocher in the US. I have one given to me as a birthday gift a week ago, but I haven't opened it yet.

[@aundread6390]

It’s not a huge one it’s filled with regular ferreros (i think it’s still like that i got one a few years ago)

[@michaelisno4892]

the hot chocolate deluxe is litterally a hot chocolate with cream and the same powder used on cappuccinos

[@joshhaynes4737]

Hershey's kisses also has Grinch hats, hot cocoa, and pepper mint kisses in the US too.

[@amyw6808]

I feel you missed out loads of Christmas goodies here in UK? What about Greggs? Mince pies? Cadburys do loads of festive items, including cakes as well as chocolate.

[@yaseenali963]

And Happy New Year 🎉!

[@SirPanikalot778]

When I saw the thumbnail I genuinely laughed at Joe's outfit.

[@EvHervey]

6:58 Alright, Joe. You got me. It's been a minute... but I called that one wrong. I'm going to try this on a podcast... and so is my buddy Ken. He just doesn't know it yet.

[@JoeAvella]

It's not bad!

[@suzawilo]

Wish my country had festive fast food specials 😩

[@Farquad76.547]

Where do you live? Afghanistan ?

[@loyalMagicGamer]

Happy holidays from uk USA

[@sopdox]

Those of us who remember the 70s know that milk & Pepsi was the favorite drink of Laverne in Laverne & Shirley. It sucked then too.