Domino's Pizza - Hot Dog Stuffed Crust and the Curious Case of the Missing Sausage

This post explores the curious case of the missing sausage.

Those legends at Domino’s Pizza furnished Freeloader HQ with a voucher for their spectacular new hot dog stuffed crust pizza. 



My hot dog-free pizza



Hungry one eve last month I called my local Domino’s, placed my order for a large meaty hot dog stuffed crust, and awaited delivery.

The pizza arrived quickly, in under 25 minutes, and as I salivated at the prospect I rushed indoors to open it and gaze upon its magnificence.

Alas, all was not well, it took me a couple of bites to real



ise what was wrong.

Then it hit me like a freight train – where was the hot dog?!



Yes, dear readers, there was no tasty German sausage nestled within the rim of my, admittedly already meat-engorged, repast.

“Where is my sausage?” I bellowed, alone in my kitchen, as salty tears welled in my incredulous eyes.

Needless to say I was unimpressed.

But it is always darkest before the dawn, and salvation lay in the delivery driver’s haste to furnish another hungry diner with a Domino’s delight.

For he had forgotten to collect my gift voucher.

And, let’s face it, I had been sent the

voucher to review this new concept, and review it I would.

So, this month I picked up the phone again, and placed my order again.

What followed was an agonising, but again thankfully short, wait.



Domino's epic hot dog stuffed crust pizza



A knock at the door, a helmeted driver large flat square box in hand, it was de ja vu all over again.



I handed over the voucher… there was now no going back.

I opened the box, and relief washed over me like an awesome wave.



There, inside the crust lay my elusive sausage

.

And ketchup.



And mustard.

It was literally a huge hotdog around the entire circumference of my pizza, a Frankenstein’s monster of culinary genius.

Even Heston Blumenthal would struggle with this kind of culinary alchemy.

It tasted delicious and was worth the wait.

I’d heartily recommend it.

Roll on Domino’s next experiment.



How to get free perfume or aftershave

This 0.04 fl oz (1.2ml for our Continental amigos) container of Davidoff’s ‘The Game’ may not look much, but it represents another freeloading triumph.

For many a year I have popped into Debenhams, Boots or another shop stocking scent to ‘freshen up’ before a night out, gratis of course.

But it seemed that while this was freeloading per se, there was nothing tangible.

A couple of weeks ago I rectified all that.

Here is how to get free eau de toilette/perfume/aftershave:

1.      Loiter around the scent aisles, spraying, sniffing, generally reading the labels.

2.      Innocuously invite a member of staff over (most likely they will come to your aid anyway, asking if you need any help with the terribly taxing task of spraying smelly stuff on your wrists/neck/armpits/nether-regions).

3.      Enquire about the product you want to freeload; ask the price, availability, sizes on offer.

4.      State clearly that you’re not in the market for buying today, but that you’re considering a purchase in the near future.

5.      Now you have hopefully gained the perfumier’s trust, close the deal – ‘the deal’ is obtaining free samples. Ask whether they have any for you to take away to help you make your mind up.

I did this and left with an ample handful of Davidoff ‘The Game’, which is great by the way.

The samples I got have lasted me well since, and I look forward to my next visit.

Happy freeloading.      

Yorkshire Gold teabags

By ‘eck, ‘appen I’ve only bin sent 80 teabags from the reet nice folks at Yorkshire Tea.

Yes, it is true, last week Freeloader House took delivery of a consignment of Taylors of Harrogate’s finest – Yorkshire Gold.

And what a cuppa it is, but I’ll come to that in good time, consider the next few paragraphs as a metaphorical bag-brewing.

Firstly the packaging transports one to a world of rolling hills, playful sheep and dry-stone walls, flinty folk drinking ale, and obviously tea, and if one cocks one’s ear in a particular direction; the sound of leather on willow wisps on the wind, as another hardy gentlemen thwacks a six over the bowler’s head.

It is like Emmerdale, but with all sexual deviancy taken out.

Or like Midsomer Murders minus the murders – a Hobbit-like realm of simplicity and joy.

Ah, I think our metaphorical teabag has been submerged long enough.

The dark reddish liquid in my mug is now begging, gasping for the last ingredient – milk – I don’t take sugar, as I’m sweet enough.

I add a small amount of semi-skimmed to the cup and after stirring am left with a fine, balanced and beautifully-brewed mug of nut-brown tea.

And the complex rich cuppa certainly hit the spot, I had it with a nice slice of ginger cake… here’s to the other 79 bags!

• For more information go to http://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/
• Do you have something I can freeload? Email me shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk
  
  

Ring of fire meltdown pizza from Domino's Pizza

With hated January nearly at an end and diets and detoxes running out of steam as the frost bites, why not warm up with something spicy?

And you don’t get much spicier than a stuffed crust ring of fire meltdown pizza from Domino’s.

This bad boy was seemingly crafted from molten lava!

Toppings on this hot tamale include meatballs, jalapenos, and English mustard.

I was challenged to eat one of the beasts, and being a fan of fiery foodstuffs I was only to happy to accept.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: “Fancy a challenge? How are you with hot food? “Perhaps you’d like to try our Meltdown pizza – it’s our hottest yet.”

And I can attest it was a spicy one, but being iron-gutted and asbestos-mouthed I managed it, and it was delicious.

So, if you can’t be bothered to cook and fancy pepping up your evening, the ring of fire meltdown pizza is a must!

 Visit www.dominos.co.uk for more details

• Do you have something I can freeload? Email me: shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk

ASK Italian - numero due

This is my second review of ASK Italian.

But my view is; if you don’t ASK Italian, you don’t get, er Italian.

My dining partner and I sauntered into the modern surroundings of the Welwyn Garden City branch of the popular chain of ristaurante Italianos.

Asked what name to book our table under I used the nom de guerre ‘Tim Bryce’, for anonymity is the way of the freeloader.

Anyway, on to the food.

We began with a generous bowl of olives and Italian bread – the perfect appetisers.

They were rapidly followed by my starter (my partner in dine eschewed the entrees, saving space for the mains).

I chose Prosciutto e Rucola – a superb salad, replete with fresh, sliced mushrooms, prosciutto ham, wedge of lemon and crisp rocket.

Onwards and outwards (waistline-wise), I went for a gorgeous calzone next, and my companion chose the largest lasagne I’ve ever clapped eyes on!

Needless to say it wasn’t finished – I defy anyone to polish off the tasty looking beast.

Dessert was next up, and the butterscotch cheesecake caught my eye immediately. Beautifully presented by the always attentive and courteous staff, it was a treat.

My smaller-appetited companion opted simply for a dark and rich hot chocolate.

Eager to make my meal complete I also ordered a livening double espresso to round off the feast.

And, after we bade our hosts farewell and headed out into the cold night air,  

I resolved to recommend ASK Italian all over again. 

• Do you have something I can freeload? Email me: shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk

Finlandia grapefruit vodka

Anyone who knows me, which may well be a fairly limited list of close confidantes considering my cloak of anonymity, will know that I’m partial to a drop of booze from time to time.

And so it is my gleeful duty to report that those nice people at Finlandia despatched a 35cl bottle of smooth grapefruit vodka to Freeloader House.

I stored the liquor in the freezer and decided to try it both neat over ice as those crazy Finns would neck it, plus I was told it went well with cranberry juice so tried it that way too.

1. Neat: Strong, smooth and satisfying… a real winter warmer.
2. With cranberry juice: Multi-layered, complex and refreshing.

Having tried grapefruit vodka both ways I have to say I preferred it neat.

I was transported to one of those ice bars, and in my mind’s eye could see polar bears wandering on a giant glacier mint and igloos on an ice flat, although maybe that was the vodka

talking!

• For more information go to: http://www.finlandia.com/flavour.aspx?id=81
• Do you have something I can freeload? Email me: shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk

Frankie & Benny's

Whoever the probably fictitious ‘Frankie’ and ‘Benny’ are, after whom the eponymous chain of restaurants is named, I’d like to heartily thank them for a fantastic freebie.

My dining partner and I chowed down on a superb meal at one of their eateries the other week.

The grim grey car park at the ‘leisure complex’ quickly gave way to an inviting eaterie, so much so that the ugliness of this particular town (Stevenage), was forgotten amid the heady aromas of pizza, steaks and pasta.

We began with tomato and nut pesto breads and tasty calamari.

I enjoyed a monster 16oz rump steak which sat invitingly across the entire breadth of the plate, while my fellow diner opted for pasta arrabiata.

Naturally I enjoyed a large glass of pinot noir to wash down the enormous slab of beef, cooked medium rare just the way I like it.

It was accompanied by mushrooms, chips and cherry tomatoes.

But, if I’m honest, the additional gubbins were forgotten as I sliced into the delicious steak, which was so tender it fell apart.

There was (just about) room for dessert, so I opted for a light sorbet.

My dining partner had an ice cream sundae.

The meal was rounded off perfectly with a double espresso.

I’ll certainly be going back to Frankie & Benny’s (especially if they send me another voucher!).

• For more information go to www.frankieandbennys.com


• Do you have anything I can freeload? Email me at shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk