Wendy’s and Paramount are collaborating to celebrate the 25th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants, a classic Nickelodeon children’s cartoon, with the launch of a Krabby Patty Kollab! Beginning October 8th and ending November 3rd, Wendy’s will serve Krabby Patty Kollab Burgers, a quarter-pound cheeseburger with a secret “Krabby Kollab” sauce. In addition to the new burger, the $10 Krabby Patty Kollab meal deal includes a Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty, which is a classic vanilla frosty blended with pineapple and mango purees, bringing a tropical feel to this innovative ice cream flavor. Brand collaborations such as this tend to compromise the food quality to check off the novelty and nostalgia boxes. It’s time to see if the Krabby Patty and Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty pass the test of high-quality food and high-quality fun.

Trumpet staff writer Kelly Bates and PHS sophomore Siyona Pathak stopped by Wendy’s to try out the new and intriguing menu items on the second day of the collaboration. First came the Krabby Patty with the secret special sauce. The burger wasn’t different than a classic Wendy’s cheeseburger, a beef patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. The sauce added a slightly sour and acidic flavor to the burger, contrasting the traditional saltiness of a regular burger and adding complexity to the flavor. While there is not an obvious correlation between SpongeBob and the sauce and not a huge difference between the Krabby Patty and a normal burger, trying the burger while it is available provides the idea of what a real Krabby Patty from the one and only SpongeBob may taste like.

Then the two tried the Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty, arguably the most exciting part of this meal deal for anyone with a sweet tooth. The frosty came out and the two girls were in awe of the work of art that it was: a vanilla frosty with pineapple and mango purees swirled into it, with an extra bit of puree at the bottom, guaranteeing the perfect last bite. The vanilla base tasted smooth and sweet, classic and comforting, and the bursting flavor of the fruits blended perfectly with it. After having a few bites, Siyona said, “It’s very summery, and I like that it’s not super obnoxiously pineapple while also being citrusy and tropical. I’m a fan!” 

Overall, the new Frosty is 100% worth trying for any fan of summer or fruit-themed desserts, while the Krabby Patty burger is a fun experience to try but not a must-have.