You’re craving something sweet and salty. Or, maybe you’re sick of your usual menu and want something that’ll knock your toque off. There are loads of strange and surprising flavor combos out there to satisfy your curious tastebuds. We've listed a few of our faves below– from cola and beef bacon to avocado and chocolate– so you can start exploring.

4 Surprising Flavor Pairings to Try

1) Cola and Bacon:

Frying bacon in a bubbly concoction of Cola is unsurprisingly delicious. After all, who doesn’t love Cola and bacon? The sweetness of the soda enhances the smoky salty flavor of the bacon while creating a caramelized crust that gives it the perfect crunch. Throw it on a burger or crumble it in a salad– the first bite will be loud and dancing with flavor.

To make cola and bacon, you’ll need cola, brown sugar, and bacon 😉. Put the bacon in a bowl, pour coke over it, and mix with the sugar. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes. Then fry it. Yeah, it's as easy as it sounds.

2) Peanut Butter and Pickles:

Lunchtime rolls around and it's time for that same ol’ dilemma: sweet or salty? Combine the two with a PB & P sandwich. Hear us out! The pickle has a tart bite that gives your tastebuds a welcome zap while the peanut butter has a thick smoothness that balances it all out. It's a sturdy, respectable sandwich and we know a thing or two about good sandwiches.

If you're new to the combo, you might test the waters by first dipping a bit of pickle into peanut butter. Into it? Get out your favorite bread and slap it all together.

3) Avocado and Chocolate:

Who knew that a creamy, buttery avocado could pair so perfectly with dark chocolate? We did. It's great for dessert: the creaminess of the avocado cuts through the sweetness of the chocolate and gives it a nutty flavor. 

We like it best when the avo is mashed and stirred into melted chocolate. If you're up for making something slightly more complicated, try avo-chocolate pudding. Start by blending a ripe avocado, full-fat coconut milk, cacao powder, maple syrup or honey for sweetness, and a pinch of salt. Once the mixture is creamy, let it set in the fridge. Serve cold, with nuts and sea salt for extra pizzazz.

4) Watermelon and Salt:

This one might seem basic, but the flavor is anything but. Anyway, at this point, a lot of you might be thinking: Watermelon and salt? That's weird. I'm never doing that. And, hey, that's cool but also wait a sec. It's science! Watermelons are sweet, sour, and bitter, right? By adding salt, you emphasize the sweetness and reduce the bitterness. (Not a bad philosophy for life, eh?). Plus, a lot of us think of watermelon as a refreshing summer treat. By adding salt to it, you can replace the sodium your body sweats out on sweltering days.

The key to enjoying this combo is finding a tasty watermelon. Lucky for you, we are watermelon whisperers. Here's our advice: Pick a melon that's 1) Heavy, 2) Free from bruises, and 3) Has a dull rind. And don't forget to tap the melon and listen for a hollow sound. You might look silly but the jokes on those fools buying bad watermelons.

Whether it's beef bacon on a burger or avocado and chocolate for dessert, don't be afraid to try something new. What's that saying...don't judge a recipe by its ingredients? Something like that 🧐. And if takeout calls your name, don't you dare ignore her.

Enjoy Surprising Burgers at BFF

BFF isn’t your typical burger n’ fries joint. Our food helps to remove barriers and unite people from different backgrounds over memorable and nostalgic flavors. With quality ingredients and creative combos, we aim to be your (tastebuds') BFF. Stop by one of our locations in Ottawa or Toronto. 

Order takeout or delivery directly through our website, and tag us in pics of your fave BFF foods @burgersnfriesforever.