It's Good To Me!

Simply Addictive: Sarah's Caramellas

2009-08-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Before I start this piece, I want to point out that this is not a shameless plug for a friend's idea for a dessert. I was skeptical when I heard that Sarah, a West Coast-based colleague who worked at the advertising trade newspaper with me oh so many years ago, was embarking on creating a brownie/blondie-type bar in hopes of selling it to some shops and actually make a living at it. Sarah relocated with her husband to the East Coast, and was hoping to make a little money on the side while raising her young son, Race. Recently she visited a mutual friend of ours, Christine, and dropped off some of her Caramellas for us to try out. Neither myself nor Christine are what we'd call dessert lovers. Christine tried a Caramella and was instantly hooked. She told me that I'd better take the rest or she'd eat them all. I finally tried a bar and I too am hooked. It was the most delicious bar I've ever tried. In fact I wanted to save one for tonight so that I could experience the taste while writing this post. I got home and knowing I had one left went to grab it from the fridge. At first I couldn't find it and went searching all through the shelves. I was about to call Christine and accuse her of stealing my Caramella when I finally located it. I then realized that I was acting like a crack addict who couldn't find his or her next hit. Now, enough about my addiction—on to more about the amazing Caramellas...

Sarah's Caramellas are an oatmeal and brown sugar bar topped with homemade caramel, chopped walnuts and smooth dark chocolate. The original recipe came from a relative on her sister's husband's side, a woman who raised five boys. Sarah happened to try a bar at her sister's house and after tracking down the recipe she began baking them herself, tweaking and changing along the way until she came up with her Caramellas. Sarah then took them to some parties where they were (not surprisingly) a huge hit. A test run with a local shop proved very successful so fortunately Sarah is now going full speed on working to get the Caramellas out to the public. In just a few short weeks, the Caramellas will be available at the following places:

Coffee Labs, 7 Main Street,Tarrytown, NY
www.coffeelabs.com

Black Cat Café, 45 Main Street, Irvington, NY
www.blackcatchef.com

Julie Bean Espresso Mobile Café, Based out of Hastings on Hudson, NY
www.juliebeanespresso.com

If you're lucky enough to be near any of these places, by all means please do yourself a favor and try these slices of heaven. Eventually Sarah hopes to get more places in Westchester County, and then she has her sights set on New York City. Sarah can also make special orders for catering and corporate events and parties, which includes delivery (minimum order is 20 bars for $60 plus delivery charges). If you'd like to be kept in the loop about where Sarah's Caramellas are available as well when her website is up with all info, please keep checking http://sarahscaramellas.blogspot.com/

Oh, and Sarah, if you'd like to test how the Caramellas hold up in the mail you have my address.

It Is Wickedly Delicious: Rachel's Cottage Cheese

2009-07-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

Cottage cheese is one of those things that one either loves or hates. I happen to love the cheese curds and now I love them even more because yogurt maker Rachel's has taken cottage cheese to the next level and come up with some terrific flavor combinations. Initially one might think that mixing Cucumber Dill or Pear Mangosteen and cottage cheese may be weird but trust me, when you give them a taste you'll be hooked. There's also Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, Lemon Verbena Berry, Roasted Red Pepper, and Pomegranate Orange Cranberry. I have two issues with the product: the $1.89 price tag per container is a bit steep if you'd like to have one for lunch or breakfast each day. The other involves distribution as there is only one grocery store in my area that I can find the product in (it's also difficult to find Rachel's fine yogurts). In addition to getting the products on more store shelves, I'm also hoping that the company will decide to put out larger sizes of the cottage cheese flavors.

http://www.rachelsdairy.com

Would You Like Some Twang In Your Beer?

2009-07-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Twang is a company that makes all kinds of great flavored salts and cocktail sugars. Basically they are the adult beverage drinkers' best friend. Well, at least those who enjoy flavor, and lots of it. I was happy to find Twang's two beer salts which come in the flavors of lemon lime and also a lime version. They come in cute little plastic containers in the shape of beer bottles complete with tiny bottle cap. I was a bit confused as to how to use them as there is no information on Twang's site. Do I rim my beer like a margarita? I Googled it and a few people pointed out that you're actually supposed to pour some of the salt into your beer until you get your desired taste. If you decide to give these a try which I suggest you do, first try a little in your beer as apparently the salt doesn't go with some beers. Since my taste buds run toward Miller Chill and other beers that might not be a beer connoisseur's choice, it's fine for me. According to Twang's site the salts can also be used on food which I'd imagine would be quite tasty. Highly recommended especially if you drink girly/bad beer like myself.

http://www.twang.com

Vosges Serenades With Red Fire Chocolate Caramel Toffee

2009-04-04T07:39:00.003-07:00

I was delighted that on my most recent birthday I received a package of Vosges Red Fire Chocolate Caramel Toffee from my boss (thanks, Sam!). Even better, it was one of the items I had wanted to try for awhile now but just hadn't gotten around to. The toffee comes in a small bowl-shaped hard cardboard container which is decorated with a quartet of Mariachi guys in action. Inside this box is a generous amount of the Red Fire Toffee, large pieces which are comprised of sweet butter toffee, infused with ancho and chipotle chilies and Ceylon cinnamon, and dipped in dark chocolate. The entire piece is then topped with a generous portion of Red Fire Pecans. Now if you're thinking, "oh, Red Fire, too hot," it is not. Of course my idea of "hot" is probably not the same as yours because I'm used to really spicy food but these are hot in a sense that it complements the caramel toffee perfectly. Like all Vosges products, they are meant to be savored when you are eating them and the boxes always instruct you how to get the most out of the product. I'd rather not close my eyes as I eat my Vosges (which they suggest) and I'm not sure that I'm sophisticated enough to recognize all the ingredients as they pass over my tongue. However I will admit that I don't think there is another company that puts as much style, detail and quality into their products as Vosges does. Another winner for the Haut-Chocolat company.

Topps' Amazing Technicolor Wazoo Candy

2009-03-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

I'd read about this crazy candy bar, Wazoo, on some blogs. I set out to find this baby blue-colored candy in 7-11 (no luck) and then some other random shops that had candy sections where I also came up empty. Then I realized, where has my mind been? The mecca of all things not healthy for you will surely have it. That's right, Economy Candy. So I set out for a walk to the Rivington Street joint and what do I find? Not only the Blue Razz Wazoo but sister bar, Wild Berriez Wazoo. Now, I've tried some weird-looking products in my lifetime but these bars might take first place. My initial thought was that they look like something a child made with Play-Doh. Blue Razz is baby blue with layers of dark pink and a darker blue, while Wild Berriez is lavender purple with pink and yellow layers. Each 1.6 ounce bar is topped with colorful and tangy crunchies which I swear I am still finding all over my living room floor. The label states that the "crunchy candy topping" is made in Thailand. Do we not have sprinkles in the States? I did not expect to enjoy these bars but they are fruity and tasty and somehow not sickeningly sweet. I will give the candy creators at Topps credit for coming up with something very different but it might be too out there for most. If you can get over the explosion of color it's worth a try.

Feelin' Good About The Blueberry Pomegranate G2

2009-03-07T17:53:00.000-08:00

On a recent visit to my local Kmart, I did my usual search through the aisles in the beverage section for new flavors routine. I've heard that Gatorade was releasing a Blueberry Pomegranate flavor under it's G2 arm and lo and behold, there it was. Totally psyched, I grabbed a couple of bottles and headed home. I like when companies experiment with interesting flavors. I love G2 Grape and Fruit Punch too, but let's face it, they're not all that exciting. With Blueberry Pomegranate, now we're talking. Besides having the illusion of "healthiness," it tastes darn good. The beverage is refreshingly fruity, although I don't know if it's reminiscent of blueberry or pomegranate. All I know is that it's a winner. I went back to Kmart today and much to my horror, the 32 ounce bottles of my new favorite G2 was SOLD OUT! However they also carried the 8-pack of 20 ounces of the blueberry pomegranate so I opted for that over the smaller 8=pack of the 12 ounces. It turned out to be a good bargain as it rang up for $5.50 despite the sticker stating that it would cost me over $8.00. I'm hoping that this G2 flavor will find it's way to the outlets that are a bit closer to my apartment. Fortunately the "Big K" is on the way home from work for me so I'll just have to make some G2 pitstops in the meantime.

Pick Up Stix Courtesy Of Pringles

2009-01-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Pringles, the ubiquitous creator of the beautifully stacked potato chips in the tall and short containers, has come out with Baked Wheat Stix. When I purchased these Stix I thought they were actually pretzel sticks but they are lightly flavored crisp cracker sticks. (I wasn't thinking at the time of purchase that a vanilla-flavored pretzel might not actually taste good but nonetheless this still was not enough to discourage me from picking the product up.) Each package include 10 packs of Stix, each less than 100 calories, according to the copy on the front of the box. Since I was looking for something light this seemed to fit the bill. I chose the vanilla-flavored Stix and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised. There's a decent amount in each bag and the taste of the vanilla is not overpowering at all. The Stix themselves have a nice size to them both in width and height. These Stix would be an excellent on-the-go snack too, and kids would probably love them. Stix also are available in Crunchy Wheat, Pizza, and Honey Butter, the latter two of which I will definitely be trying soon. Looks like I'll be playing pick-up-sticks again, only this time with my snacks.

http://www.pringles.com

This Much Is True: Pistachio Crisps Are Addictive

2009-01-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

Pistachio is not a commonly used nut and except for ice cream and Italian cookies I can't really think of another food that uses this green seed. So when I saw the television commercial for TrueNorth's Pistachio Nut Crisps I was very interested in tracking this snack down. It took me awhile though as I couldn't find one grocery store that stocked it. Finally I found them in Rite Aid, of all places, in their "food" aisle. Ironic, I thought, as Frito-Lay (of Cheetos, Doritos and Tostitos fame) is attempting to present their TrueNorth line as a healthier snack. I also thought the name TrueNorth sounded more like an insurance company but regardless, I wanted to give these snacks a try. I thought there was a better than even chance that these would be delicious but let me just say that they are way better than that. They are super-addictive and it is very difficult to stop eating them until the bag is finished. Even better, they're 100 percent natural and contain five grams of protein per serving. I suppose it's not a great idea to eat the entire bag in one sitting but you could do worse. I'm going to try the other flavors and varieties which are no doubt also amazing: Nut Clusters (Roasted Peanut, Toasted Almond, Pecan-Almond-Peanut); Nut Crisps (Almond, Peanut); and Whole Nuts (Pecan-Almond-Walnut-Pistachio). Go nuts if you want!

http://www.truenorthsnacks.com/

Paradise Found: Häagen-Dazs Peppermint Bark Ice Cream

2009-01-01T17:59:00.000-08:00

Better late than never, I finally tracked down the Peppermint Bark ice cream by Häagen-Dazs. I have reason to believe that this dessert may very well be the most perfect ice cream one can ever taste. Assuming you're a fan of peppermint, it simply just doesn't get any better. This ice cream combines white chocolate ice cream and white and dark chocolate pieces of peppermint bark and honestly it is just amazing. I thought that Hä-Dazs' Green Tea ice cream was the best I've ever tried but this is even better. Maybe it's fortunate for me that this limited edition flavor has just ended its run because it would not be good for my cholesterol. If you are lucky and still want to try it, you may very well find it in the grocery store (I found the Green Tea for quite some time after it had supposedly went to Ice Cream Heaven). Give yourself one more taste of the holidays before it's too late.

Yummy Thomas' Holiday Muffins

2008-12-31T08:13:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for just about anything cranberry. In fact I'm the designated cranberry sauce cook for my family's Thanksgiving feast (no canned jiggly maroon thingy for us). Heck, I've even slathered on cranberry body lotion. Around Thanksgiving, there's always "limited edition" items on the grocers' shelves and this year I found Thomas' Cranberry English Muffins. Festively packaged these muffins are downright delicious with each muffin bursting with lots of berries (boy, that sounds like a commercial!). I don't know about you but I love having cranberries in the "nooks and crannies" (tm) of my breakfast. Since they aren't around all that long I've bought a few packages and stored them in my freezer. If you're interested you can check out Thomas' store locator for this product until both this link and product disappear until next year.

thomas.gwbakeries.com/product.cfm/upc/4812125609

Snacking In 3D: Wingers Has Zing

2008-10-27T18:41:00.000-07:00

I like to visit stores like CVS, Rite Aid and Duane Reade to aimlessly browse for products. In fact Rite Aid is right next store to where I do my laundry, so oftentimes I'll go there "just for fun," despite the fact that I know they never have anything new to look at. However the one area of those stores that are really fun to shop in are the food and beverage aisles. Would you like to try Rite Aid brand Pitted Prunes or Chunky Soup? Perhaps you'd like three cases of sugary, caffeine-laden soda for 10 bucks? Anyhow over at Duane Reade, the last few times I've been to that ubiquitous chain I've noticed the colorful bags of some sort of snacks called Wingers. I finally took the plunge and grabbed a number 5 bag off the shelf, something called Wingers Fiery Buffalo Bleu. I figured they'd just be chips but I was surprised to find that each snack is actually in the shape of a puffy light "chicken wing," sort of like a hollow Cheez Doodle. These 5ers definitely have some kick to them and they are reminiscent of buffalo wings and blue cheese. I'm not giving up my actual wings for these but as a snack they are pretty good. An added bonus is that these snacks are actually not terrible for you, healthwise. According to the package, the Wingers contain 60% less fat than potato chips, low fat, all-natural, and no trans fat (maybe I won't feel as guilty then if I'm having them with several beers). Other Wingers flavors include (from mild to hot, respectively) 1 No Bull Barbecue, 2 Honey Mustard Horsepower, 3 Nacho Chilichanga, and 4 Caribbean Zing. Turns out the 5 I chose is the hottest of the bunch but that was just a coincidence. I give an A+ for the "3D" design of each snack. The only place I've seen these sold is Duane Reade but I'm sure they'll be popping up all over the place soon. Get some for the rest of the NFL season!

www.buffalonickelfoods.com

On The Lookout For Häagen-Dazs' Peppermint Bark

2008-10-19T19:35:00.000-07:00

One way you can tell the holidays are coming is when you start seeing peppermint bark candies for sale. I was in Macy's this weekend and saw peppermint bark popcorn and peppermint bark chocolates. Finally this evening, I saw an ad in Gourmet magazine for Peppermint Bark, a new limited edition iced cream by Häagen-Dazs. As soon as I can track this down I will review this intriguing dessert.

They're Tiny, Delicious & Portable. They're picklePAKS!

2008-08-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of pickles and pickled products. Whenever I'm in Whole Foods I make sure to pick up a container of Guss' Pickles (or whoever is using that name at the moment). I eat pickles like I would cookies or ice cream. During my last trip to the grocery store I noticed this package holding four pudding container-style cups of Mt. Olive pickles. My first thought was, how adorable are these pickles and why didn't someone think of this before? I've been bringing my Kosher Dill Petites with me each day this week to enjoy along with my tuna fish and I have to say that not only are these teeny pickles delicious, but they also extremely CUTE! And it's not often one can say their food is, well, charming. I almost feel guilty eating them which could be because I checked out Mt. Olive's site and they have pickle characters named Vinessa, Dill B. Thrill, Dotty Dill, and Vinnie D. Joker, and I hope these tiny pickles I've been eating aren't related to them. There's plenty of pickles in each container and perhaps I'm a weirdo but I also drink the brine, which is quite tasty. Mt Olive also makes a picklePAK containing Sweet Petite pickles which I'm on the hunt for. I'm going to stock up on these for not only taking to work for lunch, but for snacking as well. Hopefully they'll add to the line (garlic and sour pickles, please!) but for now I'm enjoying my tiny green pickled snack.

www.picklepak.com

New Oreos Might Drive You Bananas

2008-08-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

Nabisco has yet another addition to its growing family of Oreo cookies. This time it's a Banana Split Creme flavor, apparently an import from Canada. Not being a huge fan of banana-flavored food items, I figured I'd give it a shot even though I did not have high hopes for these cookies. Plus I was in the mood for eating something yellow. Even better, they were on sale. (In case you wonder how I eat my Oreos, I like to twist off the top of my cookie and then eat the creme separately. Now that you have that scintillating fact, we can return to the review.) Well, these Oreos certainly taste like bananas (artificial ones, of course) and are reminiscent of banana candy. They are quite sweet and very addictive, although three or four at one sitting was more than enough for me. I enjoyed these Oreos but I don't believe I like them as much as some of the other flavors available, such as the mint, white fudge, or even the regular Oreo. Labeled "limited edition," they may not be around on store shelves very long so make like a banana and split to find 'em.

Jelly Belly & Cold Stone Team Up For "Ice Cream" Beans

2008-07-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

From the candy company that brought us the jelly bean offerings "snot," "moldy cheese" and "pencil shavings," comes a far more palatable mix of flavors. The newest entry in the Jelly Belly empire is a co-branded product based on Cold Stone Creamery's Signature Creation ice cream flavors. This set of candies includes Chocolate Devotion, Apple Pie a la Cold Stone, Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Our Strawberry Blonde, and Birthday Cake Remix. All of the new flavors are fairly tasty although I found the Birthday Cake Remix to be weak and well, not very Birthday Cake-y. It's a shame because I love the Cold Stone Creamery ice cream of that flavor and was looking forward to trying that flavor more so than the others. All in all, the beans are worth a try as they make a wonderful addition to the ever-growing Jelly Belly family. While Jelly Belly is at I think they should do consider some other co-branding opportunities in addition to Cold Stone. How about McDonald's? Would you try a Big Mac or Angus Burger Jelly Belly? Or how about some breakfast cereal Beans? Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Puffs Jelly Bellys anyone? Actually I'm not kidding as I'd actually try (and probably enjoy) any or all of the proposed Jelly Bellys listed above. Who knows? Maybe they'll read this and think it's a good idea too.

http://www.jellybelly.com

I Heart Sen Cha Green Tea Bars

2008-06-28T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've found the love of my life. I saw this item initially at Garden of Eden on 14th Street and became infatuated. Eventually I met my delicious companion right in my neighborhood and upon our first kiss it was love at first bite. Ok, we didn't kiss but I did bite it. I'm talking about my new favorite bar, the Sen Cha Green Tea Bars. These bars come in three flavors: Original, Lively Lemongrass, and Delicate Pear. Honestly, you cannot go wrong with any of the choices. If I had to choose a favorite, I'd go with the Pear and they've appropriately named the bar because the flavor is quite "delicate." Each bar is a blend of roasted organic brown rice, antioxidant rich goji berries, nuts and seeds, and is equal to three cups of green tea. Additionally, the bars are gluten and wheat-free/vegan. I've found these Sen Cha bars fill me up when I'm on the go, which is another benefit. I thought I would have to stock up on these bars when I find them but I've noticed that they are now readily available at the Vitamin Shoppe, as well as some gourmet shops, coffee shops and hotels. More than likely these bars will run you a bit more than you'll pay for a Balance or Luna Bar but in my humble opinion there's no comparison. As much as I love you, Luna, we're done. We'll stay friends but I'm going steady with Sen Cha now. See ya later.

www.senchanaturals.com/

Red Fire In The Freezer: Vosges Does It Again

2008-06-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a big fan of Vosges Haut Chocolat, the exotic chocolatier. I've even turned my dad into a Mo's Bacon Bar-eating fellow, quite a feat considering he usually doesn't eat anything "weird." On occasion I've noticed containers of Vosges ice creams in some gourmet shops in the area over the past month or so but I finally took the plunge today. Tempted by the thought of Mexican ancho and chipotle chillies in my ice cream, I picked up Vosges' Red Fire, which is one of four available flavors. Upon closer inspection Red Fire is also comprised of Ceylon cinnamon and dark chocolate ice cream, so to quote the Barefoot Contessa, "What's not to like?" The answer is, nothing. It's an amazingly layering taste with first the dark chocolate, then a little bit of cinnamon and finally the heat, hits you. For those who don't love spicy food, the heat is very subtle. It's definitely more of a dessert product rather than, say, Ben & Jerry's where you'd actually sit down and eat the pint at one sitting. And that's a good thing because, trust me, the Vosges ice cream would be gone before I sat down to write this post. I wasn't as curious before about the other flavors before I tried Red Fire, but now I think I'll give them a try sometime soon. The other interesting Vosges ice cream flavors include Naga, a sweet Indian curry with fresh coconut and custard ice cream; Pandan, an Asian-inspired ice cream made from the pandan leaf (notes of pine nut, vanilla wafer and tree nuts) with dark chocolate; and Wattleseed, which is edible seeds from the Australian acacia, plus roasted macadamia nuts and custard ice cream. Fancy! Vosges is one of the few companies that, when I'm looking at their ingredients I actually have to Google some of the contents because they're that exotic. Note that Vosges ice cream will cost you a couple of dollars more than your usual dessert but I think you'll agree it is money well spent. In the New York City area, I've seen this ice cream in Citarella (6th Avenue and 9th Street) and Dean & DeLuca in SoHo.

www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/exotic_ice_cream/exotic_ice_creams

Sierra Mist Gets "Smart" With Undercover Orange

2008-04-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

One place I never thought I'd see Steve Carell in would be the my local market in the beverage section. I wish it was in person but alas, he was only on the label of a bottle of soda. Carell, star of NBC's "The Office," will soon also be featured (along with fellow label mate Anne Hathaway) in the movie version of the old television series "Get Smart." As a tie-in to the upcoming film, PepsiCo has unleashed Sierra Mist Undercover Orange, a "limited edition" lemon-lime soda with mandarin orange flavor. Undercover Orange is clear in color (guess the orange went "undercover") and is quite tasty. The mandarin flavor gives the beverage a nice, crisp citrusy flavor. There's also a Sierra Mist Free (diet) version of this soda which I haven't been able to track down. Kudos to the designers of the label as it really grabbed my attention with the bright colors and clear "orange" soda, as well as the unusual flavor combination. But honestly the selling point for me was that "Michael Scott" was staring at me, daring me to buy this soda. Who knows, maybe I'll even grab my shoe phone, an Undercover Orange and head to the theater to see "Get Smart." And that's what she said.

POWERade's Option Really Turns To ZERO

2008-04-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

There's a dizzying array of "sports drinks" on the market currently, with Coca-Cola and Pepsi trying outdo each other at every turn. Recently, Pepsi launched G2, a "lighter" version of Gatorade, and Propel Fitness Water, a lower-calorie Propel. I tried both of these and while they're fine, I just don't see the point of having yet another lower cal version that removes the sugar and adds crap sweetener so it can be marketed as more of a "diet" product. Coke's POWERade Option was one of my favorite beverages to drink—that is when I could find it. Of course now that I finally located an outlet for my Option, Coke's gone and screwed it up by replacing that product with POWERade ZERO. Let me get this straight: Coke decided to remove the 10-calorie Option for zero calorie ZERO? I was worried that those 10 calories would really go to my hips. Also Option was a clear liquid which was enough of a tip-off to me that it was low-cal. I get it. Note to Coke: a gigantic "ZERO" on the label is not going to get me to keep buying this stuff. Geez, Louise. A taste comparison unveils that the ZERO is much sweeter tasting because of the addition of some type of fake sweetener with about 30 letters in its complete name. Option had a nice mild taste. The best thing about POWERade ZERO is that the label is nicely designed, with the white against the now-colored liquid shining brightly. If you're interested, ZERO comes in mixed berry (blue), grape (purple), and strawberry (red). So Coke, I want my Option back. And cut it with the "zero" on all your labels. We ain't stupid.

http://us.powerade.com/#/drink/zero

Häagen-Dazs Goes Green With Tea Ice Cream

2008-04-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

On a recent shopping trip to the market, I tried my "don't look at the ice cream case" manuever but I'm weak. A pint of Häagen-Dazs Green Tea ice cream caught my eye. The packaging is attractive, complete with the "limited edition" label adorning the lid. This product falls under the "must try" category simply based on the fact that it's green tea and made by Haagen-Dazs. I've tried a few green tea ice creams in my day and usually it's not something I go out of my way for because I've always thought them fairly bland. Well let me be among the first to say that this Green Tea ice cream is amazing. It's creamy and the taste of the tea—from Japanese Matcha green tea—really shines through. According to Häagen-Dazs's site, this flavor is the number one selling ice cream for the company in Japan, which is no surprise. This flavor will only be around until August so if you're into a fantastic dessert ice cream, grab a couple of pints of this green wonder. I'd tell you where I found mine but I want it all to myself.

http://www.haagen-dazs.com/products/product.aspx

Don't Limit My Diet Dr Pepper Cherry Chocolate!

2008-04-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

I'm very late to the game for the Diet Dr Pepper Cherry Chocolate bandwagon. However, there's a good reason for that: I couldn't find the darn beverage anywhere in New York City. I've searched countless bodegas, grocery stores and specialty shops and always came up empty. But then along came Mel, who came through like Eli Manning in Super Bowl XLII. Mel happens to also enjoy trying offbeat flavored sodas and he mentioned that he picked up some of the Cherry Chocolate soda, which he liked quite a bit. He was kind enough to offer to grab some cans from Target and finally last week there it was sitting in my office. I admired the pop art-style artwork that adorns the cans and brought some home, making sure they got nice and chilled. Then it was time to take a sip. And it did not disappoint. The sweet soda starts out with the familiar Dr Pepper taste and a cherry flavor, finishing with a nice little blast of chocolate. Personally I think it's one of the best sodas I've ever had the pleasure to meet. It's limited edition availability is over after April so I'd suggest stocking up. It may or may not return depending on its sales figures but as far as I'm concerned I'd love to see it return permanently and be able to actually buy some on my own. I'm rationing my last few cans and I won't be happy when they're gone. To quote (more like, butcher) the old Dr Pepper jingle, "I'd like this to be a Pepper too."

http://www.drpepper.com/

Pringles Pickle Chips Really Are Extreme

2008-04-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

Potato chips that taste like pickles are not everyone's cup of brine. About a year ago I tried Lay's Dill Pickle Potato Chips which were interesting and quite pickle-y, but a bit on on the bland side, at least for me. Along comes Pringles' Extreme Flavors line which includes Screamin' Dill Pickle, Kickin' Cheddar, and Blazin' Buffalo Wing. I was most interested in the latter chips as my first choice but alas, my local deli only carried Dill Pickle and Cheddar so I bought a canister of Screamin' and thought I'd see what some of my co-workers thought. ML (previously mentioned on this blog for her love of Kinder's Bueno chocolate bar) wasn't all that impressed as she thought they were "too tangy," while Belle and Kristen ate just a few and said they were "pretty good." I suspect they were not exactly feeling the Screamin' pickle chip love and didn't want to indulge any further in my "weird" purchase. I took the Extreme plunge myself too, and I'll admit they are an acquired taste. They are an assault to your taste buds but in a good way. I regard these Screamin' Dill Pickle chips as the nasty cousin to the Lay's Dill Pickle chips. I'd like to say that you cannot possibly eat too many at one time but I just finished them before I wrote this post. Of course that was for research purposes.

http://www.pringles.com/pages/products/extreme.shtml

Egg-stra Special: Mom's Easter Treat

2008-03-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

In my little world, there are several reasons to look forward to the Easter season. The baseball season is on the horizon (and the Knicks season is mercifully drawing to a close), another birthday is about to rear its ugly head, and then there's the actual Easter dinner, which is always delicious. While the ham, sweet potatoes, green beans with almond slivers and the like are all very fine, the one thing I really go nuts for is a pastry that we call "Egg in a Basket" (pictured, but I think this one was the "runt" of the bunch so it doesn't do it justice). For as long as I can remember my Mom has been making this wonderful treat, which is not quite cookie nor cake. This "Egg in a Basket" is actually called "Pupa Cu L'ova," and as best as I can tell is a traditional Italian pastry that is symbolic of the Easter season. My Mom recalls learning the recipe from her Aunt Mary, my Dad's aunt, sometime in the early 1960's. The treat is made from scratch using cookie dough rolled out, with strips placed across a hard-boiled egg in a cross shape and then baked. After the baskets are removed from the oven, icing (also made from scratch) and sprinkles are added on top at just the right moment. Mom makes them perfectly, which to me is having the dough still be doughy and chewy. I always try to scam a few extras but I have to fight with my two sisters, a brother and my four nieces and a nephew for them, not to mention my Dad, so this usually results in my coming home with just two. I may give this a try when I get the recipe from Mom but I'm sure it won't be half as good as hers. So I think next year I'll ask my Mom to make me a few extras in exchange for some Dior or L'Occitane products. Whaddya say, Mom? Do we have a deal?

So Sweet: Utz Kettle Classics Is Smokin'

2008-03-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for potato chips, a craving that hits me just once in a while. I was in Duane Reade and the little mascot girl with the red bow on the Utz bags caught my eye. I wonder who she is. Is she a caricature of the Utz owner's daughter? Does she have a name? Did you know that you can buy an Utz Girl doll or that there are several blogs dedicated to Utz Girl fans? I didn't but now I do. Anyway, after searching through the vast collection of Utz potato chip choices available, I settled on Utz Kettle Classics Smokin' Sweet BBQ Flavored, which is perhaps the longest name for the smallest bag of chips. Well, I don't know how long these snacks have been around but where the hell have I been? Smokin' Sweet is just that: these chips are not too hot and nicely sweet and best of all, have no cholesterol and are kettle cooked in 100 percent pure peanut oil. For once I was able to eat chips and not have my fingers covered in grease. Utz's other Kettle Classics include Regular, Reduced Fat Regular, Dark Russet, Sweet Potato, Jalapeno, and Salt & Malt Vinegar, which all sound quite delicious. I'm so overjoyed with my Utz experience that I also joined the company's Tasting Club. You go, Utz girl!

http://www.utzsnacks.com/products.html

Ahoy! I Love It Big & Soft

2008-03-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Despite what this blog often has as entries, believe it or not I don't always have a sweet tooth. In fact, I rarely had a hankering for chocolate or cookies until my co-worker ML came onboard. Several days during the week, I'll accompany ML to the local deli to pick up lunch. And each day ML gets a chocolate bar (her candy of choice is Kinder Bueno). Sometimes ML will get a bag of cookies to share with everyone. Sometimes I get to it too late and there's only one or part of one cookie left. So thanks to ML, I now notice cookies in the grocery store. And to that end, my thinking has always been if you want a cookie (or cookies), then darn it eat a cookie. I've always thought that the 100 calorie packs are a bit of a joke. I mean how often do you finish eating one of those tiny "treats" and think, "Hmm, should I have another?," or perhaps you've said, "Was that cardboard with chocolate?" Go ahead, keep sticking your fingers in that bag. There ain't nothing left. Those packs are so puny they don't even leave crumbs. They are a pathetic tease. Smartly, Nabisco has debuted its new line of cookies which I think makes more sense. For 80 calories more, you can now have a delicious, tasty treat without feeling guilty (well, I don't). Nabisco's Big & Soft cookies come in boxes of eight, with each cookie individually wrapped so it's easy to transport and/or snack on while you are on the go. Or toss Biggie Soft in your bag to eat as a snack later at work and make your co-workers jealous. Thus far I've tried the Chips Ahoy! Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Big & Soft and I was very satisfied. You can also pick up the Nutter Butter and Chocolate Chunk versions. I suspect you won't go wrong no matter what you choose. So go ahead and have a more substantial and tasty snack. ML, this cookie's for you.

www.nabiscoworld.com/chipsahoy/

Turning Water Into Chocolate

2008-02-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Awhile back I was reading about Metromint's newest bottled water variation, Chocolatemint. You may or may not know these folks. Soma Beverages's Metromint is the company who have the tall eye-catchingly-designed bottles with the large dots on the shelves of your local delis and gourmet shops. Metromint's line of zero calories, zero sugar waters already includes Peppermint, Lemonmint, Spearmint and Orangemint. Since I'm not an enthusiast of drinking plain water, oftentimes I seek out beverages that have a flavor (Propel) or mask the taste of the water altogether (Vitamin Water). Before trying Metromint I always assumed that mint and water together would never really be a good fit. Turns out I was as incorrect as all those so-called "experts" who picked the Patriots to run rings around the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. (By the way, congratulations to the Giants. That game was the most amazing sporting event I've seen since the Mets came back to beat the Red Sox in '86. And that catch by David Tyree should be dubbed "The Helmet Heave.") What I love about Metromint and the Chocolatemint flavor in particular is that the beverage is quite refreshing. The taste of the chocolate and mint is most obvious at the end of the sip. It's incredibly chocolatey and minty and, considering that there's no sweeteners of any kind, that's quite a feat. One note about drinking all the Metromint flavors--for best results make sure to drink it very cold. Lukewarm mint flavor is pretty bad and doesn't do these beverages any justice. If you can't find the Chocolatemint flavor, try Whole Foods or gourmet shops like Balducci's. Maybe you can get a bottle for your significant other for Valentine's Day. Chocolatemint might compliment that box of chocolates you've picked up. But make sure it's Godiva or Vosges, not Russell Stover.

www.metromint.com

Skittles: Taste The Brown-Hued Rainbow

2008-01-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

The most recent addition to the Skittles family, Chocolate Mix Skittles, has popped up in some stores (I found mine at Duane Reade). I laid some of the pieces on a table only to have my cat Samantha mistake them for toys and knock some on the ground. Oh well, still have enough. Anyway, these Skittles consist of five different varieties: S'mores, Chocolate Pudding, Chocolate Caramel, Vanilla (since when is vanilla a chocolate?), and Brownie Batter. For the most part each of the flavors tastes as it should with mixed--but mostly good--results. Chances are if you are a fan of the oddly-flavored Jelly Belly beans which include such flavors as Jalapeno, Berry Blue, Buttered Popcorn, Cantaloupe, and Caramel Corn, you'll probably enjoy Chocolate Mix Skittles as well. (Incidentally, Jelly Belly makes their own Chocolate Pudding bean.) I think the Skittles are much better mixed and matched but see for yourself. Is the color brown in a rainbow? Yup, in the world of candy it is now.

Find The Fruit In 7Up Pomegranate

2007-12-23T13:37:00.000-08:00

Last night I was picking up a few items and went looking for Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr Pepper (a soda I have yet to see anywhere) or my second choice, diet ginger ale. I spied a maroon-colored concoction on the shelf so of course that's what came home with me. I rarely drink soda that isn't diet but since I'm a sucker for weird beverages I figured 7Up Pomegranate was worth trying out, after all it's for a "limited time only!", according to the beverage's label. I have to point out that I love pomegranate. I try to eat one every few weeks or incorporate it into some type of relish when I'm not too lazy to make it (cranberry/orange with some pomegranate tossed in is yummy). Also, when I'm not too cheap, I'll buy a POM Wonderful drink. Among its many health benefits, the red fruit is high in antioxidants and helps battle bad cholesterol. Does 7Up Pomegranate have pomegranate juice in it? Of course not. Clearly Cadbury Schweppes/7Up is preying on those of us who see the word "pomegranate" and think, "Wow that must be good for me!" To this beverage's credit, however, I do think think it does have a nice not-too-sweet flavor to it, is very refreshing, and makes a terrific alternative to the usual colas and lemon lime sodas. They should have put this drink out around Thanksgiving time as the color would have matched nicely with the cranberry sauce. If you're into this beverage, stock up as it will be available only through January 31, 2008. Will I buy it again? Yes, I'm sure I will. Now please excuse me as I need to go and pour myself a big glass of yummy, sugary, red "pomegranate" soda.

A Teeny Snack Called ScracK Griss

2007-11-24T17:17:00.000-08:00

I know, I know. It's been awhile. I've been a busy bee but I have managed to fit in some food shopping along the way. Recently I was in my favorite Italian store in the Chelsea Market, buonItalia, where I always pick up canned cherry tomatoes and anchovies. While hunting for other items of sheer deliciousness, I found these bags of ScracK Griss (yes, the "K" is upper case). "A light & savory Italian snack" it states on the front of the bag along with photos of yummy-looking loaves of garlic and tomato and basil-laden breads. Since I was planning on making sauce that night I thought I'd take a chance on these as a possible accompaniment. After all, they were reasonably priced ($1.95) and sounded interesting, and who doesn't love garlic bread? I splurged and picked up two bags: Aglio e Prezzemolo (garlic and parsley), and Pomodoro e Basilico (tomato and basil). When it finally came time to sample the snacks, I was struck by how small they are (they're about the size of a loaf of bread that Barbie might bake). But more importantly, they taste delicious. I think they make a better bar snack than a side to a dish of pasta with sauce but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty these little crackers are. ScracK Griss, you rocK!

Pretzel Magic: Portable Pieces Of Buffalo Wings

2007-10-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite appetizers is buffalo wings. Although I don't indulge too often, when I do I really enjoy them. I love the spicy flavor of a well-made chicken or buffalo wing, the hotter the better as long as there's not water running out of my nose while I'm indulging. Heat is good but there's not much point if it doesn't taste, well, tasty. Snyder's of Hanover may have come up with the next best thing to real buffalo wings in its Hot Buffalo Wings Pieces. This product consists of chunks of sourdough hard pretzels seasoned to taste like hot sauce with generous dustings of cayenne pepper and paprika. These pretzels are no joke: they taste exactly like spicy wings and the bag contains a generous portion of the peppery treat. The other flavors in Snyder's Pieces family include Buttermilk Ranch, Honey Mustard & Onion, Steakhouse Onion, Garlic Bread, Jalapeno, and Cheddar Cheese (Buttermilk Ranch and Steakhouse Onion: I've got my eye on you two especially). If these other flavors are as addicting as Hot Buffalo Wings, I'm in trouble. Blue cheese dressing, anyone?

http://www.snydersofhanover.com/en/products.php

Bacon+Salt+Chocolate=Vosges

2007-09-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

I'm lucky enough to work near the Vosges SoHo shop on Spring Street and recently the company's window signage was heralding a new entry in its "Exotic Candy Bar" line: Mo's Bacon Bar. Initially I thought how strange an idea that was for a chocolate bar but when I really thought about it, how different is it from a meal you might have with pancakes, bacon and syrup--sweet with meat? So I headed to my little "Haut-Chocolat Boutique" to check out the goods (Vosges' newest enticing treats include a cheese and chocolate truffle combination which includes balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Sicilian sea salt and Tuscan fennel pollen!). Mo's Bacon Bar's ingredients are Applewood smoked bacon, Alder wood smoked salt, and deep milk chocolate. Not much not to like there. Finally home, it was time to try the porky sweet. My first taste was of the bacon--they certainly didn't skimp on the meat. The chocolate blends very well with the bacon and then one gets the crunch of the smoked salt to top it all off. I found myself wanting more and in fact had to put it away before I pigged out and ate the entire bar. I have to admit that this is by far my most favorite of Vosges' exotic candy bar line of which I've had mixed results (Red Fire/good--Black Pearl/not good). At $7.00 a bar, it's not cheap but if you want something different--very different, Mo's should be your choice.

www.vosgeschocolate.com

What's Big, Chocolatey & Mean? Java Monster, Of Course

2007-09-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm not big on energy drinks. With few exceptions, most of them are filled with loads of sugar as well as other ingredients (chemicals?) that I cannot pronounce or spell, and they taste like cough medicine. When I do feel the "need for speed," I usually grab a can of Rockstar Zero or Lo-Carb Monster Energy. As anyone who checks out this blog knows, I do love coffee and Monster has come up big with Java Monster, a three-can selection of morning brews that taste absolutely delicious. First of all, they blow the metal off of the puny and overpriced fancypants Starbucks iced frappacrappochinos or doubleshots, and at a 15 ounce size are a much better bargain your average canned iced coffees. Java's selection includes the scarily named "Big Black," a strong coffee-flavored drink for the "I'll take mine black" imbibers; French Vanilla is the main ingredient in "Mean Bean"; while "Loca Moca" has more of a chocolately mild flavor. They're all worthwhile to try out and you can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. You can now have your coffee and get a doubleshot of caffeine to really wake yourself up for your important and special job. Two big black jumpy beans up from me, Hansen Beverage Company. Well done.

Tassimo: Starbuck-ing The Trend?

2007-09-05T13:05:00.001-07:00

I love my Tassimo coffee maker but I'm quite envious of the Keurig machine which has such top-notch brands as Gloria Jean's, Van Houtte, Caribou, and Timothy's, in their stable of K-Cups. Tassimo, on the other hand, has Gevalia, Maxwell House, Kenco, and Nabob (who??) representing their T Discs. Because I'm so desperate to validate my purchase of the Tassimo, I'm actually looking forward to the Starbucks that Tassimo is adding to its list of available T Discs. Soon I'll get to drink Starbucks' House Blend, Breakfast Blend, Adrica Kitamu, and Caffee Verona for less than $5.00 a cup (I hope). However they taste, it'll be an improvement for the embattled Tassimo. Let's hope Kraft Foods makes some more deals with other companies to get some more decent beverages for its machine. How about some New England Coffee?

Attack Of The Purple Dough Balls

2007-08-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the most eye-catching treat recently, Entenmann's Pop'ems has released a grape-flavored donut ball. A circular donut hole (much like Dunkin' Donuts's Munchkins) with grape-tinged bright purple sprinkles, this dessert is quite the attention getter. At checkout at D'Agostino's, the cashier said, "Oh what's that? That looks ... interesting." Translation:"Are you really going to eat those?" Truth is that I had seen them in a couple of stores only to pass them by and then go back a few days later to find them gone. Someone's eating them, most likely college kids who might have an attack of the munchies. These Pop'ems would feel right at home with your lava lamp, black light poster and disco ball. Perhaps Entenmann's is trying to appeal to both the 16-20 and 60-80 years-old markets. There's also absolutely no info on this product on the Entenmann's site, making me assume this is a "limited edition" donut. Or perhaps they don't want to take credit for this strange item. If you really want to try them which I think is well worth it, check any supermarket or deli nearby a high school or university. In New York City, I found mine at D'Agostino's on Greenwich and Bethune Streets.

Back From The Land Of Plenty (Of Food)

2007-08-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

I’ve returned from my week-long vacation to Western New York, slightly tanned and no doubt with a few more pounds on my frame. Basically I ate and drank my way through Rochester, exploring as many different food options as possible. My host, Dessa, was kind enough to drive me around town to my destinations and hopefully she didn’t mind all that much. Here’s a rundown of the highlights:

Amiels Original Submarines—I always make it a point to visit this shop, which has two locations (Henrietta and Victor). I’m a big fan of their tuna salad subs but what makes their sandwiches so tasty is the bread, which is baked on site daily. Maybe next time I’ll try something else but there’s just something about that tuna!

http://www.amiels.com

Arby’s Popcorn Chicken Shakers—Ok, so you’re saying “You go on vacation and eat … Arby’s? What’s wrong with you?” True, I know. But ever since I’ve seen the TV commercials for their Popcorn Chicken Shakers I’ve been intrigued, after all any food that I can layer on hot sauce sounds good to me. And I’ll tell you, these are pretty good. Fast food in general always tastes better outside of New York City and these are no exception. I’m not even sure there’s an Arby’s in the City so there’s my excuse for going to the restaurant upstate.

http://www.arbys.com/menu/

Hank’s Ice Cream & Roast Beef Sandwiches--I think the name says it all. Even though I’ve never had the roast beef sandwich, I’ve heard they’re pretty large, juicy and tasty. The usually mobbed shop showcases tons of flavors of ice cream, frozen yogurt, ice cream cakes and several toppings. The Webster-based store also serves lunch and in addition to the roast beef, you can also grab a burger or the garbage plate if you’re really hungry.

Red Robin—Hands down, best burgers in town. Have you tried a burger at Red Robin? If not, do so as soon as possible. Again, they have two locations—Henrietta and Webster—and even though the Red Robin employees seem to be obsessed with blowing up balloons for children, they have an amazing assortment of burger options as well as turkey burgers and chicken sandwiches. Steak fries come with the burgers and supposedly they will replenish your supply of fries when you’re done although I don’t think they go out of their way for that. The restaurant also has some tasty appetizers including the Towering Onion Rings (13 onion rings on a stand that looks like a child’s toy) and Buzzard Wings, among many others. They should open a Red Robin in New York City as it’s much better than lots of the other chains that already exist here. I could make do with one less T.G.I. Friday’s.

http://www.redrobin.com

Beale Street Café—I’ve been to Dinosaur BBQ up in Rochester but I prefer this funky honky tonk restaurant which is located in the South Wedge part of Rochester. Against Dessa’s better judgment I decided to order an appetizer, Mud Bugs, fried crawfish with a tartar dipping sauce. I ate most of them using Beale Street’s jalapeno hot sauce and then ordered the special, a fried pork loin dish served with collard greens and mashed potatoes. It was truly an amazing experience to eat this dinner. Washing it all down with a couple of Miller Chills, I could barely finish my dinner. If you get a chance to try out this place by all means do so. It’s simply the best BBQ you’ll find anywhere.

http://www.bealestreetcafe.com/index.html

Wegmans (Mt. Read Boulevard, Greece, N.Y.)—This gigantic supermarket chain just opened its umpteenth store, a 100,000 square foot behemoth replacing an older 64,000 square foot version that was demolished earlier this year. Even though I am very impressed in general with the grocery stores upstate, I thought this store was a bit of overkill (and amazingly there's a larger and more upscale Wegmans in Pittsford!) as it houses not only your standard grocery aisles, but also has a tremendous food court, a “Wkids Fun Center” where children are looked after while their parents shop, a pharmacy, digital photo center, to mention a few. High atop the building is a clock tower, giving the store the appearance more of a church than supermarket. It seems Wegmans just wants to stick it to their competitors: My tower is bigger than your tower … oh wait, you don’t have one!

http://www.wegmans.coms

7-11 Squishees (Slurpees)—I love Slurpees and to celebrate the release of The Simpsons Movie, several 7-11s were "converted" into Kwik-E-Mart. Unfortunately the one I went to was not one of them. They had a few scattered Simpsons-related items (fruit snacks, donuts) but I went for the Squishees in Watermelon and Blue Vanilla flavors so I could bring home the cups. Hopefully the cups will hold up for a few more usages. 7-11 charged more for the Squishee if you bought the beverage in the special Simpsons cup. Sadly they were completely out of the Simpsons straws so I had to put up with the standard 7-11 Slurpee straws that have a little spoon on one end, perfect to get the last of my still-not-completely-melted drink.

http://www.slurpee.com/seeyellow.html

Upstate Gold: Country Sweet Sauce

2007-07-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

In honor of my impending visit to Rochester, N.Y., tomorrow afternoon, I thought I'd make special mention of perhaps the best sauce condiment on the planet. The supermarkets in Rochester are to me like a toy store might be to a collector. Living in New York City, we are hamstrung by grocery stores with little shelf space, the majority of that precious space being taken up by the endless General Mills, Kellogg's and P&G's of the world. Up in Rochester, the locals are fortunate to have such wonderful supermarkets as Wegmans, Martin's and Tops, all with wide aisles, lower prices and lots of interesting local fare, including Country Sweet Sauce. Since I like much of my condiments on the spicy side, I picked up a bottle of Country Sweet's hot variety which proved to be a good move. There's nothing like the combination of sweet and hot. This sauce tastes sweet to start, then kicks in at the end with just the right amount of heat. It's quite a versatile sauce as it can be used for cooking, marinating, barbecuing or even dipping. If you'd like to give it a try, you'll find it sold up in Rochester in at least one of the above-mentioned grocery stores. Additionally, it can be had by searching the internet as a few merchants do sell it online. Country Sweet is available in habanero and mild as well as hot. If you find yourself in the land of Kodak and Bausch & Lomb, you might want to check out the Country Sweet Chicken and Ribs restaurant and explore the restaurant's other offerings, including their breaded and fried chicken wings smothered in sweet spicy sauce. Sounds like a plan to me.

Latest Obsession

2007-07-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

Do you like ice cream? Check. Do you like doughnuts? Check. The ultimate perhaps in desserts is just around the corner and alas, probably unobtainable for the majority of us. For one day only, Ben & Jerry's is unveiling its Homer Simpson-inspired ice cream, "Duff & D'oh-Nuts," a concoction of chocolate and cream stout ice creams along with glazed chocolate doughnuts. The treat will be available on Saturday, July 21st, for just that single day. Stock up if you can find it (I've read conflicting accounts of the ice cream's availability, including that it'll only be at the Springfield, Vermont, movie premiere), and good luck. No word as to if the flavor would at least be available at the Ben & Jerry's scoop shops. Indeedly-do!!

It Isn't Fried Ice Cream But Nice Try

2007-07-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

Breyer's has finally decided to try to be hip by putting out a version of Fried Ice Cream. I haven't had any Breyer's in ages. Maybe the last time was when I visited my grandmother and she had a container of Breyer's in her freezer (no doubt it was the vanilla/strawberry/chocolate trio). You get the idea: Breyer's is for those who grew up eating it and aren't into the crazy concoctions of Ben & Jerry's or Edy's. Give Breyer's credit for their attempt at something unique. While there's no way it is Fried Ice Cream, it is quite good. It has lots of cinnamon taste and caramel light ice cream with honey caramel along with cinnamon tostada pieces which are a bit on the mushy side. I do think this product could also use a few more of the tostada pieces but overall it's a winner and definitely worth a try. If you want real fried ice cream (or a reasonable facsimile), try your local Chinese or Japanese restaurant, or Mexican places like El Torito or Chi-Chi's. In the meantime, I'll add this one to my rotation of tasty treats.

http://www.breyers.com/products/product.cfm?u=77567-26402&b=1

Now It's Really Miller Time ... Chelada Style

2007-07-15T13:27:00.001-07:00

While watching television last night, I happened to catch a spot for a new beer by Miller called Miller Chill. I am a fan of beer, mostly the girlie-types like Hoegaarden and Corona, although at times Dos Equis, Tecate, Red Stripe or Negra Modelo work just fine as well. Needless to say, I've always found the manly brews from the Anheuser-Buschs and Millers to be undrinkable. Nonetheless I'm always a sucker for trying a new beer that sounds as though it could be very delicious so I set out to track down a Miller Chill, which is a beer that is inspired by a traditional Mexican recipe known as the "chelada," which is slang for the Spanish words "helada" (iced), and "chela" (beer); basically it's to serve light beer with a bit of fresh lime juice over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. My Chelada hunt only lasted two stores as I found it in a nearby bodega after coming up empty at The Food Emporium (I thought maybe it would be stocked for the NYUers, silly me). Even if the beer sucked, I'd be interested in trying it based solely on the green bottle which is quite eye-catching. After chilling my Chill, it was time for the taste test. I opened up my lil greenie and the verdict is in. Although I don't taste too much of the salt, the lime really shines through and it's quite refreshing. I'd say that people who enjoy Corona/Corona Light, Stella Artois and that ilk will really enjoy this beer. It's sort of like having a margarita in beer form. Miller's really gotten it right with this one and I think I'll now head out to pick up a few more Chills to have on hand in the fridge. What do you think? Will you be Chill-in with me?

www.millerchill.com

A "Plus" For True Lemon & Orange

2007-07-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in a previous post, I was hoping that my friend Kristin—who visits a Target on Long Island on occasion—could pick up a box of True Orange for me. She came through again and not only did she get True Orange Plus but she also scored True Lemon Plus. After finishing our Thai food, she passed me my treasure. Finally I could try my newest obsession after weeks of "fruitless" searching. Once again, the True Lemon company has perfected the drinking art of getting the fresh-squeezed flavor into a bottle of water (they also make an additional flavor, True Lime, my sister-in-law Christine's favorite). The Orange flavor tastes exactly like just a few drops of orange were dropped into the water. It's very refreshing and a fantastic alternative for those who don't love the taste of plain water. It comes in little handy dandy packages (14 packets to a box) that you can toss into your bag. I've been drinking the True Lemon for at least a year and this version is also wonderful (the "Plus" refers to the fact that these mixtures contain 100% of one's daily vitamin C requirements). True Lemon and Orange are all-natural with no artificial sweeteners or ingredients, and have zero calories, no sugar and zero carbs. Try these as a rub or seasoning on meat or fish for a special treat. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Here's hoping that True Orange will be more readily available soon. If you can't find it in your local grocery store or Target, the products are available for order via the web. Here's to a refreshing, citrusy summer! Drink your lemon, orange and lime!

www.truelemon.com

Getting Naked For Chocolate

2007-07-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Bear Naked's line of granola for as long as it's been available. I happened to be at Food Emporium when a Bear Naked employee was giving out free samples of--at that time--their newly-launched granolas. I was very impressed and immediately purchased the Apple Cinnamon cereal, which is still one of my favorites. Since then I've revisited Bear Naked from time to time but with so many varieties of cereals available nowadays, I've not paid all that much attention to the Naked line. That will now be changing. Bear Naked has come up with some more granola flavors that warrant a lot of attention, one of which I have sitting in front of me as I type this--I've been snacking on it the entire night. Heavenly Chocolate is its name and that it is. This stuff is as delicious as any chocolate bar and is truly out of this world. It's made with the better-for-you dark chocolate, whole grains, and makes a wonderful treat. You won't feel guilty snacking on this granola either. I haven't had it with milk yet but can only imagine that it would be addicting as a breakfast cereal. Bear Naked's line includes such flavors as Fruit and Nut, Banana Nut, and two other flavors that I am looking forward to trying: Blueberry Walnut and Peanutbutter & Jelly. Throw some of this in yogurt, enjoy it on the run, or as a delicious breakfast treat, it doesn't matter. Just eat it.

www.bearnaked.com

Going Ape Over This Coffee

2007-06-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

I decided I'm sick and tired of drinking crappy coffee at home. Generally when my coffee is putrid (hello, most store brands), I'll just use some flavored coffee creamer to mask the putrid taste and then get a decent cup of joe on the way to work. But no more. First of all, who needs all the calories that are in the flavored coffee creamers and secondly, there must be somebody out there who can give me the proper beans to brew a wonderful cup of coffee. This past weekend I braved Whole Foods in Union Square because I was too lazy to go to the store on Houston. I decided to take a look at the coffee the store carries, sniffing a few bags along the way. I laid my eyes on the bright red and black packaging of Gorilla Coffee, choosing the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe (easy for you to say maybe). I had no idea what to expect but my nose really liked this coffee even if my wallet didn't. I carried my new find up to the not-too-unreasonable-for-a-Saturday Whole Foods line, all the while breathing in the delicious fragrance of what I hoped was maybe the best cup of coffee I might ever have. And it does not disappoint. After grinding my beans, I waited anxiously for my morning coffee and I was thrilled to find that I spent my money wisely this time. The coffee is smooth and absolutely fantastic. According to the packaging, Gorilla is an independent "micro-roastery" in Brooklyn, N.Y. Their coffee is made in small batches and each bag has a "roast date." The company sells to select stores and food shops so hopefully there's one by you. If not, Gorilla sells their products by mail via their site. Additional flavors include Sumatra Gayoland, Brazil, Espresso-A-Go-Go, and Blendamentosis, among others. Best joe I've ever had, and I'm not monkeying around.

www.gorillacoffee.com

Pepperidge Farm Remembers Cereal

2007-06-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

While on a recent visit to Food Emporium, I noticed a presumably new granola cereal from Pepperidge Farm. Saddled with the not-very-creative name "All Natural Cereal," I decided to go with the Harvest Apple Cinnamon flavor over its siblings--Cinnamon Raisin, Triple Nut, and Maple Glazed Pecan. Not an easy choice given that I think all of the flavors sound terrific. I believe that this is Pepperidge Farm's first entry into cereal territory and they've come up with quite a winner. The granola blends a bunch of ingredients including raisins, walnuts, brown rice, ground hazelnuts, almonds, pecans and brazil nuts, as well as a healthy dose of Granny Smith apple pieces and a bit of cinnamon, which make the granola into a tasty treat. It's so good that I'm going to pick up a couple of more bags and eat it as a snack at work. I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors which will probably be more widely available soon if they aren't already. Strangely I could not find one mention of this product on the internet and it is not listed on Pepperidge Farm's site. There's also no "new" tag on the product so perhaps this is a product being tested. If it is, the company needn't worry as this is a cereal that I am happy to wake up for.

Latest Obsession

2007-06-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

New product alert and must have: True Orange, the newest entry in Grand Brands' line of powdered flavors. I'm a big fan of the True Lemon already but have yet to try True Lime. These are a bit difficult to locate although I've had success at many Gristede's supermarkets in the City. Also on the lookout for True Orange Plus and True Lemon Plus which are more in the "on the go" category. According to the company's site, the Pluses are available at Target. Hmm, maybe my buddy Kristin can help me out with this.

TUC This In Your Mouth

2007-06-19T20:46:00.000-07:00

I came across a display in Associated housing something called TUC, small yellow packages of crackers. Being that I was unfamiliar with this brand I took a closer look and noticed the European styling of the packaging as well as the intriguing flavors: salt & pepper, paprika, sesame and original. I struggled with the decision to go with salt & pepper over paprika which is kind of like choosing between butterscotch and caramel. I wasn't all that excited over crackers to be honest but hey, salt and pepper is a great flavor for potato chips so it must be pretty good for crackers too. Pretty good is an understatement. TUC is the bomb! There is no need to put anything on these babies as they are outstanding just by themselves. The taste of the salt and pepper really pops and I dare you not to eat the entire package in one or two sittings. And they were reasonably priced at $1.09 for 3.53 ounces so guess who's going back for paprika and another salt and pepper? (note: I did try the paprika flavor and did not care for it. S&P is the way to go.) A few little tidbits about these crackers: TUC stands for "The Unique Cracker," and indeed it is. Also hold a cracker up to the light--you'll see the word "TUC" in pinpricks on the cracker. I assume that has something to do with the baking process but it also gives the cracker a "unique" touch. I'm not sure exactly where these crackers come from--the site says the company is in Ireland, the package lists France, but it doesn't matter. If you're lucky enough to find TUC in your market, give them a try. I guarantee a Truly Unbelievable enCounter!

http://www.jacobfruitfield.com/brands/tuc/

Glory, Glory Hallelujah

2007-06-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

I prefer canned vegetables as my fresh stuff goes bad most of the time before I have a chance to use them. I lean toward the less-known brands rather than the Del Montes and Green Giants of the supermarket world. There's nothing wrong with them at all; it's just that my taste buds prefer veggies with some Southern-style kick to them. I believe I've found THE BEST in this category: Glory Foods' line of "Sensibly Seasoned" vegetables. I picked up a can of the turnip greens to check out, not really expecting much. Boy, was I wrong. The turnip greens were tasty and perfectly seasoned. I took a look at the company's site for more info and found they have an extensive line of this type of "healthier for you" canned veggies. Lower in sodium, fat and meatless, Glory Foods also includes such staples as tomatoes & okra; okra & corn; blackeye peas; mixed greens; and red, pinto and black beans. I am a huge fan of okra so I'm hoping I can find some of these other delicious concoctions on the shelves somewhere. If you're also curious, here's some other offerings listed on Glory's site: fried apples, savory sauerkraut, New Orleans style creole rice, among many, many others. These aren't "Sensibly Seasoned" but they make sense to me. Keep your eyes peeled for the orangy-brown label and give it a try. You'll soon be singing to the heavens too!

http://www.gloryfoods.com

I'm Wild For This Strawberry

2007-06-17T17:06:00.001-07:00

No sooner do I write that I'm done with "on the go" beverage mixes when I spot Crystal Light's Wild Strawberry-flavored On The Go Energy drink mix nearby the checkout aisle. I am a sucker for strawberry and the pink package is so cute so, oh alright I'll give it a try. I'm happy to say that not only is the beverage, when mixed, also a cute pink but it's also tres tasty. I do find it to be too sweet and I always add more H2O to water it down (of course I could always put less mix in the bottle but why make it easier?) but it's got a wonderful strawberry flavoring that does not taste artificial like so many of the berry-tinged beverages. I also want to point out that Crystal Light has another winner in its On The Go line in the White Tea with Blueberry flavor. It also has a surprisingly nice blueberry flavor and is an excellent antioxidant drink if you are looking for that type of beverage. The strawberry mix contains 60mg of caffeine per serving (hence the "energy" tag) while both have aspertame as the sweetener. So depending on your mood and/or taste, you can go for the Crystal Light aspertame, or the PUR Flavor Options' flavored water which contains sucralose. Mmmm, artificial...

http://www.crystallight.com

Flavorful Water Is PUR Genius

2007-06-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

I finally broke down and ordered the PUR Flavor Options from drugstore.com. I figured since it came with a free pack of the peach flavor cartridges that it was a good deal (which it was), plus I simply could not find it anywhere in New York City. I guess the store buyers weren't convinced that anyone would purchase this pitcher except me. I am not a big fan of drinking plain water. However I've also been trying to kick the soda habit and oh yeah, water is good for you. What I've been doing for years is buying the "on the go" packets of powder and adding it to my water which always seem to be too sweet. It didn't seem to make much sense that I was "on the go"-ing while I'm in my home watching the Mets and drinking water. There must be something better and it finally arrived. The PUR Flavor Options is a brilliant idea for those who are fans of flavored water. The product puts all of the flavor decision in your hands: you can have as little or as much of peach, raspberry or strawberry flavor, you desire, or none at all. And they've finally added a light on the pitcher which indicates when you should change the filter. In all my years of using first Brita and now PUR, I swear the indicator on the filter never moved. One you get the hang of using the pitcher, you'll love it. One issue is finding a store that actually carries the cartridges but I'm sure now that I've purchased the product I'll see it everywhere I go (doesn't it always work that way?). I'd like to see a lemon and a mango flavor sometime soon too. To borrow from the Guinness ads: "Brilliant!"

www.purflavoroptions.com

Deer Me! Caribou's Coffee Bars

2007-06-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

Many of us on the East Coast don't know much or haven't heard of Caribou Coffee. It's a Minneapolis-based chain that has stores in 18 states, none of them close to New York City. They have a cute logo and name and I've read about them from time to time in the advertising press. I am always intrigued by smaller companies that make good coffee (Green Mountain, New England) being that I am not a big fan of Starbuck's. Too crowded, too burnt coffee-ish and too expensive. I was trolling the local Key Food and lo and behold what is that I see on the shelves nearby the coffee? Yesssss, to borrow from Marv Albert--boxes of Caribou Coffee Chocolate Mocha and Vanilla Latte granola bars. Coffee is an ingredient that seems to be popping up in foods items alot recently, with mixed results. Wrigley's had a coffee gum they were testing (um, we use gum to get the coffee taste OUT of our mouths) and considering I try to give the benefit of the doubt to the thought behind almost every product, that gum was truly awful. The Caribou Coffee bars are quite the opposite: the coffee taste--while noticeable--is not overpowering and mixes well with the chocolate or vanilla flavors. The bars are a tad sweet but they are a perfect pick-me-up for the afternoon doldrums. The company has just made available two more flavors--Caramel Highrise and Mint Condition, both of which I'll be on the lookout for. You might have a tough time finding these but trust me, they're worth tracking down. Happy hunting.

http://www.cariboucoffee.com/coffeebars/index.asp

Is There Joy In Soyville?

2007-06-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

I've noticed these new nutrition bars in the aisle of Duane Reade for the past couple of weeks. I wasn't that interested as the word "Soy" is part of its title and heaven knows I get enough soy from all the edamame I eat. However my countless visits to Duane Reade and careful placement of the SoyJoy bars in the store forced me to take notice of the product. I grabbed a couple--Apple and Mango Coconut--and it was time to get my chew on. I was struck by the fact that the bar weighs close to nothing, almost as though there's just air in the package. Opening the wrapper I saw the most awful-looking bar I've ever seen--it's like a compressed long square .... thing. It reminds me of a squashed, old Italian cookie that was laying around Aunt Rosemarie's kitchen since 1976. You know the kind--maybe as a kid you visited your Great Aunt and Uncle and they gave you a cookie that was seriously old, probably with expired milk. (Well maybe you didn't but I did.) Back to the subject. Of course just because the bar looks terrible doesn't mean it tastes bad, I tell myself. SoyJoy has got to be the driest product I've ever eaten. There's no moisture whatsoever so it's a bit crumbly. On taste alone, it's not bad; the bars taste the way they're supposed to but it made me want a cup of iced coffee pronto. I didn't find it to be the least bit filling, even though the company is calling SoyJoy a "nutritious, portion-controlled snack." Maybe for Nicole Richie. Joy? Not for me. And at $1.59 per bar I'll spend my money on a bag of edamame.

www.soyjoy.com

A Luna Tea Cake Landing

2007-06-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

Being the typical New Yorker who's always on the run, I try to have a nutritional or "energy" bar on hand at all times. I tend to think of bars in the following ways: a PowerBar is somewhat masculine, while Balance bars are sort of unisex. Then there's ones in the middle: Clif, Odwalla, the list goes on and on. One of my favorites is Luna, a bar especially made for women. They're more dainty than most bars and come in several tasty flavors. They may not be as temptingly delicious as they sound--Chocolate Peppermint Stick, Peanut Butter Cookie--but they don't taste like a shoe either. In addition to the usual fare, the company has come up with a product called Luna Tea Cakes. When I first read about these, I wasn't sure what to make of them as they sound like something I should eat while visiting Queen Elizabeth. The Tea Cakes are also not shaped like the usual bars; instead they are a mere 1 inch by 2.5 inches and come in a set of two with a "perforated" cut in the middle for easy snacking on the run. They are thicker and more tasty (they're infused with The Republic of Tea teas) than the bars as well but if you're like me, you'll wind up eating two of them. The flavors and claims on the packaging are interesting as well: Orange Blossom is for "healthy skin," while Berry Pomegranate gives you "longevity," and Vanilla Macadamia promotes "mood balance." So I guess if I eat enough of these I'll live a long time, have terrific skin and fly through menopause with no problem. Sounds good to me. If you do give these a try--and you should, especially Orange Blossom--make sure you "Take a Luna Moment," which is printed inside each package. I'm sure no one who's eaten this product has even noticed that someone worked very hard to come up with such positive reinforcement.

www.lunabar.com

Latest Obsession

2007-05-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

On the lookout for PUR Flavor Options. If there's one thing I can't stand its when a company puts out a release about a new product and then you cannot find it anywhere. This product sounds very intriguing: a PUR water pitcher with the capability of dispensing either raspberry, peach or strawberry, depending on which cartridge one uses. More to come when I find the darn thing.

Shapely Patties: Bubba Burgers

2007-05-26T20:26:00.000-07:00

As a loyal listener of sports talk radio icon WFAN, New York, I frequently hear the commercials for something called "Bubba Burgers," supposedly the best tasting burgers on the market. The ads must have gotten into my subconscious (see, advertising does work!) because when I saw a box of the sweet onion Bubbas at my local grocer's I decided to give them a try. Keeping in mind the company's too long and quite clumsy tagline--"You'll Never Bite A Burger Better Than A Bubba!"--I was looking forward to my dinner. Each box of Bubbas contains six one-half pound burgers, each shaped like the state of Texas, which they get points for. I'd prefer to eat something that looks like the Lone Star state instead of say, California or Florida both of which would make better hot dogs. Anyway, I have to say that I found the Bubbas to be quite juicy and tasty, much better than the ground beef at the grocery store. You also spare yourself the mess of preparing the burgers--you just take them out of the freezer and pop them in the broiler or grill pan. The trick is to make sure they're good and frozen before cooking as that keeps in the juices. I also appreciate that the paper they use in between the frozen burgers doesn't rip and fall apart when you're trying to separate the patties. Bubba Burgers come in several different varieties including original, reduced fat, angus beef, jalapeno, in addition to sweet onion. I'm on the lookout for the jalapeno burgers next. Now if they can just work on that tagline...

www.bubba-burger.com

Hey, There's Pumpkin In My Cereal (Sort Of)

2007-05-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Those who know me are well aware that my breakfast cereal box is more likely to have a leprechaun or blue ghost adorning it. However once and awhile I'll make an attempt to have something else in my house that's "healthy" for breakfast in addition to my usual oatmeal. Occasionally I will even check the tiny area marked "Organic" in my local grocey store. Recently I was looking in that very area and a cereal caught my eye--Nature's Path Organic Flax Pumpkin Raisin Crunch. It contained pumpkin, certainly not an ingredient one sees every day. I hardly noticed the rather gigantic "FLAX PLUS" type on the box, which normally would send me running to a sweet "yabba-dabba-do" treat instead. Since the Nature's Path cereal was on sale for a very reasonable price, I figured what the heck, I do love pumpkin, hopefully it won't taste horrible, and after all it is good for me. I strolled up to the cashier leaving behind lonely boxes of SpongeBob SquarePants and Froot Loops. A few days later, I tried my new purchase and was surprised that it wasn't terrible--in fact it was pretty darn good. I took a look at a handful of the cereal and while I can't say there were very many pumpkin seeds to be found, it was still chock full of raisins and lots of other good-for-you ingredients like rolled oats, flax meal and cinnamon, all organic. It's also high in fiber and has 650 mg. Omega-3's per serving. I've also eaten the cereal as a snack without milk and I have to say I'm impressed. It may not be enough for me to try the company's other cereals (until they perhaps come out with a Flax Plus Chocolate Creme flavor) but give it a try--it's about as tasty as it comes in "healthful" cereal form.

http://www.naturespath.com/products/cold_cereals/

"Two" Good To Believe

2007-05-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

A few months back a friend who lives up in Rochester, N.Y., mentioned that she tried this different kind of ice cream. Except it wasn't really an ice cream she related, but it had two flavors and she assured me I'd like it. Naturally I searched high and low for this product only to come up empty until a few weeks ago when it finally made its way into our East Village neighborhood. Turns out she was talking about Duetto, an interesting and unique product from the underrated folks at Turkey Hill. Don't get me wrong--I love the ice cream that, say, Ben & Jerry's, Haagen-Daz or even Edy's makes, but Turkey Hill has hit a grand slam with Duetto. Each 1.50 quart tub consists of "tangy Venice ice and creamy vanilla soft serve." Basically it has two flavors with two textures which makes it stand out from your usual ice cream. Duetto is available in four flavors: mango, raspberry, cherry and lemon (my fav). You may still have trouble finding the product but I found this gem at Key Food on Avenue A and 4th St. for $5.99. If you grew up eating Italian ices and/or soft serve ice cream from Mr. Softee, this is the best of both worlds.

www.turkeyhill.com/products/duetto-ice-cream.asp

Thanks for reading!

Welcome And Pink Grapefruit For All

2007-05-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow fans of food and drink, as well as those reading this just because they know me.

Welcome to my blog where I'll be writing about food and drink that fall under the category of "It may not be new but it's new to me and it is delicious." Being the crazed foodie that I am, I will volunteer my opinions on delicious and worth-trying foods and drinks so I can make you do so as well. But it's because I love you that I want you to try them too!

If you are like me, you usually don't find yourself saying, "Boy, I'm in the mood for something yummy. I think I'll have a yogurt." However I think I found a yogurt that fits that bill. Emmi's Pink Grapefruit yogurt is amazing. It tastes fresh, has the perfect blend of tartness and sweetness along with smatterings of pink grapefruit pulp but not overdone. Very creamy and a taste sensation. Makes me want to try the other varieties of this Swiss company's offerings. (Emmi also makes apricot, blueberry and black cherry yogurt, among others.) I'll tell you one thing: I can't wait to get more of these babies and I'm not a big "plain" yogurt fan (I prefer Oreo crumbles and Reese's pieces in mine!). Available at such places as Whole Foods, Food Emporium, Gristede's, Garden of Eden and Trader Joe's, I bought mine at the wonderful East Village Cheese in NYC on Third Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets. Emmi's was priced at $1.69 per yogurt at the shop.*

*update: Dean & DeLuca on Prince St. and Broadway has Emmi's yogurts for $1.50.

Here's the link to the Emmi site (click on the yogurt link at the top): http://www.emmiusa.com/

Thanks for reading!

Questions, comments are welcome.

A side note: I want to thank my good friends Christine, Rosella and Ellie, along with my sister Susan, who prodded me into doing this blog. After all, some of the above-mentioned have been dragged to shops time and time again while I wander apparently aimlessly (I really am looking) while trying to spot the hard-to-find gem amongst the mundane. xoxo