July 2004 edition
Snacker Mailbag Archive
We love getting email from fellow snackers. (Especially from snackers who create their own snack nickname and draw their own WASAW icon.)
Every month or so, we'll post your messages right here, along with our response. We'll even correct your typos. Hell, it's a virtual snacker lovefest. Without all the hugging - and the immediate awkwardness that follows.
As always, feel free to drop us a line.
I came across your site about a year ago while looking for a jujubee picture... Left with so much more... (insert cliched wink here).
Love the site... glad you guys are going to be adding on.
- Snacktacular
(Note: Snacktacular initially emailed us with info regarding how the Tootsie Roll got its name. Now that's snacktacular.)
I just ran across your website and it's rather interesting. I had a couple of things for ya', though.
I noticed no mention of the American-sold Cadbury bars. I'm an afficionado and I'm telling you, the Cadbury "fruit and nut" bar (almond, raisin) is one of the best things out there today. It's only sold in the larger sizes in the candy aisles, (you must know of them, how could you not?).
Also, I have to give a special shout-out to the late, great Bar-None. Truly the best candy ever made in America. Unfortunately, not made anymore...probably because it had such a crappy name and packaging. If you ever can find some of those you have to give one a go. And lastly, in my trip to England, of all the "cadbury's" and other brands I sampled over there, the one that stuck with me the most was the "Fuse" bar. You need to go try that. Find it, order it, put it on your sight, and thank me. It rocks. That is all. Good times.
-- Shaun
Shaun - We agree with your Bar None assessment. Nice treat, lame name, horrible packaging. (The Bjork of candy bars.) And you are not alone in your disappointment that the snack has been discontinued.
We'll do our best to review the Cadbury Fruit & Nut bar. We've definitely heard of it. In fact, the CVS near Paddy O' constantly has a bin of them for 99 cents each. Which is a great snack value - problem is, Paddy O' is not a raisin-in-chocolate fan. (Hello, Chunky bar.) Perhaps another snacker will take up your challenge, though.
As for Fuse - we assume (and hope) you're not referring to this, right?
Paddy O' is about 75% sure he has tried Cadbury's Fuse and is going to search some local spots where British treats are sold to confirm. (You really like raisins in your candy bars, don't you, Shaun?) In the meantime, we've tracked down a webpage devoted to how Fuse came to be. The research and development, and ultimately the marketing that went behind making it a success. Enjoy.
I recommend you try (if you haven't already) Chewy Sweet Tarts.... they are awesome! You can put them in your pocket for a while to make they softer or if you prefer them a little harder, stick them in the fridge...
Thanks,
Scott
Scott - You've hit upon the true test of a truly great chewy snack. The "put it in your pocket" test. Tootsie Rolls are the greatest example of this... although we've never tried sticking one in the fridge.We'll try to track down Chewy Sweet Tarts and do a review. We're already fans of the non-chewy variety. A Halloween staple during childhood.
Hi, Have you tried the BASIL'S BAVARIAN BAKERY - ANIMAL SNACKERS LOW FAT? They are great. If only I could find a big bag. Well, it is best that I don't. I would eat every one of them. You don't know if they make them in the big bags, do you?? No, don't tell me.
Thanks anyway,
Jody
Jody - we are going to look into this for you, but we won't tell you what we learn, we promise.
Honestly, our only Basil's experience - for their delicious Chocolate Mint Chip premium cookies - was a home run. Candyman found the snack in Colorado, so he'll go searching for the Animal Snackers, too.
I can't explain it, but I like the salami sticks. Please review these.
- Icis
Interesting. This would open up an entirely new category for us. Meat and Cheese products. Let us discuss at our quarterly WASAW meeting.
Hello there
I was a big snacker, but have recently moved to Paris, France where I am having trouble finding any good snacks. The candies are too sweet and not much flavor. There are many different Chocolates, but I need more than that. I have given up on chips. The only kind I can find that I enjoy is Pringles sour cream.
Here is a little background of my tastes: I love the Flamin' Hot Cheetos or Puffs, Ranch Doritos with extra Ranch, Nacho Doritos, toffee-covered peanuts, Poppycock, candy corn, caramel apples, Skor, York Peppermint Patties, and Hot Tomales, and so many other snacks, but alas, they aren't sold here. I have a choice between Twix, Snickers and Werthers' Originals... Don't get me wrong they are good but I like variety. Chips are out of the question too... What is paprika doing on chips?? Please answer me that! What are ketchup flavor chips?!?! I think I saw those being sold at a store. It sounds completely disgusting. I love ketchup and I love chips but they just dont go together.
Well my point was to ask if you have any snackers guide to Paris? Where can I get cheap and delicious snacks? I have gone to the American food shops but they are kind of expensive. Example: 3 bucks for a can of cream of mushroom soup!!!! Please help me! I need something now!!!
- Anjanette
Anjanette, we have failed you. A contact of ours, who is French and now living in the U.S., tried his best to track out such a location but was unsuccessful. His fiancee, Christina, though, had these words of advice for you:
Anjanette's problem seems to be two-fold. First, it seems that there's a problem with the demand for snacks:
"...the study found that the French participants didn't snack, generally defined as consuming one to two between-meal foods, such as a handful of peanuts and a glass of orange juice. "The French ate less than one snack a day. Here in the U.S., we have about three snacks a day," says R. Curtis Ellison, MD, professor of preventive medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine and the study's lead researcher."
I have to interject that this is not entirely accurate. There's an extra meal over there that comes just after work, but a bit before dinner called "appero" or "apperitif" During this, they drink alcohol and eat - among other treats - salty snacks. So, snacking is just a bit more ritualized and probably not included in the study above.
Second (Anjanette is not going to like this part), she's not making proper use of the resources available to her. She needs to be more resourceful and not look at this as a problem, but as an adventure. Instead of scoffing at the ketchup chips she needs put her prejudices aside, break open a bag and give the local goods a try. After all, if Paris is known for anything besides rudeness and poodles, it's food. Let's be realistic - if she thought "what is puffed corn meal doing with fluorescent-orange-powdered 'cheese'?" she'd never have eaten her first Cheez Doodle. And, unfortunately, even if (such) a store with familiar products exists, with all the import taxes she's going to have to pay far too much.Anj - we'll keep trying.
You should add Andes Mints to your list, they are really good.
- MeganAgreed! Truth is, after reading your email, Paddy O' bought an entire box. He then made the mistake of sharing them with co-workers and they were gone within hours. So he's going to buy another box and a padlock, and this time he'll review them.