new SNAX from snack giant Cheez-it

Cheez-it has done it again. Another delicious cheez flavored snack cracker is on the shelves at your grocery store now. I was introduced to this product by happenstance involving my grocery store shelves, which had been emptied of regular Cheez-its through an outrageous 2 for $4 Safeway Club Card price.



My disappointment was short lived, however, as the Cheez-it Stix (I *love* their unconventional use of spelling!) were a satisfying snack.

While not quite as greasy as regular Cheez-its (this was a negative for me,) the Stix were very crispy and went down easy, allowing you to plow through a third of a box before TLC managed to flip a house.

For more intense reviews of other Cheez-it products, including Cheez-It Star Wars Episode III Limited Edition, check out this insane, yet jealousy inducing snack site. (Although those jokers didn't seem to get that slapping R2D2 on a box doesn't change its contents.)

MSM honors The Snack!

So my sources alerted me to the current issue of Wired magazine that has snack written all over it, literally. Unfortunately, they don't go nearly as in depth into new product reviews, the salty vs. sweet debate, or how many Wheat Thins are really in a serving size, but that just means my readership will remain loyal.

What they do talk about is how snacks are an archetype of modern media and information consumption; we want everything bite-sized and conveniently packaged. They use lots of great snack language, including snackage, snack attack, and, best of all, snack-o-tainment. Check out the issue here.

While I appreciate their use of the snack to represent the cultural consciousness of our time, for me, SNACK CULTURE will always mean eating an entire box of cheez-its and pretending it wasn't a meal.

WHAT THE PUBLIC DEMANDS, THE PUBLIC RECEIVES - PART II

In this second installment of reader requested editorial INVESTIGATION, we sleuth out an inquiry all the way from Chicago [attention advertisers: NATIONAL REACH!!!]

Chris sent us an urgent text message regarding a Smucker's product called "Uncrustables." His mode of communication underscores what an "on-the-go" treat this snack truly is.

The basics of an Uncrustable are the most wonder-y of Wonder breads stamped into a perfect circle, around peanut butter and jelly, hence eliminating the crust. It is basically a pb & j empanada.

My primary confusion around this product was "why the heck would you ever buy a pre-made peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" This thought was quickly supplemented by my secondary confusion, "why do the instructions read, 'thaw for 30-60 minutes and then enjoy within 8-10 hours??" If you are in such a G.D. hurry that you can't make yourself a peanut butter sandwich, then why would you wait 60 minutes for this pb & j hot pocket to defrost?

Then I realized that 26 year old adults are not, in fact, the target audience for this product, but instead, you are supposed to put it in your kid's lunch box in the morning and it will be ready by the time noon rolls around. Now the SnackManiac is no family psychologist, but I think it is safe to assume that if you open your lunch box and you discover an Uncrustable in there, your parents don't love you.

All this being said, it was a tasty little sandwich. Very squishy, but not soggy.

NEW snack that you want

So for breakfast today, I had a brand new snack that has just hit the market: REESE'S CRISPY CRUNCHY BAR.
G got this snack in a swag bag from a party he went to this week, but I claimed it in the name of investigative journalism. [I encourage snack manufacturers to send me review copies of all new snacks, imagine had I not taken the initiative to find this new candy bar!!!]

The Crispy Crunch Bar was a great jumpstart to the day. The center is much like a Butterfinger, but lighter, surrounded by Reese's peanut butter and then chocolate with little peanut bits in it. Very delicious, but somewhat crumbly, so I wouldn't recommend enjoying it in bed.


UPDATE: I just had a few sharp chest pains after savoring this snack. I didn't read the nutrition facts but I suspect this means that it is not a lo-cal snack. Which is just fine by me.

In love with SNACKS

G and I celebrated Valentine's Day with some fancy pink and red SNACKS.

Check out this highly fizzy and pink champagne.

G couldn't pull his weight on it, so I picked up his slack.

I also made a red velvet cake which involved RED FOOD COLORING. It is a very trendy retro snack. Mine did not look EXACTLY like the one in the NYTimes photo. I ran into some structural issues that resulted in my layer cake looking more like a huge whoopie pie. I used my wits and solved this problem by increasing the whipped cream/cream cheese icing by 100%





Cupid would have been proud.

snackmaniac considers move to denver

Quick dispatch from Denver, CO.

Just drove by a purple building that houses "Quick-Pawn" which has a HUGE sign out front that advertises:

CIGS + SNAX

I like their style, cut right to the chase. I suppose that if you are running an outfit called "Quick-Pawn" you want to get down to business.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY: The Holy Day of Snacks

So, I am worshiping at the feet of the snack gods at Nikki's Super Bowl party this evening. I promise to provide up to the minute coverage of all snacks consumed by me as well as all snacks advertised on the tube. [and yes, of course, there will be complete follow-up posting on how I enjoyed the snacks that I purchased as a direct result of Super Bowl---DORITOS!!!!]

Here's the starting line-up:

PEPPERONI, SALAMI AND PEPPER JACK CHEESE!
DELICIOUS PIZZA MADE BY NIKKI WITH FRESH BASIL!
THE INFAMOUS TURTLE CHEX MIX - A SNACK LEGEND!
TORTILLA CHIPS AND 7 LAYERS OF DIP!!


UPDATE: CBS MUST BE READING SNACKMANIAC!!

The first snack related commercial of the game, was, IN FACT, for Doritos. It was fairly funny, which made me want to BUY some RIGHT AWAY.

CBS, I would love to see a commercial for the following products, so let 'em roll:
- Bugles
- Cheese Waffles
- 5th Avenue Bars!!

UPDATE #2: First of all, I said 5TH AVENUE, not SNICKERS. and I thought that commercial was gross and offensive and not at all true to the mission of the snack. If you were in the bathroom or the fridge, you can watch it here.



UPDATE #3: The snacks above were simply warm-ups, checkout the main event: salad, homemade macaroni and cheese and homemade wings (buffalo AND honey bbq.)


UPDATE #4: Somewhat funny commercial for Emerald Nuts featuring Robert Goulet "messing with people's stuff" while they are at the office in need of a snack. You can watch it at www.emeraldnuts.com

UPDATE #5: DESSERT. Now many of you might know that I took a great interest in the Redskins championship bid last season as a result of the lovely and spirit filled SHEETCAKES made by Giant to cheer the team on. Rooting for the home team allowed me to purchase a sheetcake EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND. Anyhow, my grave disappointment in the Redskins vanished upon seeing this beauty: A SNICKERS ICE CREAM CAKE SHAPED LIKE A FOOTBALL!!!