When I'm out grocery shopping, I have gotten into the habit of snapping pictures of products that are weird, interesting, and probably doomed to be pulled from the shelves. Snack foods, cereals, sodas and chips are some areas I can usually find these strange creatures. I snap a picture of the items on the shelves, in their natural habitat, if you will. It's kind of fun to look back and see how many of the items I shot didn't make it in the wild for long.
So that's why I'm going to start a fun new interactive part to this blog, and I'm hoping all of you faithful readers out there (all 6 of you) will help me out. The new section is what I am going to call "The Endangered Groceries List", and it goes like this:
When you are out shopping at your local Piggly Wiggly, Meyers, Cub Foods, or whatever grocery chain you have in your neck of the woods, be on the lookout for "endangered groceries".
What are "Endangered Groceries" you might ask? Well, it's those items you see on the shelves that catch your eye and you think to yourself "Wow, these are never gonna last". Maybe they are limited edition items that were never intended to stick around. Maybe they are items tied to some celebrity who is having their 5 minutes of fame. Or maybe it's an item that is just plain a bad idea that nobody is going to buy into.
Here are some examples that I have shot in the wild:
Limited edition cereal, will surely be gone in 6 months
And this:
Weird snack/cereal from a small company that I can't find anymore
Oh yeah, and these......weird......
Git R' Done! I give them a few months. Aren't people sick of this guy yet?
So, if you are out and about and come across any of these doomed to fail, endangered groceries, snap a pic! And send it to me at gbnfgroceries@gmail.com. Maybe I'll use it in the Endangered Groceries section, and you'll be an instant hero to people everywhere! (well, to the other 5 people who read this blog, anyway.....)
Thanks, and happy hunting!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
From the Cereal Aisle: Carnation Breakfast Bars
Product: Carnation Breakfast Bar
Company: Carnation/Nestle
Years: 1975-1993 (?)
I had no idea people were so gaga over the Carnation Breakfast bar.
And not just regular old gaga, but like, "lets start multiple online petitions to bring them back" gaga.
People are trying to recreate the recipe and make their own.....
This discontinued product even has it's own Facebook page! Settle down, people!
Yes, people have been pining for these delicious treats since Nestle decided to pull them from the shelves. I'm not sure exactly when they were discontinued, or WHY they were discontinued, but some of the last Newspaper advertisements I could find for them were right around 1992/93, so I'm marking that as the extinction date.
I actually do remember eating these when I was little, especially on camping trips or car rides to the cottage......or as an after school snack. It was a semi-nutritious meal replacement. Sort of the grandfather to the thousands of "Energy/Meal" bars on the market today. But the genius thing about the Carnation bars is that they covered the things in chocolate. Fact and point, kids will eat anything covered in chocolate. It sort of blurs the lines between adult food and kids food. It's covered in chocolate? Sure, I'll try it.
They came in various flavors over the years - The original flavors were Chocolate Crumb, Chocolate Chip, Granola with Peanut butter, Granola with Raisins, and Granola with Cinnamon. Over teh years, other flavors were added, such as Chocolate Coconut Crunch, Caramel Nut Crunch, and Chocolate Malted Milk Crunch (this is the one I remember most, as I wasn't really a fan of Malted milk, but for some reason my mom always bought it).
And more important then feeding the masses of hungry 70's/80's kids, it was the official snack on the Space Shuttle Columbia. That's right.....MF'n astronauts ate them in space. Amazing.
Unfortunately, like the US space program, it's been discontinued. Hopefully, if there is any intelligent life out there, we will one day see these return to store shelves everywhere. Now if I can just find a petition to sign........
like here, or here, or here.........
Company: Carnation/Nestle
Years: 1975-1993 (?)
I had no idea people were so gaga over the Carnation Breakfast bar.
And not just regular old gaga, but like, "lets start multiple online petitions to bring them back" gaga.
People are trying to recreate the recipe and make their own.....
This discontinued product even has it's own Facebook page! Settle down, people!
 |
| Image by Grickly |
I actually do remember eating these when I was little, especially on camping trips or car rides to the cottage......or as an after school snack. It was a semi-nutritious meal replacement. Sort of the grandfather to the thousands of "Energy/Meal" bars on the market today. But the genius thing about the Carnation bars is that they covered the things in chocolate. Fact and point, kids will eat anything covered in chocolate. It sort of blurs the lines between adult food and kids food. It's covered in chocolate? Sure, I'll try it.
They came in various flavors over the years - The original flavors were Chocolate Crumb, Chocolate Chip, Granola with Peanut butter, Granola with Raisins, and Granola with Cinnamon. Over teh years, other flavors were added, such as Chocolate Coconut Crunch, Caramel Nut Crunch, and Chocolate Malted Milk Crunch (this is the one I remember most, as I wasn't really a fan of Malted milk, but for some reason my mom always bought it).
And more important then feeding the masses of hungry 70's/80's kids, it was the official snack on the Space Shuttle Columbia. That's right.....MF'n astronauts ate them in space. Amazing.
Unfortunately, like the US space program, it's been discontinued. Hopefully, if there is any intelligent life out there, we will one day see these return to store shelves everywhere. Now if I can just find a petition to sign........
like here, or here, or here.........
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
From the Candy Aisle: Wacky Wafers
Product: Wacky Wafers
Company: Willy Wonka
Years: 80s - 90's
Sometimes candy goes away and you never even know it. Case in point, Wacky Wafers. I'm guessing most people don't even realize they haven't been made in quite some time.
Wacky Wafers were made by the Willy Wonka Candy Company until Nestle took it over back in 1988, then they eventually pulled the plug sometime in the late 90's. The ones I remember the most are the larger ones (the Originals and best, as far as I'm concerned), about the side of a half dollar, that came in a row. They also came in various other sizes over the years, including smaller disks about the side of Bottle Caps or Sweet Tarts that came in single packs and on a roll, similar to today's Sweet Tarts.
Flavors included Banana, Green Apple, Strawberry, Watermelon, and Orange, with a few variations over the years including Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Grape.
I don't have a lot of info in this candy, as it simply one day disappeared, quietly in the dark of the night. Like a jilted lover, or a Possum.
But there is still hope that we may one day get to taste these sweet treats again. In early 2012, Leaf Brands LLC acquired the trademark for Wacky Wafers, and rumors have been floating around that they will be reviving this long lost candy very soon.
To which I can only say "Man, that would be awesome." So I will.
Man, that WOULD be awesome......
Company: Willy Wonka
Years: 80s - 90's
 |
| Image by Dan Goodsell |
Sometimes candy goes away and you never even know it. Case in point, Wacky Wafers. I'm guessing most people don't even realize they haven't been made in quite some time.
Wacky Wafers were made by the Willy Wonka Candy Company until Nestle took it over back in 1988, then they eventually pulled the plug sometime in the late 90's. The ones I remember the most are the larger ones (the Originals and best, as far as I'm concerned), about the side of a half dollar, that came in a row. They also came in various other sizes over the years, including smaller disks about the side of Bottle Caps or Sweet Tarts that came in single packs and on a roll, similar to today's Sweet Tarts.
 |
| Image by CollectingCandy.com |
I don't have a lot of info in this candy, as it simply one day disappeared, quietly in the dark of the night. Like a jilted lover, or a Possum.
But there is still hope that we may one day get to taste these sweet treats again. In early 2012, Leaf Brands LLC acquired the trademark for Wacky Wafers, and rumors have been floating around that they will be reviving this long lost candy very soon.
To which I can only say "Man, that would be awesome." So I will.
Man, that WOULD be awesome......
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Back from the Dead for Halloween!!! Monsters!!!! (Well, Monster Cereals, anyway...)
Sometimes they come back.......the Return of Frute Brute and Yummy Mummy!
A little different post today to make everyone aware (thought it seems like everyone has known about and been extremely excited for these for a while now) that General Mills has brought back two of it's Gone but not Forgotten Cereals for Halloween, Yummy Mummy and the legendary Frute Brute! I've talked about them before, but a few months ago when I heard they were coming back from the dead, I was genuinely excited, as I'm sure most of you were. Both these cereals have been gone for 20+ years, so it's quite exciting (and an A+++++ for General Mills) to see a company listening to the cries of us thirtysomethingers (that's a word, right?) to bring back the cereals that we miss from our childhood. Simply bringing them back would have been enough for most people, but like me, I remember a lot of people saying "Wouldn't it be cool if they not only brought them back, but brought back the original packaging that we all loved so much?" As it turned out, General Mills was doing their homework, because the next day it was announced that they would be available for a limited time, IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING, from Target! Simply amazing. The nerd in me made plans to check Target each and every day until I found these (which sadly I still haven't spotted them in my area), but I did get a surprise prize package in the mail from General Mills (provided through MyBlogSpark) containg 3 of the 5 boxes, Boo Berry, Frute Brute, and Yummy Mummy.
So I did what any 30+ year old would do who is longing for the simpler times that were his youth would do: I woke up with my kids early one Saturday Morning, popped in a DVD which contained a 3 hour block of cartoons with Original Commercials from my youth (1984 to be exact), and cracked open all 3 boxes of cereal, which my kids and I quickly devoured.
Boo Berry and Frute Brute were the first to go, followed up by Yummy Mummy. It was a glorious morning, and my kids and I loved them all. I have to thank General Mills for doing this. I can't help but think that they will have a spike in sales simply from people like myself, as I know some of my internet buddies are buying 2...3....even 4 boxes at a time. Stock up, and display the boxes proudly! (We all know how much the original Fruit Brute boxes go for, so the Retro box will have to do for now!)
I still need to hunt down the Count Chocula and Frankenberry retro boxes to finish my collection, and I will continue to check Target until I find them.
And if having the retro boxes of love wasn't enough, if you purchase 3 retro boxes at Target between now and October 31st you will get a Monster Bash magazine, which contains tips and tricks for making your Halloween the spookiest and creepiest Halloween ever, and its FREE when you purchase 3 boxes in a single shopping trip. So what are you waiting for! Stock up while you can!!! The clock is ticking, and Halloween is almost here!!!
Once again, I want to thank General Mills for making this retro nerd happy this Halloween season (It's a Halloween miracle!) I'd also like to thank MyBlogSpark for sending me the boxes of love!
Get more information from General Mills here! www.grocerysavvy.com
(Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.)
A little different post today to make everyone aware (thought it seems like everyone has known about and been extremely excited for these for a while now) that General Mills has brought back two of it's Gone but not Forgotten Cereals for Halloween, Yummy Mummy and the legendary Frute Brute! I've talked about them before, but a few months ago when I heard they were coming back from the dead, I was genuinely excited, as I'm sure most of you were. Both these cereals have been gone for 20+ years, so it's quite exciting (and an A+++++ for General Mills) to see a company listening to the cries of us thirtysomethingers (that's a word, right?) to bring back the cereals that we miss from our childhood. Simply bringing them back would have been enough for most people, but like me, I remember a lot of people saying "Wouldn't it be cool if they not only brought them back, but brought back the original packaging that we all loved so much?" As it turned out, General Mills was doing their homework, because the next day it was announced that they would be available for a limited time, IN THEIR ORIGINAL PACKAGING, from Target! Simply amazing. The nerd in me made plans to check Target each and every day until I found these (which sadly I still haven't spotted them in my area), but I did get a surprise prize package in the mail from General Mills (provided through MyBlogSpark) containg 3 of the 5 boxes, Boo Berry, Frute Brute, and Yummy Mummy.
So I did what any 30+ year old would do who is longing for the simpler times that were his youth would do: I woke up with my kids early one Saturday Morning, popped in a DVD which contained a 3 hour block of cartoons with Original Commercials from my youth (1984 to be exact), and cracked open all 3 boxes of cereal, which my kids and I quickly devoured.
Boo Berry and Frute Brute were the first to go, followed up by Yummy Mummy. It was a glorious morning, and my kids and I loved them all. I have to thank General Mills for doing this. I can't help but think that they will have a spike in sales simply from people like myself, as I know some of my internet buddies are buying 2...3....even 4 boxes at a time. Stock up, and display the boxes proudly! (We all know how much the original Fruit Brute boxes go for, so the Retro box will have to do for now!)
I still need to hunt down the Count Chocula and Frankenberry retro boxes to finish my collection, and I will continue to check Target until I find them.
And if having the retro boxes of love wasn't enough, if you purchase 3 retro boxes at Target between now and October 31st you will get a Monster Bash magazine, which contains tips and tricks for making your Halloween the spookiest and creepiest Halloween ever, and its FREE when you purchase 3 boxes in a single shopping trip. So what are you waiting for! Stock up while you can!!! The clock is ticking, and Halloween is almost here!!!
Once again, I want to thank General Mills for making this retro nerd happy this Halloween season (It's a Halloween miracle!) I'd also like to thank MyBlogSpark for sending me the boxes of love!
Get more information from General Mills here! www.grocerysavvy.com
(Disclosure: The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
From the Beverage Aisle: Otter Ade
Product: Otter Ade
Company: National Pax Corp.
Years: 1983-1990
From the land of powdered drink mixes comes the long forgotten Otter Ade, the fruity sister to everyones favorite "Otter Pops". This drink mix was around in the 80's and was similar to your other drink mixes, came already mixed with sugar and contained Vitamin C (so that they could maybe sneak it under your parents radar, because you are really just drinking cups of sugar.....).
Who remembers this stuff? I was always a Kool-Aid kid, so my parents never really ventures into alternative ways to give us sugary drinks such as Otter Ade or Funny Face mixes. Though I have to say these packages are very appealing to a kid, not sure why I never begged for them.
On a side note, you can still buy Otter Pops today with these same characters on them. Wonder why they stopped making the Ade. And I wonder why they never had Sir Isaac Lime, a very popular pop flavor, in the powdered Ade form.
Also, a part of me hopes that there was an article in a newspaper or marketing magazine or something back in 1990 that read "National Pax Corp to stop giving kids Ades".
Otter Ade came in several fun flavors with it's own cool Otter mascot:
Alexander the Grape-
Louie Bloo Raspberry-
Poncho Punch-
Strawberry Short Kook-
Scarlet O'Cherry-
Fun stuff. And extremely cool and collectable packages. Who remembers drinking this stuff?
As always, share your comments and stories below on Otter Ade!
Company: National Pax Corp.
Years: 1983-1990
From the land of powdered drink mixes comes the long forgotten Otter Ade, the fruity sister to everyones favorite "Otter Pops". This drink mix was around in the 80's and was similar to your other drink mixes, came already mixed with sugar and contained Vitamin C (so that they could maybe sneak it under your parents radar, because you are really just drinking cups of sugar.....).
Who remembers this stuff? I was always a Kool-Aid kid, so my parents never really ventures into alternative ways to give us sugary drinks such as Otter Ade or Funny Face mixes. Though I have to say these packages are very appealing to a kid, not sure why I never begged for them.
On a side note, you can still buy Otter Pops today with these same characters on them. Wonder why they stopped making the Ade. And I wonder why they never had Sir Isaac Lime, a very popular pop flavor, in the powdered Ade form.
Also, a part of me hopes that there was an article in a newspaper or marketing magazine or something back in 1990 that read "National Pax Corp to stop giving kids Ades".
Otter Ade came in several fun flavors with it's own cool Otter mascot:
Alexander the Grape-
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| Image by Grickly |
Louie Bloo Raspberry-
Poncho Punch-
 | |||
| Image by Grickly |
Strawberry Short Kook-
 | ||||
| Image by Grickly |
Scarlet O'Cherry-
 |
| Image by Grickly |
Fun stuff. And extremely cool and collectable packages. Who remembers drinking this stuff?
As always, share your comments and stories below on Otter Ade!
Monday, September 23, 2013
From the Canned Goods Aisle: Zooroni
Product: Zooroni
Company: Chef Boyardee
Years: Late 70's - Early 80's
Ok, ok......I know. This is the third Chef Boyardee product that I've covered now, and no, I am not on the Chef's payroll. It's just that the trail of dead canned pasta dishes goes back a long, long way. I mean, when you are selling noodles in tomato sauce, you have to keep it fresh, keep it fun for the kids. Some just so happen to be more memorable that others. And that is why today I am adding Zooroni to the list of extinct groceries. Everyone remembers Zooroni, and I would bet that there isn't a 30something adult around who hasn't tasted the splendor that is Zooroni. If there is, they are a liar.
Zooroni, a delicious pasta in tomato sause with tangy cheese (with or without meatballs) was basically animal crackers in sauce. Shaped noodles that looked like giraffes, camels, elephants and hippos. How they got the noodles to look like those animals is a mystery to me, though I have a hunch they hired a noodle artist to shape all the animals by hand. Or they used a big, industrial machine to make shapes that sort of looked like either a tiger or a rhino, close enough, nobody knows. Nobody but The Chef, that is. He knows, but took the secret to his grave, and though it may be fun to dig him up and get it, were just going to leave it alone.
So where does Zooroni rank in your canned pasta top 5? There are so many classics (Roller coasters, UFOs, Pac Man Pasta, ABCs and 123s, Tic-Tac-Toes, etc....), it's really hard to pick a favorite. Partly because despite the clever names and gimmicks, it was the same can of pasta retooled and sold back to you over and over and over, and us, being kids at the time, were really gullible. (Come on...we really were and you know it).
That being said, it was still a fun part of growing up, and Chef Boyardee was a master at getting us to get our parents to fork over their hard earned cash to get it, even if that meant throwing a tantrum on the floor in the canned goods aisle.
Not that I ever did that...... I was talking about you. Some peoples kids.
Was this one of your favorites growing up too? Express your love for Zooroni in the comment field below in 6 and a half words or less. (or more if you want, I don't care.)
Company: Chef Boyardee
Years: Late 70's - Early 80's
 |
| These animals all look stoned, and I"m not sure why. |
Ok, ok......I know. This is the third Chef Boyardee product that I've covered now, and no, I am not on the Chef's payroll. It's just that the trail of dead canned pasta dishes goes back a long, long way. I mean, when you are selling noodles in tomato sauce, you have to keep it fresh, keep it fun for the kids. Some just so happen to be more memorable that others. And that is why today I am adding Zooroni to the list of extinct groceries. Everyone remembers Zooroni, and I would bet that there isn't a 30something adult around who hasn't tasted the splendor that is Zooroni. If there is, they are a liar.Zooroni, a delicious pasta in tomato sause with tangy cheese (with or without meatballs) was basically animal crackers in sauce. Shaped noodles that looked like giraffes, camels, elephants and hippos. How they got the noodles to look like those animals is a mystery to me, though I have a hunch they hired a noodle artist to shape all the animals by hand. Or they used a big, industrial machine to make shapes that sort of looked like either a tiger or a rhino, close enough, nobody knows. Nobody but The Chef, that is. He knows, but took the secret to his grave, and though it may be fun to dig him up and get it, were just going to leave it alone.
So where does Zooroni rank in your canned pasta top 5? There are so many classics (Roller coasters, UFOs, Pac Man Pasta, ABCs and 123s, Tic-Tac-Toes, etc....), it's really hard to pick a favorite. Partly because despite the clever names and gimmicks, it was the same can of pasta retooled and sold back to you over and over and over, and us, being kids at the time, were really gullible. (Come on...we really were and you know it).
That being said, it was still a fun part of growing up, and Chef Boyardee was a master at getting us to get our parents to fork over their hard earned cash to get it, even if that meant throwing a tantrum on the floor in the canned goods aisle.
Not that I ever did that...... I was talking about you. Some peoples kids.
Was this one of your favorites growing up too? Express your love for Zooroni in the comment field below in 6 and a half words or less. (or more if you want, I don't care.)
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
From the Candy Aisle: Hershey Prisms
Product: Prisms
Company: Hershey
Years: 1986 -1987
Another long lost chocolate candy, brought to my attention by the Candy King himself, Jason Liebig (check him out at CollectingCandy.com!) I can honestly say I didn't remember these one bit, but I do dig the 80's design with it's totally 80's color scheme. I can't find much info on these candies at all, so I'm guessing they didn't sell too well (the clearance sticker kind of gives it away too...)
Other then Jason's awesome Prisms package picture (say that 5 times really fast, or don't), I could only find two other mentions of it online, in a 1986 advertisement from the Tuscaloosa News (to the left), and a mention of a contest from June 11th of 1987 (from Gibson's Discount Center in Kansas) where if you guess the number of Hershey Prism's in a jar you can win a talking Mickey Mouse doll. Other then that, it's almost as if they never existed.but we have a timeline of 1986-1987 at least, so I guess until more info surfaces I'll go with that.
So does anyone remember these? They were pretty much just like larger M&M's.....right? Milk Dud size maybe?
So many questions that I don't have answers to, sadly.
Company: Hershey
Years: 1986 -1987
 |
| Image by Jason Liebig |
Other then Jason's awesome Prisms package picture (say that 5 times really fast, or don't), I could only find two other mentions of it online, in a 1986 advertisement from the Tuscaloosa News (to the left), and a mention of a contest from June 11th of 1987 (from Gibson's Discount Center in Kansas) where if you guess the number of Hershey Prism's in a jar you can win a talking Mickey Mouse doll. Other then that, it's almost as if they never existed.but we have a timeline of 1986-1987 at least, so I guess until more info surfaces I'll go with that.So does anyone remember these? They were pretty much just like larger M&M's.....right? Milk Dud size maybe?
So many questions that I don't have answers to, sadly.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
From the Beverage Aisle: Zima
Product: Zima
Company: Coors
Years: 1993-early 2000s
Could I see your Driver's license please?
"Zomething Different"
Ah..... Zima. What can I really say that hasn't been said before. You were the drink of choice when making fun of my friends in College ("Hey Keith, you want a Zima or something???? *HighFivesFriends*) and to this day you are still the punchline to many jokes told when were out on the town. How did you become such a punching bag in the first place? I mean, really, Zima, it wasn't your fault. You just came around 10 years too early. Today you'd be the star of any party, but sadly, we will never know.
Zima (the Eastern European word for "Winter") was produced by the Miller Coors company back in the early 90's during what us food historians call the "Clear Beverage Craze". What had started in Soda (Clear Tab, Crystal Pepsi) had moved on to clear adult beverages, and while Gin and Vodka had been around for ages, clear beverages aimed at a younger demographic was the new thing. Zima was the grandfather, with other companies stepping up to compete for a share of the market. Miller came out with their own version, called Miller Qube, and Stroh's came out with a variation called "Clash". Zima, by far, had the most success of any of these drinks.
The idea behind Zima was to offer an alternative to wine coolers, and the Lemon Lime drink quickly became a favorite drink of women. Coors marketed the hell out of Zima, and at one point it was estimated that half of the drinking age population had tried it (and who knows how much of the non-drinking age population.....Come on.....in Highschool you'd drink ANYTHING, and you know it).
In 1995, Coors realized it had a gender problem on it's hands, in that it was extremely uncool for men to drink Zima. So it marketed a new drink, Zima Gold, which was an amber colored drink with a bourbon taste to it, hoping men would drink it up. But we didn't, because the only think worse then passing up alcohol is being made fun of by our friends for drinking something uncool. It was quickly discontinued and became the Death Knell for the brand. They tried a few more things to save the brand, changing packaging and bottle shape, adding new citrus flavors, but to no avail. Zima was soon after pronounced dead. I've heard you can still get Zima in some places in Japan, to which I have to ask the important question, "Why?".
So lets here your best stories of drinking Zima in the 90's! You can leave out the embarrassing stuff, even though, you will have admitted to drinking Zima already, which in and of itself, is pretty embarrassing.
Company: Coors
Years: 1993-early 2000s
Could I see your Driver's license please?
"Zomething Different"
Ah..... Zima. What can I really say that hasn't been said before. You were the drink of choice when making fun of my friends in College ("Hey Keith, you want a Zima or something???? *HighFivesFriends*) and to this day you are still the punchline to many jokes told when were out on the town. How did you become such a punching bag in the first place? I mean, really, Zima, it wasn't your fault. You just came around 10 years too early. Today you'd be the star of any party, but sadly, we will never know.
Zima (the Eastern European word for "Winter") was produced by the Miller Coors company back in the early 90's during what us food historians call the "Clear Beverage Craze". What had started in Soda (Clear Tab, Crystal Pepsi) had moved on to clear adult beverages, and while Gin and Vodka had been around for ages, clear beverages aimed at a younger demographic was the new thing. Zima was the grandfather, with other companies stepping up to compete for a share of the market. Miller came out with their own version, called Miller Qube, and Stroh's came out with a variation called "Clash". Zima, by far, had the most success of any of these drinks.
The idea behind Zima was to offer an alternative to wine coolers, and the Lemon Lime drink quickly became a favorite drink of women. Coors marketed the hell out of Zima, and at one point it was estimated that half of the drinking age population had tried it (and who knows how much of the non-drinking age population.....Come on.....in Highschool you'd drink ANYTHING, and you know it).
In 1995, Coors realized it had a gender problem on it's hands, in that it was extremely uncool for men to drink Zima. So it marketed a new drink, Zima Gold, which was an amber colored drink with a bourbon taste to it, hoping men would drink it up. But we didn't, because the only think worse then passing up alcohol is being made fun of by our friends for drinking something uncool. It was quickly discontinued and became the Death Knell for the brand. They tried a few more things to save the brand, changing packaging and bottle shape, adding new citrus flavors, but to no avail. Zima was soon after pronounced dead. I've heard you can still get Zima in some places in Japan, to which I have to ask the important question, "Why?".
So lets here your best stories of drinking Zima in the 90's! You can leave out the embarrassing stuff, even though, you will have admitted to drinking Zima already, which in and of itself, is pretty embarrassing.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
From the Frozen Foods Dept.: Micro Magic Milkshakes
Product: Micro Magic Milkshakes
Company: Simplot (J.R. Simplot Co.)
Years: 1989-?
I don't even want to write about Micro Magic Milkshakes. It's so stupid. Really. I mean, if you put any ice cream in the microwave for 45 seconds, it becomes the consistency of a shake.......doesn't it?
The J.R. Simplot company has taken us for fools, people.....FOOLS!
This microwave shake came in three, possibly four flavors: Everyone knows about the Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, but according to the newspaper article below, there was also an Orange version. I don't remember the orange ones, and I've never seen a package from one, so not sure if they were regional or what the deal is. The point is, I can't believe I'm still talking about a cup of $1.39 ice cream that was melted in the microwave and presented as a milkshake.
These were part of Micro Magic's "Hey America: You got a new microwave! Let's all get fat!" campaign from the late 80's that included not only the milk shakes, but microwave french fries and microwave cheeseburgers.
"Let's nuke these bitches and eat!!!!" *tears open packages*
I would normally say that this was just a "Fad" food of the 80's, but microwave burgers and fries are still around today. In fact, Kroger sells a microwave milkshake still to this day. Yup.
Does anyone buy them? If I had to guess, I'd say that I don't really care and I STILL can't believe I'm talking about melted ice cream. I could be reading a book, or building a tree house with my kids....
If J.R. Simplot was selling dehydrated water I bet people would buy it.
But I will say this, I think everyone remembers these on the shelves of their frozen food aisles in the late 80's/early 90's, and perhaps, if not for any reason other then curiosity, bought some.
I can still remember my mom coming home with them one day and pulling them from the paper Piggly Wiggly bag like she just pulled a rabbit out of a hat, and as we all stood around the microwave watching the dimly lit carousel spinning round and round inside, as if some actual magic was taking place inside, and I realized, at that moment, that my mom had indeed wasted $1.39.
I sure hope she used a coupon.
Company: Simplot (J.R. Simplot Co.)
Years: 1989-?
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| Image by Jason Liebig |
I don't even want to write about Micro Magic Milkshakes. It's so stupid. Really. I mean, if you put any ice cream in the microwave for 45 seconds, it becomes the consistency of a shake.......doesn't it?
The J.R. Simplot company has taken us for fools, people.....FOOLS!
This microwave shake came in three, possibly four flavors: Everyone knows about the Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, but according to the newspaper article below, there was also an Orange version. I don't remember the orange ones, and I've never seen a package from one, so not sure if they were regional or what the deal is. The point is, I can't believe I'm still talking about a cup of $1.39 ice cream that was melted in the microwave and presented as a milkshake.
These were part of Micro Magic's "Hey America: You got a new microwave! Let's all get fat!" campaign from the late 80's that included not only the milk shakes, but microwave french fries and microwave cheeseburgers.
"Let's nuke these bitches and eat!!!!" *tears open packages*
I would normally say that this was just a "Fad" food of the 80's, but microwave burgers and fries are still around today. In fact, Kroger sells a microwave milkshake still to this day. Yup.
Does anyone buy them? If I had to guess, I'd say that I don't really care and I STILL can't believe I'm talking about melted ice cream. I could be reading a book, or building a tree house with my kids....
If J.R. Simplot was selling dehydrated water I bet people would buy it.
But I will say this, I think everyone remembers these on the shelves of their frozen food aisles in the late 80's/early 90's, and perhaps, if not for any reason other then curiosity, bought some.
I can still remember my mom coming home with them one day and pulling them from the paper Piggly Wiggly bag like she just pulled a rabbit out of a hat, and as we all stood around the microwave watching the dimly lit carousel spinning round and round inside, as if some actual magic was taking place inside, and I realized, at that moment, that my mom had indeed wasted $1.39.
I sure hope she used a coupon.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
From the Snack Aisle: Koo Koos, Razzys, and Googles
Products: Koo Koos, Razzys, and Googles
Company: Dolly Madison
Years: 70's
I love the Peanuts Gang. I also love junk food. When you put the 2 things together, you get 8 year old me quickly handing over his hard earned allowance money to buy Zingers and fruit pies with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Linus, and the rest of the gang adorning the packages. (you also get fat, but that's a tale for another time).
Starting in the 60's and working through the 70's and 80's, Charles and Dolly have been working together to promote their cartoons and snacks to kids. Everyone loved Charlie Brown. Everyone loved cream filled snack cakes. It was a win/win for both of them (and a win/win for this fat kid too).
But the snacks I'd like to focus on today are the cupcakes: Koo Koos, Razzys, and Googles.
I am not sure the exact timeline for these snack cakes, as I've heard anywhere from early to mid 70's, but like 95% of all the great food items, they seem to have been discontinued right around the time of my birth. And before you go blaming me, my therapist keeps telling me, "It's not my fault", and I tend to agree with her.
Koo Koos were essentially Ding Dongs, or King Dongs, or Big Wheels (if you will). Chocolate covered chocolate cakes with a cream filling. Charlie Brown graced the package. Yum.
Razzys were a Yellow cake version of the Koo Koos, covered in a raspberry flavored coating. Lucy was on the front of this package (and it looks like she's bitching about something ......again).
Googles were.........well.........I have no idea. I can't find a single thing about them when I searched Google (yes, I Googled Googles). Did these actually exist in the wild? Were they cut from production lines before they made it to store shelves? Supposedly they were a yellow cake in a white frosting, the albino brother of the Koo Koo. I can't explain why the frosting looks like camouflage. Could you only eat Googles while hiding in the woods? Is this why I've never seen one? Anyone? And what IS the true meaning of Christmas? Linus?
If anyone out there knows anything about Googles, please let me know. I'd also like to hear your memories of these or any other delicious Dolly Madison snack cakes. This is the kid of stuff I miss from my youth. And if Doc Brown ever comes back with that time machine, I promise you that I will go back to the early 70's, fill a bathtub with Koo Koos and Razzys (and possibly Googles), and lounge in it.
Eating.
Possibly crying.
But ultimately, smiling.
Company: Dolly Madison
Years: 70's
I love the Peanuts Gang. I also love junk food. When you put the 2 things together, you get 8 year old me quickly handing over his hard earned allowance money to buy Zingers and fruit pies with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Linus, and the rest of the gang adorning the packages. (you also get fat, but that's a tale for another time).
Starting in the 60's and working through the 70's and 80's, Charles and Dolly have been working together to promote their cartoons and snacks to kids. Everyone loved Charlie Brown. Everyone loved cream filled snack cakes. It was a win/win for both of them (and a win/win for this fat kid too).
But the snacks I'd like to focus on today are the cupcakes: Koo Koos, Razzys, and Googles.
I am not sure the exact timeline for these snack cakes, as I've heard anywhere from early to mid 70's, but like 95% of all the great food items, they seem to have been discontinued right around the time of my birth. And before you go blaming me, my therapist keeps telling me, "It's not my fault", and I tend to agree with her.
Koo Koos were essentially Ding Dongs, or King Dongs, or Big Wheels (if you will). Chocolate covered chocolate cakes with a cream filling. Charlie Brown graced the package. Yum.
Razzys were a Yellow cake version of the Koo Koos, covered in a raspberry flavored coating. Lucy was on the front of this package (and it looks like she's bitching about something ......again).
Googles were.........well.........I have no idea. I can't find a single thing about them when I searched Google (yes, I Googled Googles). Did these actually exist in the wild? Were they cut from production lines before they made it to store shelves? Supposedly they were a yellow cake in a white frosting, the albino brother of the Koo Koo. I can't explain why the frosting looks like camouflage. Could you only eat Googles while hiding in the woods? Is this why I've never seen one? Anyone? And what IS the true meaning of Christmas? Linus?
If anyone out there knows anything about Googles, please let me know. I'd also like to hear your memories of these or any other delicious Dolly Madison snack cakes. This is the kid of stuff I miss from my youth. And if Doc Brown ever comes back with that time machine, I promise you that I will go back to the early 70's, fill a bathtub with Koo Koos and Razzys (and possibly Googles), and lounge in it.
Eating.
Possibly crying.
But ultimately, smiling.
Monday, July 8, 2013
From the Canned Goods Aisle: Sir Chomps A Lot Cheese Ravioli
Product: Sir Chomps A Lot Mini Cheese Ravioli
Company: Chef Boyardee (American Home Foods)
Years: 1991-?
Here's a fun one that I don't remember (look, I was in Highschool in the early 90's....I was a bit too cool to be eating pasta from a can, alright? I was cool, right? Anyone? Mom?). It's called Sir Chomps A Lot, and it was a mini ravioli in a can made by Chef Boyardee. Nothing about this product stands out from the millions of other pasta based meals Chef Boyardee has ever or will ever put on the shelves. Everything, except for this:
Yep, a presumably British Alligator by the name of Sir Chomps A Lot. Which seems like an odd choice of a mascot to me. I mean, look at him. He looks rather unexcited about the whole thing. "Mini Ravioli? Eh.....Seems a bit boring for a sophisticated reptile as myself....I fancy myself as more of a Fettuccine with Fresh Mushrooms, Tarragon and a mild Goad Cheese Sauce kind of person, er, Reptile." - Say that in your best British Accent. Preferably outloud. Make your co-workers and/or family members wonder what's wrong with you, or give them another thing to add to the list.
So is he a Crocodile or an Alligator anyway? Can you tell? I sure can't.
On the back of the can, it says (which sounds nothing like something a British person, er, reptile would say. Even adding an accent to it still sounds wrong:
"Hello, I'm Sir Chomps-A-Lot and I've lost control for these little Bite Size ravioli from Chef Boyardee. They're so delicious you'll want to romp, and stomp and do a dance called "The Chomp".
Wait, what? We're introducing a new dance now too? You expect me to believe this butler looking person, er, reptile actually dances??? Is the Chomp even a real dance? Anyone? Wikipedia? Mom?
Well now, would you look at this...HE DOES DANCE!:
Still, seems like an odd mascot to me. You know the marketing group came up with the name first, which forced it to be a British person, er, crocodile/Alligator, and from there the whole concept just fell apart quickly.
There were also other Sir Chomps A Lot products like Spaghetti and meatballs, but you get the idea.
Fun for kids on the early 90's, but completely invisible to me, a cool high school kid listening to my grunge music and smoking my Camel Lights.
Still, as one of the many Chef Boyardee offerings to come our way in the last 40 years, it has to be noted in the pages of products that are no more, so we will give it it's place here at Gone but Not Forgotten Groceries.
Company: Chef Boyardee (American Home Foods)
Years: 1991-?
Here's a fun one that I don't remember (look, I was in Highschool in the early 90's....I was a bit too cool to be eating pasta from a can, alright? I was cool, right? Anyone? Mom?). It's called Sir Chomps A Lot, and it was a mini ravioli in a can made by Chef Boyardee. Nothing about this product stands out from the millions of other pasta based meals Chef Boyardee has ever or will ever put on the shelves. Everything, except for this:
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| Image by Gregg Koenig |
So is he a Crocodile or an Alligator anyway? Can you tell? I sure can't.
On the back of the can, it says (which sounds nothing like something a British person, er, reptile would say. Even adding an accent to it still sounds wrong:
"Hello, I'm Sir Chomps-A-Lot and I've lost control for these little Bite Size ravioli from Chef Boyardee. They're so delicious you'll want to romp, and stomp and do a dance called "The Chomp".
Wait, what? We're introducing a new dance now too? You expect me to believe this butler looking person, er, reptile actually dances??? Is the Chomp even a real dance? Anyone? Wikipedia? Mom?
Well now, would you look at this...HE DOES DANCE!:
Still, seems like an odd mascot to me. You know the marketing group came up with the name first, which forced it to be a British person, er, crocodile/Alligator, and from there the whole concept just fell apart quickly.
There were also other Sir Chomps A Lot products like Spaghetti and meatballs, but you get the idea.
Fun for kids on the early 90's, but completely invisible to me, a cool high school kid listening to my grunge music and smoking my Camel Lights.
Still, as one of the many Chef Boyardee offerings to come our way in the last 40 years, it has to be noted in the pages of products that are no more, so we will give it it's place here at Gone but Not Forgotten Groceries.
Friday, June 21, 2013
From the Cereal Aisle: Bran News
Product: Bran News Cereal
Company: Ralston
Years: 1988 - ?
Just a quick post today, and it's only because I'm always amazed when I run across cereals I've never heard of before that were from my lifetime, as I think I was rather observant when it came to the cereal aisle on a Tuesday night while shopping with mom back in the 80's. But really, when I look at this product, it's easy to figure out why it never got my attention.
Bran.
Bran is not fun. Nobody likes bran. The only people who eat bran are only eating it because they have to for a medical reason, and if they tell you otherwise, they are damn dirty liars. Kids especially don't like bran. I mean, just the sound of it...........bran. BRaaaaaaaan. BrAaAaAaAn.
No thanks mom. I'll just starve instead.
But wait, there's a touch of cinnamon!!! Doesn't matter, if you put a bow tie on a turd, it's still a turd.
They also tried an apple cinnamon version. What did they expect to happen when you have BRAN in your name.
I'm guessing that if you are under the age of 40, you also don't remember Bran News.
What a stupid name. It sounds like you should be eating a bowl of shredded newspaper.
The only person who probably would remember this is my grandma, because she used to eat a lot of bran (as old people often will), but I can't ask her, because she's not alive anymore. And I imagine all the bran had something to do with it. No proof, just a hunch.
Seriously, if I can get 5 people to respond that they actually remember this cereal, I'll eat a giant bowl of bran myself.
Guess I'll be safe.
Company: Ralston
Years: 1988 - ?
Just a quick post today, and it's only because I'm always amazed when I run across cereals I've never heard of before that were from my lifetime, as I think I was rather observant when it came to the cereal aisle on a Tuesday night while shopping with mom back in the 80's. But really, when I look at this product, it's easy to figure out why it never got my attention.
Bran.
Bran is not fun. Nobody likes bran. The only people who eat bran are only eating it because they have to for a medical reason, and if they tell you otherwise, they are damn dirty liars. Kids especially don't like bran. I mean, just the sound of it...........bran. BRaaaaaaaan. BrAaAaAaAn.
No thanks mom. I'll just starve instead.
But wait, there's a touch of cinnamon!!! Doesn't matter, if you put a bow tie on a turd, it's still a turd.
They also tried an apple cinnamon version. What did they expect to happen when you have BRAN in your name.
I'm guessing that if you are under the age of 40, you also don't remember Bran News.
What a stupid name. It sounds like you should be eating a bowl of shredded newspaper.
The only person who probably would remember this is my grandma, because she used to eat a lot of bran (as old people often will), but I can't ask her, because she's not alive anymore. And I imagine all the bran had something to do with it. No proof, just a hunch.
Seriously, if I can get 5 people to respond that they actually remember this cereal, I'll eat a giant bowl of bran myself.
Guess I'll be safe.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
From the Cereal Aisle: Rice Cream Flakes
Product: Rice Cream Flakes
Company: Nabisco
Years: 1968-????
This has to be hands down one of the more interesting ideas I've ever seen for a breakfast Cereal. It was the late 60's, and the country was all about free love, drugs, and doing what felt good. And what felt good to one Nabisco employee was to eat ice cream for breakfast. Not just any ice cream, mind you, but freeze dried ice cream. "THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!" I imagine employees chanting as they carefully formulated this concoction known as Rice Cream Flakes, the smash hit from Nabisco that was going to be the future of breakfast for kids and adults across this great nation of ours.
The cereal itself was a rice cereal, but the kicker is that they covered the flakes with this Freeze Dried Ice cream they purchased from Oregon Freeze Dried Foods. There were 3 varieties, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry. Everyone smiled and cheered! VIVA LA ICE CREAM!!!! Let's put it into mass production! USA! USA!USA!
Oh, 2 small problems. It's 1968, and there aren't that many companies out there producing the volume of Freeze Dried Ice Cream that Nabisco needed for mass production of this. And the one company they had been using, Oregon Freeze Dried Foods, was shutting down.
So what should have been a national smash hit in the cereal game turned out to be nothing more then a successful regional test market that left people wanting more, but there was no more to be had. None more Rice Cream Flakes.
Anyone else thinking it's time to bring these back?
Company: Nabisco
Years: 1968-????
This has to be hands down one of the more interesting ideas I've ever seen for a breakfast Cereal. It was the late 60's, and the country was all about free love, drugs, and doing what felt good. And what felt good to one Nabisco employee was to eat ice cream for breakfast. Not just any ice cream, mind you, but freeze dried ice cream. "THE FUTURE IS NOW!!!!" I imagine employees chanting as they carefully formulated this concoction known as Rice Cream Flakes, the smash hit from Nabisco that was going to be the future of breakfast for kids and adults across this great nation of ours.
The cereal itself was a rice cereal, but the kicker is that they covered the flakes with this Freeze Dried Ice cream they purchased from Oregon Freeze Dried Foods. There were 3 varieties, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry. Everyone smiled and cheered! VIVA LA ICE CREAM!!!! Let's put it into mass production! USA! USA!USA!
Oh, 2 small problems. It's 1968, and there aren't that many companies out there producing the volume of Freeze Dried Ice Cream that Nabisco needed for mass production of this. And the one company they had been using, Oregon Freeze Dried Foods, was shutting down.
So what should have been a national smash hit in the cereal game turned out to be nothing more then a successful regional test market that left people wanting more, but there was no more to be had. None more Rice Cream Flakes.
Anyone else thinking it's time to bring these back?
Thursday, May 2, 2013
From the Snack Aisle: Pudding Roll-ups
Product: Pudding Roll-ups
Company: Betty Crocker
Years: Mid 80's
You know what sucks about pudding? I mean, besides being stalked constantly by Bill Cosby to make sure I'm eating it? Yep, the big, bulky plastic cups (or for you older folks, the old metal cans with finger slicing lids). The world needed an easier way to transport pudding from point A to point B, and sometimes to Point Q. Once in a while, to point G.
Leave it to Betty Crocker, who's slogan back in the 80's was "WOW! You F#@king Kids Will Eat ANYTHING!", to develop the ultimate snack treat that absolutely nobody was asking for. That's right, the long forgotten Pudding Roll-ups. It's like pudding, only flatter. Just put it in your pocket and go. Brilliant!
It was the next logical step after the success of Fruit Roll-ups, so you can't really blame them for trying. Pudding Roll-ups came in 3 flavors, Milk Chocolate, Butterscotch, and Chocolate Fudge, and fittingly, sales for all three were flat. So flat that they only were around for a few years (87/88) before their demise.
I'd love to find an actual box from these, so if anyone hasn't cleaned out their cupboards in 25 years and have a box sitting near the back, please contact me.
Company: Betty Crocker
Years: Mid 80's
You know what sucks about pudding? I mean, besides being stalked constantly by Bill Cosby to make sure I'm eating it? Yep, the big, bulky plastic cups (or for you older folks, the old metal cans with finger slicing lids). The world needed an easier way to transport pudding from point A to point B, and sometimes to Point Q. Once in a while, to point G.
Leave it to Betty Crocker, who's slogan back in the 80's was "WOW! You F#@king Kids Will Eat ANYTHING!", to develop the ultimate snack treat that absolutely nobody was asking for. That's right, the long forgotten Pudding Roll-ups. It's like pudding, only flatter. Just put it in your pocket and go. Brilliant!
It was the next logical step after the success of Fruit Roll-ups, so you can't really blame them for trying. Pudding Roll-ups came in 3 flavors, Milk Chocolate, Butterscotch, and Chocolate Fudge, and fittingly, sales for all three were flat. So flat that they only were around for a few years (87/88) before their demise.
I'd love to find an actual box from these, so if anyone hasn't cleaned out their cupboards in 25 years and have a box sitting near the back, please contact me.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
From the Cereal Aisle: Buc Wheats
Product: Buc Wheats Cereal
Company: General Mills
Years: 1971-1983
I am not generally a fan of flakes when it comes to my breakfast cereals. Honey Toasted, Frosted, Corn, Bran.....flakes of any kind really. Maybe it's the awkwardness of the flake shape, and the sharp roof of the mouth piercing edges that they often produce. Maybe it's the negative connotation that the work "Flake" has:
FLAKE
I'm petty sure my parents knew my opposition to flake based cereals growing up, which is why I don't recall a box of Buc Wheats cereal ever entering our house. I'm sure it was delicious...I mean.....look at the nice.......brown box..........with that bowl of brown flakes........and the exciting "Wildlife Print" offer on the back of the box.......who needs fun prizes like baking soda submarines, or Garfield bike reflectors.......I'll be the only kid on my block with a Les Kouba deer print...........exciting. *crickets*
Company: General Mills
Years: 1971-1983
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| Picture by Bolio88 |
I am not generally a fan of flakes when it comes to my breakfast cereals. Honey Toasted, Frosted, Corn, Bran.....flakes of any kind really. Maybe it's the awkwardness of the flake shape, and the sharp roof of the mouth piercing edges that they often produce. Maybe it's the negative connotation that the work "Flake" has:
FLAKE
n. An unreliable person; someone who agrees to do something, but never follows through.
1. John forgot to show up for work again this month. He's such a flake.
I'm petty sure my parents knew my opposition to flake based cereals growing up, which is why I don't recall a box of Buc Wheats cereal ever entering our house. I'm sure it was delicious...I mean.....look at the nice.......brown box..........with that bowl of brown flakes........and the exciting "Wildlife Print" offer on the back of the box.......who needs fun prizes like baking soda submarines, or Garfield bike reflectors.......I'll be the only kid on my block with a Les Kouba deer print...........exciting. *crickets*
Buc Wheats were pretty popular for a while, mostly because of the Maple glaze that was gently brushed over each flake with butterfly wings (I can't prove that). But then for some reason in the early 80s, they changed the formula. Instead of a maple glaze, they changed to a honey glaze. And I'm sure you can imagine the anarchy that erupted when people realized what General Mills had done. General Mills headquarters was stormed by angry townspeople and burned to the ground. The cereal aisles ran red with the blood of GM executives.
That's what I imagine anyway. Hey, I was like 6 at the time, I can't remember a lot. It's much cooler then imagining people just not buying the cereal anymore...even if that's more or less what happened.
Buc Wheats had a good 10 year run as the "Sticky Wheaties of the 70's", but the change in the sweetener proved to be too much for most people, and poof, it was gone.
Maybe you have fond memories of this cereal. Maybe you wish it would make it's triumphant return to Cereal Aisles across America.......hell, across the globe.
I don't. But then again, I'm pretty much a flake.
That's what I imagine anyway. Hey, I was like 6 at the time, I can't remember a lot. It's much cooler then imagining people just not buying the cereal anymore...even if that's more or less what happened.
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| Image by CheshireCat666 |
Buc Wheats had a good 10 year run as the "Sticky Wheaties of the 70's", but the change in the sweetener proved to be too much for most people, and poof, it was gone.
Maybe you have fond memories of this cereal. Maybe you wish it would make it's triumphant return to Cereal Aisles across America.......hell, across the globe.
I don't. But then again, I'm pretty much a flake.
Monday, April 1, 2013
From the Snack Aisle: Oreos Bacon Cream Cookies
Item: Oreos Bacon Cream
Company: Nabisco
Years: 2013-2013 (24 hours aprox.)
Oh shit, I was trying to be clever and I think I might have actually given Nabisco a good idea.
I mean, they've tapped out every other Oreo flavor combination in the last 2 or 3 years.
"It's like dipping a warm piece of bacon into a glass of Chocolate Milk!®"
Yum!!!!
Company: Nabisco
Years: 2013-2013 (24 hours aprox.)
Oh shit, I was trying to be clever and I think I might have actually given Nabisco a good idea.
I mean, they've tapped out every other Oreo flavor combination in the last 2 or 3 years.
"It's like dipping a warm piece of bacon into a glass of Chocolate Milk!®"
Yum!!!!
Friday, March 1, 2013
From the Candy Aisle: Marathon Bar
Product: Marathon Bar
Company: Mars Inc.
Years: 1973-1981
Talk to Jason Liebig.
Visit his outstanding blog called CollectingCandy.com. Specifically, his post about Marathon Bars. I mean, the man lives, sleeps, and breathes Marathon Bars. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in his life, he owned a pet named "Marathon". A miniature pony perhaps? Not really sure. But he's got the entire low down on the candy bar everyone loved and now longs for.
Me? I've never even eaten one. Well, I guess I can't say I've never eaten one. I was around at the same time they were, for a few years anyway, so I guess my parents could have given me one in those years before I start forming meaningful memories. It's totally possible. So I guess I should really say "I've never eaten a Marathon Bar" in the same way I'd say "I've never eaten a spider" (FACT: people do sometimes sleep with their mouths open). Hey, Things happen in our lives sometimes that we for whatever reason just don't remember. I mean, I must have had a run in with a Marathon Bar at some point.....right? They sure do sound like they were popular from what people tell me.
It was an 8 inch braided caramel inside, covered in chocolate, with the iconic red wrapper. On the wrapper? A ruler, so you knew without a shadow of a doubt you were getting what was advertised. Genius. I wish other companies that supply food based on length did that same thing. Subway, I'm looking in your direction.
An interesting note about Marathon's TV commercials: they featured John Wayne's son Patrick as Marathon John who would regularly confront villain Quick Claude.
So that's all I got on the Marathon Bar. It was a candy bar that I certainly needed to add to the shelves here at Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries, even if I've never had one that I can remember. But I wish I had. They look delicious. There is a similar bar in the UK called the Curly Wurly. I'll have to contact my UK friends* and see if they can hook me up.
*(Note to self - make some UK friends).
Until then, I'll have to keep eating the same old boring candy bars I've been eating for the last 30+ years. And possibly a few spiders.**
**(Second Note to self - keep your yap shut while sleeping).
Company: Mars Inc.
Years: 1973-1981
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| Image by Jason Liebig |
Talk to Jason Liebig.
Visit his outstanding blog called CollectingCandy.com. Specifically, his post about Marathon Bars. I mean, the man lives, sleeps, and breathes Marathon Bars. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in his life, he owned a pet named "Marathon". A miniature pony perhaps? Not really sure. But he's got the entire low down on the candy bar everyone loved and now longs for.
Me? I've never even eaten one. Well, I guess I can't say I've never eaten one. I was around at the same time they were, for a few years anyway, so I guess my parents could have given me one in those years before I start forming meaningful memories. It's totally possible. So I guess I should really say "I've never eaten a Marathon Bar" in the same way I'd say "I've never eaten a spider" (FACT: people do sometimes sleep with their mouths open). Hey, Things happen in our lives sometimes that we for whatever reason just don't remember. I mean, I must have had a run in with a Marathon Bar at some point.....right? They sure do sound like they were popular from what people tell me.
It was an 8 inch braided caramel inside, covered in chocolate, with the iconic red wrapper. On the wrapper? A ruler, so you knew without a shadow of a doubt you were getting what was advertised. Genius. I wish other companies that supply food based on length did that same thing. Subway, I'm looking in your direction.
 |
| image by 197?now |
An interesting note about Marathon's TV commercials: they featured John Wayne's son Patrick as Marathon John who would regularly confront villain Quick Claude.
So that's all I got on the Marathon Bar. It was a candy bar that I certainly needed to add to the shelves here at Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries, even if I've never had one that I can remember. But I wish I had. They look delicious. There is a similar bar in the UK called the Curly Wurly. I'll have to contact my UK friends* and see if they can hook me up.
*(Note to self - make some UK friends).
Until then, I'll have to keep eating the same old boring candy bars I've been eating for the last 30+ years. And possibly a few spiders.**
**(Second Note to self - keep your yap shut while sleeping).
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
From the Beverage Aisle: King Stir
Product: King Stir
Company: Pacific Hawaiian Products
Years: I'm guessing late 60's. Complete Guess, though.
King Stir.....the Bubbly drink mix on swizzle sticks.
Here's another product that was just a bit before my time, but I recently saw this item posted on Flickr by Grickly, and I fell in love with it. The magical swirl in the glass.....the candy coated swizzle sticks.....the legless king.....love I tell you. Love it.
I know very little about this other then that the packaging rocks, so any and all info to help fill in the Bio would be welcomed. It was made in Fullerton, CA in what I'm guessing was the mid to late 60's by a company called Pacific Hawaiian Product. It came in Orange and Lemon Lime (Imitation Flavors) and I'm betting it came in more.
So yeah, I know about .5% of the history of this. But I know 100% that the package is amazing.
And I'd really like to know what's up with the legless king. Combine Accident? Or is he a ghost king?
Company: Pacific Hawaiian Products
Years: I'm guessing late 60's. Complete Guess, though.
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| Image by grickly |
King Stir.....the Bubbly drink mix on swizzle sticks.
Here's another product that was just a bit before my time, but I recently saw this item posted on Flickr by Grickly, and I fell in love with it. The magical swirl in the glass.....the candy coated swizzle sticks.....the legless king.....love I tell you. Love it.
I know very little about this other then that the packaging rocks, so any and all info to help fill in the Bio would be welcomed. It was made in Fullerton, CA in what I'm guessing was the mid to late 60's by a company called Pacific Hawaiian Product. It came in Orange and Lemon Lime (Imitation Flavors) and I'm betting it came in more.
So yeah, I know about .5% of the history of this. But I know 100% that the package is amazing.
And I'd really like to know what's up with the legless king. Combine Accident? Or is he a ghost king?
Friday, January 18, 2013
From the Snack Aisle: Nabisco Chit Chat Crackers
Product: Chit Chat Barbecue Crackers
Company: Nabisco
Years: 1964-?
Short post today. I've got a bad head cold and feel pretty crummy. I need a bowl of chicken soup and some crackers to make it go away.
That's my segway into the post. Crackers. Yup, pretty crummy I tell you.
Nabisco makes crackers, that's their thing. And I'm guessing over the last 50+ years they've had hundreds of crackers I've never heard of and have never seen. That's why it's always fun to stumble upon a long gone flavor, such as the Chit Chat Crackers.
What a 60's sounding name.
I just picture people sitting around their horribly decorated apartments talking about how awesome the last episode of "Gidget" was. Then someone would say "hey, lets go down to the drive in and get some burgers!", to which someone else would respond "We don't have to, I've got a box of new Chit Chat Crackers, by Nabisco!", to which the first guy would then respond in a really whiny Richie-from-Happy-Days-voice "But I wanted a Cheeseburger!"
Then they'd all start to dance. Probably the Twist......no, no...the Mashed Potato.Yeah. That's it.
So, yeah, I don't really know much about these crackers. Other then the Nabisco trademark of the name "Chit Chat" expired back in 2005 and is still available if you're bored and/or starting a fledgling cracker company.
That's all I got today. I need to go blow nose and drink a bottle of NyQuil.
And don't lie, you've never heard of these crackers either.
Company: Nabisco
Years: 1964-?
Short post today. I've got a bad head cold and feel pretty crummy. I need a bowl of chicken soup and some crackers to make it go away.
That's my segway into the post. Crackers. Yup, pretty crummy I tell you.
What a 60's sounding name.
I just picture people sitting around their horribly decorated apartments talking about how awesome the last episode of "Gidget" was. Then someone would say "hey, lets go down to the drive in and get some burgers!", to which someone else would respond "We don't have to, I've got a box of new Chit Chat Crackers, by Nabisco!", to which the first guy would then respond in a really whiny Richie-from-Happy-Days-voice "But I wanted a Cheeseburger!"
Then they'd all start to dance. Probably the Twist......no, no...the Mashed Potato.Yeah. That's it.
So, yeah, I don't really know much about these crackers. Other then the Nabisco trademark of the name "Chit Chat" expired back in 2005 and is still available if you're bored and/or starting a fledgling cracker company.
That's all I got today. I need to go blow nose and drink a bottle of NyQuil.
And don't lie, you've never heard of these crackers either.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
From the Candy Aisle: Dynamints
Product: Dynamints
Company: Dentyne
Years: 1970s
I was recently reminded of Dynamints by my friend Jason Liebig over at Collecting Candy (if you haven't checked out his website already, what's wrong with you?). You see, in the 70's, when you would eat something like French Onion Soup, or Garlic Bread, or Limburger Cheese, you would need a quick fix to rid your mouth of that nasty odor. And what better to turn to then the super minty flavor of Dynamints! They were sort of like Tic-Tacs, only with a stronger flavor to fix the poor decision you made for lunch. Onion Rings??? Are you serious, man? You've got a hot date with Tina from accounting later tonight to go see "The Apple Dumpling Gang", and chances are, you're gonna end up making out. EVERYONE makes out with Tina from accounting, so you've gotta do something to counter your poor decision to have the Onion Rings for lunch. I don't care how bad her daddy issues are, if you still have rotten breath in a few hours, she's gonna say "no thanks" to the lip embrace.
Here, have some of these:
Dynamints came in several different flavors: Peppermint, Spearmint, Regular, Fruit, Lemon Lime.....probably a few more that I'm forgetting too. Each plastic container contained 40 mints (and with your onion ring breath I'd suggest sucking on 39).
So thanks to Jason Liebig for reminding me of these Tic Tac wannabes. I wish I had some of these right now, I pick up Tina at 7:30. And I just ate an entire Bloomin' Onion. Damn you Outback!!!!
Company: Dentyne
Years: 1970s
I was recently reminded of Dynamints by my friend Jason Liebig over at Collecting Candy (if you haven't checked out his website already, what's wrong with you?). You see, in the 70's, when you would eat something like French Onion Soup, or Garlic Bread, or Limburger Cheese, you would need a quick fix to rid your mouth of that nasty odor. And what better to turn to then the super minty flavor of Dynamints! They were sort of like Tic-Tacs, only with a stronger flavor to fix the poor decision you made for lunch. Onion Rings??? Are you serious, man? You've got a hot date with Tina from accounting later tonight to go see "The Apple Dumpling Gang", and chances are, you're gonna end up making out. EVERYONE makes out with Tina from accounting, so you've gotta do something to counter your poor decision to have the Onion Rings for lunch. I don't care how bad her daddy issues are, if you still have rotten breath in a few hours, she's gonna say "no thanks" to the lip embrace.
Here, have some of these:
 |
| Image by Jason Liebig |
Dynamints came in several different flavors: Peppermint, Spearmint, Regular, Fruit, Lemon Lime.....probably a few more that I'm forgetting too. Each plastic container contained 40 mints (and with your onion ring breath I'd suggest sucking on 39).
 |
| Image by Gregg Koenig |
 |
| Image From Grickly |
So thanks to Jason Liebig for reminding me of these Tic Tac wannabes. I wish I had some of these right now, I pick up Tina at 7:30. And I just ate an entire Bloomin' Onion. Damn you Outback!!!!
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