Oreos Thins

If you eat enough, you won't be

The Attraction:

Throw the name "Oreo" on anything and you've already got my attention. I've already reviewed other Oreo products here, here and here, so when I saw these "Thins" I was interested, but I thought "Isn't it just more of the same?" How different can a thinner Oreo be? OK, you got me Nabisco, I'm going in.

The Review:
I went in pretty skeptical when I started to open a pack of these Oreo Thins. In fact, I didn't think it was even worth writing about at the time. "It's the same old same old." I thought. Oh well, mind as well just eat it. I pick one up while watching TV and bite in half noticing.

"Whoa"

Why would the people at Oreo put out this product? Is it just a money grab? Is this for people that want to eat Oreos but are weight conscious? Somehow it all made sense when I took that first bite.

By halving the size of the cookie wafers and the cream filling, essentially streamlining it, it somehow makes you enjoy the Oreo more! It was a weird epiphany. Eating these Thins made the original sized Oreos seem clunky, excessive and archaic. With the smaller, thinner cookie, the flavor is delivered much more precisely and you seem to just enjoy the eating experience more overall.

It's like King Kong stepped on an Oreo

The Sweet:

The signature Oreo taste delivered to your taste buds like a laser without the mess.

The Bitter:
If you enjoy twisting off the cookie and eating the cream, there's not as much there. Even though you are getting less "Oreos", you are paying the same price.

Wow, less IS more!

Conclusion:
If I could, I would prefer to have these Oreo Thins over the conventional size. Now, that doesn't mean I still won't enjoy the original Oreos, I certainly will. Perhaps the best analogy I could give would be like eating a lobster vs. eating a lobster tail. When you order a full lobster, there's no arguing that you are getting more of the lobster to enjoy, however when you order a lobster tail, you are able to get a taste of lobster and savor the best part of it....and for many people, that's more than enough.

Video of the Week
For you Sci-Fi fans out there, Fox just released a trailer for a six-episode mini series of the X-Files to begin January of next year. Between this and Star Wars, nerds are going to have the busiest social calendars in decades.

Now only if they would bring back Sledge Hammer!

Calbee Honey Butter Chips

"Oh no you didn't!" said the sassy potato

The Attraction:

How could I not immediately follow up on my last review of Haitai's Honey Tung Tung chips with a review of their partner /competitor's chips? This could be a battle for the ages like Coke vs Pepsi, McDonald's vs Burger King, Mario vs Donkey Kong. "Let's get ready to RUMMMMMBLLLEE!"

The Review:
As you may recall, the initial Honey Butter chip craze was started when snack makers Haitiai from S. Korea and Calbee from Japan said to each other, "Yo playa, you and me need to do a snack collabo!" and after some time passed, they started makin' paper like Bey and Jay-Z when their product, "Honey Butter Chips" finally caught on in S. Korea. Since then, both snack makers have tried making a go of it by releasing their own line of honey butter chips. Haitai released Honey Tung Tung and Calbee countered with their own version of the popular flavored chip. (They also still make the original Honey Butter Chips version together, btw)

I open the bag and take a deep inhale, "Butter again, but different somehow." I think to myself. It smells similar to these Coconut Butter Cookies. It must be the combination of butter and sugar on these chips that make them smell the same. I also visually notice that unlike the Haitai version of the chips, these follow the conventional definition of "potato chip".

I anxiously take my first bite from a chip. The flavor is more pronounced, especially the sweetness. Like the Haitai version, it's not overly sweet, but it is sweeter than it's Haitai counterpart. The chips are crispy, but it is still a bit difficult for me to associate sweetness with a potato chip. I've spent my whole life in the US eating savory chips. When you have one that is a bit sweet, it feels unusual. The butter and honey flavors seem to compliment each other, but where as the Honey Tung Tungs neutralize each other and leaves you with a cleaner finish, this version feels more like two combatants in your mouth fighting to the end.

"Only popular chips in..."wait, I said that already

The Sweet:

Another good variation of the "hot" new flavor around town. As with most Japanese chips, the flavors are delivered on a very crispy, yet not oily feeling chip.

The Bitter:
Sweet chips? It took some time to adjust. What's next, a salty Oreo?

That's one big potato I came from

Conclusion:
Both versions of the Honey Butter Chips have their advantages, but those characteristics can easily be seen as disadvantages as well by certain snack lovers. Haitai's, more subtle flavor, may come across as too weak to some whereas Calbees, stronger flavored version, may be seen as too overpowering. Some may also prefer the alternate snack shape of Haitai's, while others may flock to the the conventionally shaped potato chip that Calbee offers. I can see how those rivalries I mentioned earlier are so divided; everyone's taste preference can vary so greatly.

As for me, well, I like the more delicate approach of Haitai's Tung Tungs. It now does beg the question of how the original Honey Butter Chips compare against these snack makers solo ventures. I'll have to get my hands on a bag soon, but this review isn't about which of the three versions are the best. Despite my many comparisons, it's really about how does Calbee's Honey Butter Chips stand on it's own as a snack. I will say this, after eating so many of these Honey Butter flavored snacks recently, I won't be charging down the snack aisle anytime soon trying to hunt any of these individual versions down, but with some time, I wouldn't mind an occasion visit from the Calbee Honey Butter chip fairy....but I'm thinking it might be closer to Christmas before I'm ready for another round.

Video of the Week
I'm not a "recreational-distractions" kind of guy. I've always been too scared at the idea of getting too into anything, other than snacks, that is. So when this guy tries to sell people on the virtues of an acrylic water pipe, it didn't make sense to me....until the end. Now I know what I've been missing.

I can just tell his sales will catch fire!

Haitai Honey Tong Tong

I sound like a 70's
porn star name, don't I?

The Attraction:

A few months backed, I posted a video about the honey-butter chip craze in Korea. It was only a matter of time until those chips (or bootlegs of said chips) would make their way over to the States. One incarnation of those chips are these Honey Tong Tong chips. My pal Grace was kind enough to grab a bag of these for me at her last trip to the Korean grocer. Lets see what this is all about...

The Review
Let's clear up several things first; these are not the original Honey-Butter Chips that initiated the craze in South Korea. Those chips were made by a collaboration of two snack manufacturers, Calbee, from Japan and Haitai from South Korea. These chips are made only by Haitai. Interestingly enough, Calbee has also produced their version of these chips called, you guessed it, "Honey-Butter Chips" (Incidentally, I have a pack of those too, so check back for a review soon.)

I crack open the bag and take a calculated whiff. "Butter?" Interesting that although the good folks at Haitai didn't spell out the "butter" portion of the chip, (at least not in English) it's definitely in there. There is, however, a subtle pat of butter on the potato within the illustration at the front of the packaging. I pick up a chip and as the illustration on the bag shows, these are not regular shaped chips. They look almost like a large, triangular, version of a shrimp-flavored chip.

"Take a bite, already!"

First bite; nice crunchy texture and the butter flavor comes a 'knockin, but as you move towards the tail end of the bite, the sweetness comes around and says,"Don't You Forget About Me." The flavor is really interesting. It's not quite salty. It has a butter-on-toast taste to it and then the faint sweetness at the end of the honey to clean the butter flavor away. Yet it seems that the butter helps arrest the sweetness of the "honey", so as it's never really salty, it's also never too sweet.

"Excuse me,
only popular chips are allowed in here!"

The Sweet:

Good "new" flavor combination delivered on a crisp, puffed chip

The Bitter:
As good as these are, can anything really live up to all the hype? Also for about $3.99 for a 65g bag, this stuff is not cheap.

I look a bit like a shrimp chip,
but there ain't no shrimp flavor

Conclusion:
I'm so curious what the original taste like. I'll be even more curious after I try the Calbee version of these chips so I can compare all three at some point. Until then, Haitai's version will do just fine. Is it a drop-everything-and-get-a-bag snack changer? I wouldn't say so, but it's a refreshing new flavor combination that I would welcome for an occasional visit into my snack basket.

Video of the Week
While on my quest to learn more about video games recently, I came across this video of some guys from Motherboard, the technology leg of Vice, trying an old game for the Sega Dreamcast System called Caution Seaman. Think Tamagotchi, but creepier.

Whatever happened to Super Mario Bros?

Loacker Tortina Mini

 I wish I can go into a chocolaty bath one day

The Attraction:

When I was in Italy a few weeks back, I grabbed a bunch of snacks to bring home to review. One being these Tortina Minis. Perhaps it was because they reminded me of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or maybe they looked all chocolaty and sexy. I think now that look at the photo I took of the packaging, it's all of the above.

The Review
Surprise, surprise. Another hazelnut product out of Italy like this one I reviewed. It wasn't until I got back home to the States that I realized what a big deal hazelnuts are in Italy. Another thing I didn't realize was just how "mini" these snacks were. I was expecting these to be about the size of a silver dollar. In actuality, they are closer to the size of a half a dollar.  It's OK, as long as I can eat it one way or another.

I take a Tortina out of it's individually wrapped packaging and indulge. I'm not sure why I'm surprised, but it tastes like, you guessed it, a Ferrero Rocher! The one distinct difference is the missing crunch of the bits of hazelnuts, which make me appreciate Ferrero Rochers even more now. That missing component makes the snacking less pleasurable as the nuts provided a nice contrast to the chocolate layer covering the thin wafer shell and last, but not least, the creamy hazelnut cream inside. I know these are not Ferrero Rochers, but it's tough not to draw a comparison when they taste so similar. I do like the portion size of each mini as it gives you a nice taste, without tiring your taste buds out.

"I look like a chocolate bottle cap!"

The Sweet:

I'm like the perfect sized mini Ferrero Rocher...

The Bitter:
...except neutered! (aka no nuts)

I'm beginning to see a theme here

Conclusion:
If you like Ferrero Rocher, you will enjoy these, although maybe less because it feels like something is "missing". If you are able to give up that expectation, you will be able to enjoy the smooth, rich combination of hazelnut and chocolate that these Tortini minis are able to offer.

Video of the Week
Somehow me the lil lady recently have gotten into old school video games. I've spent many an hour this week reliving my youth playing videos games I haven't seen or played in decades. It got me thinking, "I wonder if could build my own video arcade?" Wonder no more.

What time shall we meet at Home Depot?

Changheyuan Potato Chip DJ Mix

 

It's got to taste good. It's a DJing potato!

The Attraction:

Look at this packaging! It's a complete disaster. It looks like something you should see on an EDM concert-goers t-shirt more than on the packaging of a bag of potato chips. A potato with sunglasses that supposed to be a DJ? I gotta taste this train wreck.

The Review
I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I just knew that this was too weird to not try. I open the bag, which came with it's own handle punched out for easy carrying, btw, and smelled nothing that provided a hint as to the flavor of these chips. I taste one and was shocked by the peculiar sweet taste; ketchup? I quickly look at the bag again and notice that I hadn't seen the two tomatoes in the sunglasses of the partying spud. Really? Ketchup? I take another another chip out but before tasting it, I notice the texture. These chips appear to be like Pringles in the sense that they are made out of a potato mix, not a slice of potato. OK, I think I have enough to go on.

It's like a Pringle, yet the complete opposite

The Sweet:

Not oily and uses fancy packaging.

The Bitter:
Ketchup flavor? I know there are other chips that also have ketchup flavor, but I would have passed if I had known it was that.

Spare no expense on packaging.
(Perhaps they should have invested more in the tasting area)

Conclusion:
I have no clue what ketchup flavored chips are suppose to taste like other than, well...ketchup. Although these chips do taste like ketchup, it did so in a way that wasn't pleasant. At this point I can't tell if that's because all ketchup-flavored chips taste this way or Chanheyuan did a really poor job of tossing in other flavors to make the journey a bit more fun. What's strange is I enjoy ketchup. Usually with burgers, dogs, even sometimes eggs, but ketchup chips? Maybe that's too much of a "good thing."

Video of the Week
Remember when I posted that video last week about Burger King challenging McDonald's to team up? Well, little did I know that the Golden Arches didn't need any help as they started installing automated ordering systems at some of their locations. Part of this automation system? Burger customization!

I may have soiled myself slightly watching this

Koriyama's Light Cheese Cake

Don't worry...there's no bacon in here....yet.

The Attraction:

I love pastries. Breads, cakes, pies, muffins; I love them all. Offer me a freshly baked shoe and I might just give it a try. It was only natural when I spotted this little minx at the local H-Mart that I was intrigued. A product that boasts, "Fabulous cake that melts in your mouth". OK Mr. or Mrs. Koriyama, challenge accepted.

The Review
This may surprise you, but I like cheesecakes. (Personally, I'm more of an Eileen's than a Junior's fan, but I would gladly help you with either if you had any). A big part of what I enjoy about Eileen's version is how light their cheesecakes are, so when I came across this item that even physically felt light, I had high hopes for this treat.

I unwrapped this beauty and observed the beautiful golden baked top. It is very pretty, I must admit. It felt like air in my hand. I gently pulled off a part of the liner and indulged. Wow...that is light. Soft and buttery, boy this is good......wait...something is missing....I don't taste any cheese! I take another bite...I don't think this is a cheesecake in the "American" sense. I can smell a little bit of cheese, but I don't really taste any. This was confusing.

Now I understand what "Food Porn" means

The Sweet:

Light, airy, and buttery. It is delicious!

The Bitter:
Not what I would normally call a cheesecake. Also, for the $3 price tag, I could get a comparable item locally for a third of the price.

Umm...Where's the cheese?

Conclusion:
Take what you may know about cheesecakes and throw them out the window when you eat this snack. It has very little similarities to the cheesecakes we have come to know in the States. It's not dense at all, very little to no cheese flavor and the moisture you would normally associate with a cheese cake isn't there. The cake itself is more like a sponge cake or a very light version of a pound cake. Undeniably, it does taste good.

Here's the rub; if you live in an area in which you have access to Asian bakeries, you can probably find similar products made that morning for a much cheaper price. If you do not, you can still get a similar affect from a bakery that makes angel food cake.

So will it go into the snack basket? If I was lazy and didn't mind paying a premium for it, it would, but in all likelihood, I would just go the alternate routes I mentioned above and save my money to sample other new and exciting snacks.

Video of the Week
Young love. Is there anything sweeter, more innocent than that? Remember that time you were into that girl so much you took the time to orchestrate a clever way to ask her out and she told you what she thought? Ahh, those were the good 'ole days. (Fast forward to 1:50 to get right into the action.)

As a clever viewer said:
"Guy insults girl - girl cries / Girl insults guy - girl cries"

Lays Cheddar Bacon Mac and Cheese

What? More bacon snacks?!

The Attraction:

Recently I've been buying into Lay's marketing program of letting the public judge and decide what new flavor should become part of the Lay's potato chip line. I even tried one of their offerings this year. Surprisingly, despite my conspiracy theory about it all, I went to the grocery store the other day and saw this 2014 offering still being offered to the public. Hmm...this guy is still around? There must be something to it if they are still making it...

The Review
Tear into the bag and there is a hint of that cured smell from the cheddar bacon flavor. "This should be good!", I think to myself. I pickup two broken chips and bring it on home. As the smell test confirmed, there is a cured flavor to these chips. The cheddar flavor kicks in quickly once that initial cured taste fades. Check on the cheddar bacon part. What about the mac and cheese? After shoveling a few more chips into the snack-o-rater (my mouth), the product occurs to me more like a loaded baked potato (minus the sour cream and chives). It makes total sense; bacon and cheese flavor + potato chip = loaded baked potato. The distinction of the macaroni in the "Mac and Cheese" part is textural and since Lay's didn't make a chip to emulate that feeling, you have an item whose flavor is more reminiscent of an appetizer you might get at the local bar or pub.

Are those black specks of bacon flavor?

The Sweet:

It delivers a cured meat flavor experience with a hit of cheddar cheese essence that satisfies your savory urges.

The Bitter:
It doesn't come across as mac and cheese, although frankly, I'm not sure if they thought they could ever be able to deliver on that part of the product name. Dang marketing department...

First ones to go down the hatch

Conclusion:
So it doesn't exactly deliver what the description on the bag promises. It wouldn't be the first nor the last product to do that, however the spirit of what these chips tries to capture is there. What they do get right and put into the bag is a enough to keep me coming back for more. You say tomato, I say tomáto. You say mac and cheese, I say potáto. Tomato, tomáto, mac and cheese, potáto, let's just put it all in the shopping cart.

Video of the Week
About a week ago, Burger King proposed a one day "cease fire" with it's largest competitor, McDonald's, in honor of Peace Day (Sept 21). As part of that cease fire, they would combine their signature burgers, the Whopper and the Big Mac. Personally, if I could build my own, I would take a Whopper, leave only the bun, meat and cheese, then incorporate the Big Mac's chopped onions, pickles, special sauce and lettuce. How would you build yours?

This sounds cool, but can't we just build our own

 if we bought one of each burger?

Wheat Thins Spicy Buffalo Flavor

Announcement!

This summer I've collected so many snacks that I need to increase the rate at which I review these items. So with that said, starting this week (September 9), I'll be updating the blog on Sundays and Wednesdays. Please check back twice a week to get your SneakASnack fix.

In addition, do you have any snack suggestions? Do you like it when I review more international snacks or do you prefer for me to keep it domestic? Enjoy the videos of the week? I would love to hear your thoughts on that and more. Please share them with me by completing the contact form on the lower right. I promise your email address won't be circulated anywhere.

Thanks! Now on to the review...

This looks like the spiciness could hurt me!

The Attraction:

Way back in December of last year, I reviewed another flavor variation from the Wheat Thins line. It made such an impression that when I casually came across the Spicy Buffalo flavored version of this favorite snack, I couldn't resist.

The Review
Upon opening the sealed bag these Wheat Thins were in, I couldn't detect a spicy smell. I grabbed a chip and quickly threw it into my mouth. I could tell immediately it wasn't like an ordinary Wheat Thin. The initial flavor was different; it was slightly sour and vinegary, which then gave way to the signature Wheat Thins flavor. It was only towards the end that I could sense a slight "burn" from the spicy buffalo flavor. After having a few more "thins", the heat level increased, but even at that, I still wouldn't call it spicy. If molten lava was the equivalent to the hottest thing you've ever had, this was more along the lines of that thing you put your coffee cup on at work in order to keep it warm. I was hoping for a XXX night and what I got was a peck on the cheek.

Please understand; although I enjoy eating spicy snacks on occasion, I certainly am not that guy that loves eating jalapenos raw or piles on tons of that spicy red sauce from the local halal stand. I would consider myself as a slightly spicy to medium spicy tolerant eater, at best, so when I say the Spicy Buffalo is mild, you can believe me when I say that it is. The heat is more like a mild irritant at the back of your throat when you finish the bite. It's anti-climatic, to say the least.

Slightly red tint on these Wheat Thins.

The Sweet:

The folks at Nabisco are able to keep the characteristic "Wheat Thins" flavor without having the spicy buffalo flavor dominate your taste buds. They are able to emulate the vinegar and slightly sour portion of a "tabasco"-like sauce.

The Bitter:
Despite the "scary" spicy artwork on the box promising some heat, the spicy buffalo is rather unremarkable.

It's only a matter of time before there is a 

bacon-flavored version like everything else, no?

Conclusion:
Oddly enough, having the Spicy Buffalo variation of Wheat Thins made me miss the original flavor more. Maybe it was because the spice wasn't particularly pronounced and it served as more of a distraction from the Wheat Thins-flavor that I came to love. In the end, Wheat Thins Spicy Buffalo flavor suffered from not being enough; not spicy enough, not different enough and unfortunately, just not good enough to earn a return visit to my snack cart.

Video of the Week
In a previous post, I mentioned how I wished to become a professional matchmaker. Admittedly, up to this point, I haven't exactly been setting the world on fire in that regard. Although I'm still hopeful, here's an idea that would perfectly tie two of my favorite things together; food and matchmaking.

Free food and a potential date? Who wouldn't sign up?!