Milka Oreo

It's not my fault this time!

The Attraction

My friend Grace was kind enough to share with me a snack we've both been talking about recently, Milka Oreo!

The Review:
I know I've been on an Oreo trip lately and as much as I love the original and all the subsequent varieties that have followed, this was purely coincidental. I must say that I've had my eye on this little beauty for awhile, but I didn't have the nerve to say "hi". Leave it to my wing-woman to help me close the deal.

As you unwrap the chocolate from its packaging, this chocolate doesn't look much different from most other chocolates, although I think Milka does have a reputation for producing some of the smoother varieties. I break off a piece or bend off a piece, rather as the chocolate seems a bit softer than most.

When I take a bite, it's apparent why; under that initial coating of milk chocolate, the majority of the center of the bar consists of a creamy filling with bits of Oreos in there...and in case you are wondering, it's every bit as amazing as it sounds...in the right amounts.

Not to be confused with Minka

One of the drawbacks of the creamy core is that it lacks the typically rigidity you find in a conventional chocolate bar at a relatively cool temperature. In addition, as delicious as it is, the combination of the chocolate over the cream will easily send your blood sugar level to the moon. The mystery to me is what exactly is that cream core? Theoretically, it's supposed to be the equivalent to the cream filling an Oreo, but it's not quite that. I thought maybe it was white chocolate, but it's not that either. It's most likely a special blend Milka threw together just for this product. I'm not sure what it is, but I do know it's bad for your diabetes.

..although equally exciting in a different way

The Sweet:
Everything good you would imagine a chocolate Oreo mix would taste like.

The Bitter:
It's sweet, a little over the top sweet.

Conclusion:
If I worked at Milka, I would consider adding some more Oreo cookie bits in there to help arrest the sweetness of it (yes, it's so sweet that the cookie wafer seems to actually help mellow it out) and dial back the sweetness of that cream filling in the middle. I think they were trying to use the Oreo wafers like rice krispy bits to add some textural contrast, which was a good idea, but I think adding more might have been a better way to go as with anyone that has ever had an ice cream cake with Oreo crunchies can attest to.

Milka Oreo is good, but it could have been even more so if they were packaged in Hershey Kisses-like sizes because a full bar may prove to be too much of a good thing.

Video of the Week 

If you look carefully, you can see me grab a
shrimp off a person's plate with my teeth

As promised, this video shows how far we have come from those days when were we were living in a cave and fighting other people for food. Now we don't live in caves anymore.

I've never been prouder to be Chinese than after seeing this video. I mean come on, they're shrimp. How rare is it to see shrimp? They are like the unicorns of the ocean, right?

Honchos Peach Habanero

Cause you just couldn't wait to scratch
that "peach habanero" itch

The Attraction

Just because it's not everyday you see this combination. I can't wait until they release their next flavor, "banana dingleberry". 

The Review:
I really wasn't looking necessarily to review something quite so "out of the box", but I have to fess up, this flavor combination caught my eye. It's not everyday a chip manufacturer add a fruit flavor to something savory and then tosses in some spice on top of that. Whether it's a hit or a miss, one thing is for sure; I doubt I will say, "Oh, this taste just like..."

After wondering aloud if the flavor is "peach habanero" as in a type of habanero or "peach + habanero", I figured out that I've never heard of peach and habanero used together, so it much be peach + habanero. I know, I know, who doesn't know that there isn't such a thing as a peach habanero? Come on, there are banana peppers, so is a peach habanero really that far of a stretch? I digress...

I open the bag of chips and peer inside. As sure as the photo illustrates outside the bag, these chips bare a striking resemblance to the big "D". Down to the color. Actually, they are a little more cool ranch color than the nacho variety, but could they possibly be as tasty?

"Umm...have we met before?"

I pick up a chip and dive in. The first flavor that steps up is a slightly sweet flavor. It remarkably starts off exactly like a "Cool Ranch D", but just as quickly as I can place that flavor, the sweetness keeps going and exceeds that of a standard nacho chip. It then turns savory before the habanero drops the leg on you. It's not an exceedingly spicy flavor, it's more of a "back-of-your-throat" burn, but it's present. This schizophrenic flavor ride is delivered to you courtesy of a crispy corn chip that is identical to that of a....a...(I promised myself I wouldn't say that snack because that "snack" is such a favorite of people's, including myself, that almost no snack similiar could live up to that expectation) 

"Oh,no. You must have mistaken me for
someone else."

The Sweet:
Intriguing flavor combination, yet...

The Bitter:
...it's an emotional rollercoaster for your taste buds

Conclusion:
It's almost like dating someone that looks like your first love. On the outside, they sort of look the same and could actually pass for the person, but once they start talking and interacting with you, it's clear they are not the same hunk or babe you were crushing on way back in the day. That's a good and bad thing for these Honchos. I respect them for being bold and not going down that well treaded snack path littered with cheese flavors, but at the same time, this combo was just too ambitious for my taste buds.

Video of the Week 

That's why I have such strong forearms!
Phew, I thought it was from all that exercising
(I really want to put quotes around exercising, but this is a family website)

This week's video involves some of the extra things we have grown out of as humans have evolved. Unless we are around a buffet, in which case all bets are off and all those animal instincts come back instantaneously, but that's a video for next time.

Oreo Red Velvet

There goes another year of not seeing my abs....again.

The Attraction

Yes, I have a problem. If it says Oreos on it, there is a 98% certainty that I will purchase it. Nabisco, just take my wallet now.

The Review:
Recently the folks over at Oreo have been keeping me busy by releasing some interesting new flavors as of late. Some are limited releases like Toasted Coconut, Filled Cupcake and Brownie Batter to name a few. Others seemingly have jumped from a limited edition release into becoming a mainstay like Cinnamon Bun and this weeks review, Red Velvet. It's been tough at times to determine which flavor to try; do I pick the limited edition of something I'm not so excited about, but review it because it's limited or pick the one I want that might be around for awhile. I think you can tell which way I opted to go this week.

Upon opening up these Red Velvet Oreos, it was clear visually that the cookie wafers had a slight reddish tint to them. Not shockingly red, which I think was probably a good call, but certainly more of a red hue than the original Oreos. I wonder if they taste "red"?

C'mon, you really don't want one?

I pickup a lucky Oreo out of the bunch and take a bite. One of the things that never changes with Oreos is that great crispy snap of the cookie wafer when you bite into it. That is one Oreo standard you can always rely on in this Oreo line. The wafers essentially taste the same (maybe slightly less chocolaty, but that could also be psychosomatic because of the color), but with this flavor, the twist comes from the flavor of the filling. To be more specific, the cream cheese flavored filling.

Sure enough, as the creme filling hits my tongue, it has a distinctly different taste from your standard Oreo. In fact, that is where the "red velvet" flavor is hiding. After twisting off the wafer and just sampling the creme alone, it's clear that the creme is doing the heavy "flavor" lifting in this variation. It somehow does it's best to impart red velvet singularly without much help from the wafer twins. The creme captures the sweet cream cheese frosting vibe as well as well as somehow the taste of "red". I'm not sure how exactly as I don't know what "red" taste like, but to me, that flavor is in the mix. It does a pretty darn good job of it as well, might I say.

I still think the Thins are sexier  

The Sweet:
All the things you love about an Oreo, but with a red velvet-like cream cheese flavored filling!

The Bitter:
Taste like red velvet cake? Umm..sorta.

Conclusion:
Oreo does a much better job of trying to emulate the actual flavor that is emblazoned on the packaging. As much as I enjoyed the Cinnamon Bun flavored Oreos, it just didn't really remind me of an actual cinnamon bun. This time around, it is a lot closer. Although I've never jumped at red velvet flavored anything, I've never disliked it either. In the case of these Red Velvet flavored Oreos, it's not really how much they do or don't taste like the real thing; it's more of like how tasty these darn things are on their own.

Video of the Week 

I can't wait to go to my high school reunion
and bust out these moves!

This week's video features a young lady that taught herself how to dance dubstep by watching youtube videos all day. She also has a nice set of abs to go along with her smooth moves. I never wanted to be 12 year old girl so badly. (Just when I thought I would not ever say that phrase again)

Bonchi Rice Cracker Sweet

"Eat me meow!"

The Attraction

Maybe it was the cute cat looking cartoon artwork on the outside or maybe the idea that this bag of goodies came to us via Japan, but whatever the reason, it casually found it's way into our shopping cart. Can this unassuming snack capture our snack heart?  

The Review:
I had no idea what the deal was with these "rice crackers". I just knew they are made of rice and probably crispy. I would probably venture to guess that these are also sweet, but I'm not sure. (This was before I read the english translation on the label stuck on the back of the bag.) Either way, a surprise is waiting for me inside or so I hope.

I was unable to open the bag as usual, so I was forced to tear the bag open. I hate that. I'm not sure why, but maybe cause I feel like I won't be able to close the bag again? Well, anyway, as the bag opens, I take a deep inhale and smell an oily-fried smell. Yes, maybe not the most welcoming smell, but there it was. I peer in and see these sexy little cubes of rice crackers with a slight glaze that catches the light just so to make it look even more appetizing.

Don't we just look so sexy

This is confusing; the smell wasn't so great, yet the visuals are pretty awesome, but as we all know, it always boils down to the taste.

I take a cube and bite into it. There'a serious crunch to these. That at least semi-justifies the oily smell. Flavor-wise, there is something very familiar about it. After having another 2 pieces, I finally can pin it down; it taste like kettle corn! I do like kettle corn and these are crunchier, which I do like, but why pay a premium to have something that taste like something else that is much cheaper? Maybe that's my frugal snack side coming through.  Let me look at the cat on the bag again to make me feel better.....ommmmm.

Down the hatch you go!

The Sweet:
Good crunch and light sweet flavor

The Bitter:
Taste like kettle corn, so why not save a few bucks and just get kettlecorn?

Conclusion:
You know, my only complaint, if you want to call it that, is that these Bonchi Rice Crackers taste pretty much like a crunchier version of kettle corn. Now, if you are fan of kettle corn, but always wanted them crunchier, well, your ship has come in and it's on a boat call Bonchi Rice Cracker Sweet. For me, even though they taste fine, they barely register on the snack quake scale. I'm looking for something that will at least break a few dishes and knock some pictures off the wall. Unfortunately, this comes off more like a truck rumbling by your house.

Video of the Week 

Working on it!

Combos 7 Layer Dip Tortilla

No more referencing Combos!

The Attraction

After all my talk recently of other snacks that resemble Combos (see here and here), I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to go out and buy some Combos! Here's the catch, I could just get the flavors I grew up on like Cheddar and Pizza, but how would that fit into my snack blog? Well, I actual could have, but I thought it might be more interesting to try one of their new offerings.....7 Layer Dip!

The Review:
I was pretty excited to get a pack of Combos, even though I haven't had this flavor before. It's been about 4-5 years since I had any. I don't know why exactly I stopped eating them, I just did. Well, those days are gone. The drought is over!

I open the bag and immediately the smell of tacos come rushing out like a parade for my nose. I know it says "7 Layer Dip" and I'm not sure how different that smell is to tacos, but I smell tacos! I pick a Combo up and exam it. No salt on the shell of these. The original ones have a pretzel shell, while these don't. After looking at the packaging again, I see the word "Tortilla" on the bag. OK, Combos, this better still be good.

"Welcome home my little friends!"

I pop one nugget in my mouth and the saltiness of the dusting on the outside of the Combo presents itself. Then as I crunch into the "tortilla" shell, I encounter the creamy filling that brings on the 7 layer dip flavor. I can't exactly taste all 7 layers or even know what they are, but I keep coming back to a taco. A taco with some salsa on in that could use a little more cheese, but don't worry about the pretzel element being missing here 'cause the filling really jacks up the sodium level in this little snack parade. Maybe I should have another for good measure. 

It's like the good old days, sorta

The Sweet:
Taste like a taco in a half an inch cylinder

The Bitter:
Could use a little more cheese flavor and a shade less salt.

Conclusion:
I still miss the pretzel shell that I grew up eating, but these Combos 7 Layer Dip Tortilla are plenty salty enough on their own. They don't need the extra help. Although I will always be loyal to the flavors of my youth, I enjoyed this new flavor more than I expected. Truthfully, I begrudgingly grabbed these instead of the Combo Cheddar flavor I so craved at that time, but in the end I can see these Combos make a return to my snack library.....that is if Combos Cheddar and Pizza were sold out.

Video of the Week 

These E-cigs are so much safer.

I've never been a smoker, thankfully, but if I were, I can see how there might be a draw towards E-Cigarettes. They are easy to carry around, you can smoke them indoors without people being as offended and no open flame...well, maybe only in your pants pocket.