REVIEW: Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade

Marvo 5 Comments

Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade Can

What is Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade?

Over the past several years, Canada Dry has made our summers a bit less ginger ale-y and a bit more ginger ade-y with new citrusy flavors. So far, the brand has combined its tummy-soothing moneymaker with lemonade, orangeade, and limeade. Since there are no more single-word untrademarkable beverages that end with -ade, this year, raspberry lemonade gets to do a beverage do-si-do with the popular soft drink.

How is it?

Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade Glass

It smells completely unremarkable. However, its flavor makes up for its lack of an alluring aroma. Though, if you’re a huge fan of lemonade, this one might be a little disappointing because it’s hard to detect it. The raspberry flavoring, which brings Lipton Brisk Raspberry Iced Tea to mind, is definitely noticeable, but it muddles everything, making the citrus flavor almost non-existent. There is a slight sourness, but that could be mistaken as the lemonade or berry flavoring. Basically, if you told me this was raspberry ginger ale, I wouldn’t doubt you. I know there has been a raspberry-flavored Canada Dry, but I haven’t tried it, so I can’t compare.

With that said, it’s a pleasant and refreshing beverage, but it didn’t blow my mind as much as Canada Dry’s Ginger Ale and Lemonade did when I first tried it. Maybe after three other vADEriations, the novelty of these citrusy ales has worn off.

Look, I’ll happily drink all twelve cans I purchased. Actually, it’s eleven due to a shipping issue that involved the twelfth can leaking while in the hands of the USPS.

Anything else you need to know?

Like all other Canada Dry Ginger Ale mixed with a citrus beverage that ends with an -ade, there’s a minuscule amount of juice and no caffeine.

Conclusion:

Canada Dry’s Ginger Ale and Raspberry Lemonade is a nice addition to the summer beverage line, but it’s not as good as the lemonade and orangeade versions (I haven’t tried the limeade one). But now I’m curious to know what -ade comes next.

Purchased Price: More than one should pay on eBay
Size: 12 oz cans/12 pack
Purchased at: eBay
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 can) 140 calories, 0 grams of fat, 50 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 36 grams of sugar (including 36 grams of added sugar), and 0 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Mexican Street Corn Pringles

Alex 3 Comments

Mexican Street Corn Pringles

What are Mexican Street Corn Pringles?

Pringles has once again said, “You want a new potato crisp that tastes like a potato crisp? Too bad!” and dropped the can with crujientes de papa that taste like Mexican street corn, a food cart treat consisting of a grilled ear of corn slathered in mayonnaise, crema, cotija cheese, chile powder, cilantro, and lime.

How are they?

Mexican Street Corn Pringles Top

Okay, that was harsh. I admit I’ve been having some “food that tastes like other food” fatigue. But my fond memories of the Reuben-flavored Pringles allowed me to give the brand a pass and look forward to this variety. In the can, they smelled like a standard, albeit mild, barbecue chip.

Mexican Street Corn Pringles 2

Since the label all but asks me to compare: elote, it’s not-eh. But what it is is a tremendously flavorful and eatable snack with powerful bright lime, subtle creaminess, a hint of spice, and a gently persistent smokey tang throughout. There is a specific sweetness that evokes corn niblets, but it was inconsistent bite to bite, and the strong potato taste of the crisp stood in the way.

There was also a bit of cheesiness that reminded me of the classic cheddar cheese Pringles (which, to age myself, I always mistakenly call Cheez Ums… RIP Cheez Ums). I do wish there was more of a mayonnaise-like fattiness to stand up to the tart and sweet notes; that balance has always been my favorite part of street corn and esquites.

Mexican Street Corn Pringles Plate

Some may find these Pringles to be underdressed, but I prefer a lighter dusting when the flavors are so bold, so I was very happy with the distribution on each crisp.

Anything else you need to know?

If you eat a whole crisp at a time, the acidic lime in the seasoning may irritate the edges of your mouth. It didn’t slow me down but probably should have.

Conclusion:

Unlike the Reuben Pringles, which were so spot on I was able to give a Violet Beauregarde-style description of each sandwich ingredient I was tasting as I ate them, the Mexican Street Corn Pringles would be better described as street corn inspired, not flavored. I reckon anyone who likes the ingredients of Mexican street corn would like these crisps, but don’t expect them to satisfy any cravings you may have for the real thing. This fatigued snacker is going to just ignore the name on the can and enjoy the crisps for what they are: delicious.

Purchased Price: $1.79
Size: 5.5 oz (158g)
Purchased at: Big Y (while in MA; still trying to track these down in L.A.)
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz/28g, about 14 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 mg of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of total carbohydrates, 0 grams of total sugars, <1 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein.

BACK ON SHELVES: Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows (2022)

Marvo 15 Comments

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Stars Design

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Rainbow Design

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Clover Design

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Heart Design

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Unicorn Design

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Horseshoe Design

2022 Limited Edition Lucky Charms Just Magical Marshmallows Moon Design

I received samples of last year’s Lucky Charms Magical Marshmallows. They sat in the fancy box they came in for months. I eventually opened it and learned I had two months to consume seven bags of them. I gave away one to someone who asked on Instagram for one after posting a photo of them and another bag was completely stale because one of its seams ripped. But I ate the rest before the Best By date, putting it on regular Cheerios and whatever cereals I received or purchased at the beginning of the year. Still not sick of Lucky Charms, though. (Spotted by Robbie at Target.)

REVIEW: Limited Batch Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Crumble Ice Cream

Sean 13 Comments

Limited Batch Ben Jerry s Cherry Crumble Ice Cream Pint

Recently, most new flavors from Vermont’s most famous company have been Topped, Core’d, or brought back from the dead. But Ben & Jerry’s latest was inspired by one of the company’s all-time successes: cherries. While this pint has some major differences from Cherry Garcia, B&J’s second highest selling pint for eight years running, it will no doubt garner interest from folks who enjoy the Grateful Dead-inspired classic. Cherry Crumble switches up the formula from the brand’s more recent decadent offerings and pairs buttery ice cream with cherries and swirls of oat crumble.

I was intrigued by this pint because the container wasn’t screaming at me with mix-ins and because the base was something I don’t recall ever seeing. Described simply as “buttery,” a word often used to denote that something will be delicious, I needed to know how it tastes. Good news: it’s freakin’ awesome. Bad news: it’s kind of hard to describe. Middle news: I’m going to try!

Limited Batch Ben Jerry s Cherry Crumble Ice Cream Top

The base is rich and decadent in a way I don’t recall ever experiencing from B&J’s sweet cream, which is probably its closest equivalent, but far superior. It has a heavy and luscious mouthfeel with buttery notes, but not nutty like browned butter, more of a clean and deep flavorful sensation, like unsalted butter and sugar on white bread. Like I said, it’s hard to describe, but it’s wonderful and has a density that screams super premium. It’s a really great, nuanced ice cream.

Limited Batch Ben Jerry s Cherry Crumble Ice Cream Cherries

The cherries are also well executed. There are plenty, and they pop with a lovely bright sweetness and touch of acidity. More importantly, they do so with zero iciness. They provide the perfect balance of sugary and tartness against the rich buttery base. A jam or pie filling swirl might be more faithful to the concept of a crumble, but I enjoy the squishy flavorful chunks of fruit. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older, but I’ve been having a serious cherry renaissance in the last two years, and I love this simple old-timey mix-in.

Limited Batch Ben Jerry s Cherry Crumble Ice Cream Swirl

The oat crumble is where this pint could use some improvement. I still really enjoy it, but it reminds me much more of a cinnamon-y graham cracker swirl than a chunky oat crumble. When I read “crumble,” I instantly think of a crunchy, buttery, and salty topping that erupts with flavor, and while this swirl is good, it doesn’t deliver on the punchiness or texture I’m looking for. It has some pleasant grittiness with a touch of spice but no butteriness that can compete with the fantastic base.

While this pint falls a bit short in flawlessly executing a cherry crumble a la mode, it’s a very scoopable flavor that should be in anyone’s cart who enjoys a fruit-driven profile with a rich, buttery foundation.

Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: One Pint
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2/3 cup/140 grams) 350 calories, 21 grams of fat, 11 grams of saturated fat, 0.5 grams of trans fat, 75 milligrams of cholesterol, 125 milligrams of sodium, 37 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 35 grams of sugar, 5 grams of protein.