Posted by Allison Hemler, August 26, 2008 at 7:30 PM
As children, some foods truly disgusted us. But the same ones—Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and spinach all come to mind—we now dream of roasting, braising in butter, and creaming with ricotta. As adults, there are still plenty of foods we can look back on and agree—they are better left for the kids.
Joe Posnanski lists what he calls "Pixifoods," or "any food substance that is highly pleasant to the taste as a child and tastes shockingly unpleasant once you become an adult."
Some examples he includes: cotton candy ("cotton root canals"), Fig Newtons ("fruit chunks wrapped in death"), and Spaghetti-O's ("plastic and ketchup"). While many of the descriptions send shivers down my spine—Beanie Weenies are a no-brainer—I still snack on and enjoy Marshmallow Fluff and Pop Tarts from time to time. So, serious eaters, what childhood foods disturb your taste buds as an adult? [via Metafilter]
Posted by Erin Zimmer, April 16, 2008 at 9:45 AM
What are your favorite snacks of yesteryear that don't make the grocery shelf cut anymore? They probably wouldn't survive a transfat ban and they'd make healthy-school-lunch lobbyists wince, but gee whiz, we can't help the way we feel. Here's to gushing over the landmark snacks of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s—inspired by a Talk thread from last week.
10. Crystal Pepsi
For only one glorious year ('92 to '93) was it possible to let that un-brown, caffeineless cola touch our lips. Purity, clarity, and see-through unbelievability made this a breakthrough soda, even if it was still crammed with phosphoric and citric acids. Saturday Night Live took the concept to another, more carnivorous level with Crystal Gravy. When viewed today, the commercial for Crystal Pepsi is almost indistinguishable from such parody:
Continue reading »
Posted by Lia Bulaong, May 7, 2007 at 4:00 PM
My friend Andrew found this beautiful bus stop ad in Chicago recently. Designed just like a World War II-era poster, of a caped nurse cradling a corn dog in the crook of her arm like a baby and feeding it from a mustard bottle, it urges you to visit Springfield's own Cozy Dog Drive In, the birthplace of the corn dog. It's part of a series of vintage-styled advertisements from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism for their Offbeat Illinois campaign, meant to highlight quirky attractions around the state.
I love the corn dog poster best and am planning to get one for my wall, but you can buy any of the other advertisements (the Butter Cow and World's Largest Catsup Bottle are very nice) printed on t-shirts, tote bags, notebooks and all kinds of merchandise from the Enjoy Illinois CafePress store.
Posted by Lia Bulaong, April 4, 2007 at 11:02 AM
Tina Danze visits the newly-reopened Trader Vic's in Dallas for the Morning News: "Sealed like a tomb for nearly 20 years after its closing in 1987, the lounge has been restored to its old Polynesian-pop glory. Mismatched lanterns and fishing floats hover over the dimly lit room; tiki heads and accessories salvaged from other closed locations abound; and the festive cocktails are back, along with vintage barware and over-the-top garnishes."
Trader Vic's is so deliciously retro and camp in Dallas that even Tom Selleck, himself a legend of much the same stature, has visited in the last month! If like me you've never been to one, or you're yearning to relive an experience of old, their website lists all thirty of their restaurants—there are three in Germany and four in the United Arab Emirates!
Posted by Lia Bulaong, February 21, 2007 at 8:57 AM
Kim Severson of the New York Times visited her grandmother's hometown in Italy to discover the secret of her family's spaghetti sauce, only to find the secret wasn't in Italy at all: "In fact, only two things in the village reminded me of anything I grew up with. The fat pork sausages were cooked and served the same way, and my Italian cousins looked just like my brothers. To understand why I made my sauce the way I did, I needed to start closer to home, with my mother. She has been making spaghetti sauce for almost 60 years, from a recipe she learned from her mother, who had been making it with American ingredients since the early 1900s." Severson delves into how adaptation and nostalgia go hand in hand and shares two recipes, one for Italian meatballs and the other the Zappa Family spaghetti sauce.
Posted by Lia Bulaong, February 8, 2007 at 3:40 PM
Dead Sodas: A Tribute to Soft Drinks No Longer With Us. X Entertainment's salute to the short-lived, forgotten and misbegotten beverages foisted on us in the past, featuring classics like Crystal Pepsi, Surge and Orbitz.
[via roboppy del.icio.us]
Posted by Adam Kuban, December 5, 2006 at 4:38 PM
History magazine American Heritage digs up a source for crazy candy you never thought you'd see again:
"Share a box of hard-to-find candies from Hometown Favorites with your family for $39.95. They’ll mail you a box of candies popular in the 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s, complete with childhood favorites like Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles, Mallo cups, and bubblegum cigarettes. They also can bring back other gourmet memories like Junket Rennet Custard and Moxie."
