Tag Archives: food and drink

Flying Cauldron’s Butterscotch Beer

Posted on 18th October 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

For the past twenty years, with Halloween comes Harry Potter. And Hermione, Ron, Tonks, Sirius, and the crew. I’ll admit to donning my own version of a Slytherin costume (well, as a Hufflepuff why not go as my polar opposite?) … Continue reading →

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Cheetos’ Bag of Bones*

Posted on 18th October 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Like Eric Cartman, I love cheesy poofs. The crunchy ones are good too, but there’s something special about letting a savory, cheesy bit of air and corn melt onto your tongue. Weird, yes. But damn it’s good. During this, the … Continue reading →

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Halva Licorice Bars – Sweet and Salty

Posted on 12th October 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Everyone around here knows I love black licorice. Wasn’t always so; I absolutely hated the stuff when I was a kid. But my dad would grab it gleefully, so after a while I decided to give a mini-box of Good … Continue reading →

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Stork’s Toffifay

Posted on 5th October 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

I remember being a kid and seeing Toffifay. It looked so elegant, so grown-up. Now this was a classy candy, obviously made for ADULTS, thought Little Me. Naturally, I had to try it. And I loved it. But I seldom … Continue reading →

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Taza Chocolate’s Guajillo Chili Discs

Posted on 5th October 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

There are lots of tastes that taste great together. Peanut butter and jelly. Buttered popcorn and champagne. (Seriously, try it.) And, of course, chocolate and licorice. But there’s one that doesn’t get enough love here in the States, and that’s … Continue reading →

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Greenbriar’s Halloween Candy Bracelets

Posted on 5th October 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

These strange, Fruit-Loops looking candies strung on a bit of elastic string, with or without a “pendant” or “charm” made of the same kind of candy were a must when I was a kid. They were fun, they were cheap … Continue reading →

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Golden Island’s Sriracha Pork Jerky

Posted on 26th September 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Pork jerky! I’ve had beef and bison, but never pork. So I dug into this bag, curious…and hungry. The first piece out of the bag, and I got something that was stringy and thinly sliced. This is a jerky you’re … Continue reading →

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Chef’s Cut Real Jerky Co.’s Smoked Beef Chipotle Cracked Pepper Jerky

Posted on 21st September 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

I get a carnivorous hankering every now and then. And when I’m too lazy to throw a hunk of animal muscle on the barbie, I grab some jerky. I love dried meat; it’s got a lot of flavor, a lot … Continue reading →

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Trader Joe’s Boneless Skinless Mackerel in Sunflower Oil

Posted on 7th September 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Omega-3 is good for you. That’s what “everybody” says. And by everybody, I mean doctors and other health professionals.  But if you’re like me, you enjoy fish but are too damn lazy to cook it most days of the week. … Continue reading →

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RJ’s Licorice Choc Twists

Posted on 30th August 2018 by Gary Whitehouse

On a recent vacation (or “holiday”) trip in New Zealand’s South Island, we were doing some grocery shopping before hitting the road for our next destination. We’d already picked up a couple of bags of Cadbury Jaffas to take home … Continue reading →

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Russell Stover’s Fine Assorted 2 ounce pack

Posted on 19th July 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Little boxes of chocolates.  They look so lovely. And with only four pieces per pack, hiding the evidence of a binge is easy-peasy.  So when I received a wee box of Russell Stover, I couldn’t wait to dig in. Sadly, … Continue reading →

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Butterfinger Dark

Posted on 7th July 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

I love dark chocolate. It’s something everyone knows, because I don’t mind saying so. But I think I’ve found something that has me thinking that perhaps dark chocolate has its limits. Because with Butterfinger Dark, these two great tastes don’t … Continue reading →

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Righteous Felon Jerky Cartel, Victorious B.I.G. Beef Jerky

Posted on 19th June 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Westchester PA based company, Righteous Felon crafts a whole lot of jerky.  But I sunk my teeth into their Victorious B.I.G. because I needed to know what beer infused jerky tasted like. This one’s a collaboration with PA’s Victory Brewing … Continue reading →

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Justin’s Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Posted on 13th June 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

I’m not really into milk chocolate.  And by “not really into”, I mean I avoid it like the plague.  Too many bad memories of dusty tasting mass-produced stuff stuck into my Halloween sack back in the day. Give me good … Continue reading →

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Oliver Brewing Company’s Cherry Blossom Cherry Wheat Ale

Posted on 25th May 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

As a DC gal born and bred, I love cherry blossoms. I think it’s the law of the local land. So when I moved up and away, I longed for those delicate blooms around the Tidal Basin. (Still do.) So … Continue reading →

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Mast Sea Salt Chocolate

Posted on 16th May 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Lately, sea salt is in everything I adore. Caramels, brittle, toffee, peanut butter cups.  And, of course, chocolate bars. When I was given a bar of Mast, I figured it’d be the same ol’ same ol; a chocolate bar that … Continue reading →

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Godiva’s Dark Chocolate Almond bar

Posted on 18th April 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Ah, Godiva. I remember when I found out about you.  I was in high school, and your golden boxes called out to me. Mmm, those “Dark Lion of Belgium” pieces, with the carmel so soft it oozed out of the … Continue reading →

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Lindt Excellence Roasted Hazelnut Dark

Posted on 16th March 2018 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

Dark chocolate!  How lovely. Breakfast of champions, some may say.  Well, I say that all the time, so I think that counts.  Toss in some “heart-healthy” hazelnuts, and I’ll live forever, right?  Don’t answer that. But in my quest to … Continue reading →

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Trader Joe’s Organic Hot Cocoa Mix

Posted on 24th November 2017 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

I love books.  I love music.  I absolutely adore beer.  And when the cool breezes start to blow, I need hot chocolate.  It’s a requirement around here. So when I got some “TJ’s” cocoa in the mail, I rushed to … Continue reading →

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Alter Eco Dark Blackout 85% Cocoa Chocolate Bar

Posted on 8th November 2017 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

“I’m sending you some chocolate.” – has there ever been a more wonderful message? “It’s 85% cocoa.” – maybe not so much?  I don’t like dark chocolate over 75%. That’s what I’d tell people. All of the chocolate I’d had over … Continue reading →

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Happy Farms Preferred Transylvanian-Romanian Cave Cheese

Posted on 24th October 2017 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

I love cheese. I love Halloween.  Transylvania is on my travel bucket list. So when my local Aldi unveiled Transylvanian cheese this season, I was all over it. And I’ll be sad when this seasonal treat leaves shelves, because it’s … Continue reading →

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Dunkin’ Donuts’ “Spider Donut”

Posted on 23rd October 2017 by Denise Kitashima Dutton

‘Tis the season. When October comes ’round, lots of places get their theme on and go full ghoul. Dunkin’ Donuts is no exception … but their execution of the Halloween spirit looks like actual murder. I bring you: Spider Donut. … Continue reading →

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Amy Stewart’s The Drunken Botanist

Posted on 14th November 2014 by Gary Whitehouse

No, it’s not a murder mystery or a light romantic comedy. The Drunken Botanist is a botanical exploration of “The plants that create the world’s great drinks,” as its subtitle says. Now, I’m not particularly interested in plants, per se. … Continue reading →

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Tom Parker Bowles, et al., Lonely Planet’s The World’s Best Spicy Food

Posted on 18th June 2014 by Gary Whitehouse

Regarding the growing popularity of spicy and hot food, I feel rather the way I do when one of my favorite musicians suddenly gets very popular. I’ve been eating hot chiles since the 1960s, long before you could get any … Continue reading →

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Diana Abu-Jaber’s The Language of Baklava

Posted on 4th February 2005 by Gary Whitehouse

There are memoirs, and there are cookbooks. A few authors have combined the two, but none that I’ve read have been so successful at it as Diana Abu-Jaber with her delightful The Language of Baklava. Abu-Jaber has previously written two … Continue reading →

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