The gumball story

Every week I listen to a great radio show out of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) called the Vinyl Café. The host Stuart McLean, apparently has a yen for gumballs and since “over 90% of the world’s gumballs are … uh … made in Canada….in Toronto” Stuart has just cause to celebrate the round treat. A few weeks ago he told a great story about these spherical treats that just blew this Candy Critic away.

He’s a great storyteller and here’s a few lines from this story to entice you:

“They are almost handcrafted … making a gumball is not like making ball bearings … Each one is an individual work of art.

They may be perfectly round but they are not exactly the same size.”

“When you were a kid you had to ask your mom if she would buy you a gumball … and you never knew how that was going to work out … there didn’t seem to be any way of telling … well guess what? Nothing has changed … because now you have to ask your pocket … ‘cause you know you aren’t going to go and ask for change just so you can have a gumball … so you reach into your pocket, or your purse, full of hopeful anticipation, and you pull out a handful of change and peer at it … and how great is that moment when you spot the quarter? You have a quarter! And you sir … are getting a gumball.”

“Name me one other thing that you enjoyed when you were four that you still enjoy just as much today?

There is just so much about a gumball to enjoy. To begin with they are full of sugar. They are trouble in your mouth sir … and trouble is what makes the world go round.”

Quotes used by permission from Stuart McLean

Click here and select the story titled “January 24th, 2009 "Gumballs & Joy Tshirts”

Click here to learn more about Stuart McLean and the Vinyl Cafe

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I love science

I recently found out that my school (Carleton U) has a regular science extravaganza that deals with blowing things up in a lab. I was also told that at one point that destroys an M&M like never before. I checked out the feed on YouTube and was blown away. I did an article a while back about destroying M&Ms but nothing like this.

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No new candy stores for me

I was walking around the other day and I saw this flyer on the ground that said “Candy Store” with a picture of a lollypop. I was so excited because at first I thought that there was a new candy store in my area.
I quickly discovered that it was in fact a message from the Canadian Bible Society and it was a pamphlet on religious stuff.
Now I have nothing against any religion but to trick me into thinking that there might be a new candy store is a little wrong.


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Chocolate beer from Asia

I’ve seen a few small breweries and home brewers brew chocolate beer; in fact one of our Link Friends has a whole site about it. But it looks like the chocolate beer craze may go mainstream.

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Click here to check it out.

It’s just a Boston Cream with maple-flavoured icing

I decided to get myself a donut today and when I got to Tim Horton’s I saw a little round delight called Canadian Maple. I was intrigued because I’m Canadian and I love donuts, so I figured I had to get it.

As soon as I bit into it I realised that the cream in the centre is just the same cream as one might find in a Boston Cream. Look out all you Americans, we Canadians are starting to take over. First we take your donuts, then your nation.

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Update day, and something a little new too.

As you may or may not know I also like to take pictures of candy and I sell them online. I’ve started to update my photo site pretty regularly and I’ve decided that every time I add a new candy photo I’m going to post it here too. The thing is I plan on doing that site's updates on the same day as Candy Critic's updates. So that means some update days will be a little more special than others. This week’s update is one of those days.
This is a continuation of a series using these cute little gummy bears covered in crunchy sprinkles. Gummy bears happen to be one of my favourite candies to shoot. Head over to bewarethecheese.com if you want to buy one for yourself.

Click here to read the review.

Click here to buy a print or greeting card.

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I’ve been slacking with the news a little

I haven’t been posting candy related news stories as much as I could have been lately. But here’s a couple, both dealing with food allergies. It’s a big issue in the candy world and when the Candy of the Month Club was up a running it was a constant question for me.

This first one is about how Cadbury is now printing, “contains milk” on the front of their Dairy Milk Bars. It seems kind of repetitive but hey, some people just don’t get it.

Click here to check out this site.
This editorial takes a look at the peanut allergies and the possible myth about the people that might have one.

Click here to check out this site.

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Surf Sweets Dude

The folks at Surf sweet sent me all kinds of fun organic gummies. They apparently have all kinds of healthy stuff in them, and all kinds of unhealthy stuff not in them. Hopefully they didn’t take out any taste stuff.

I love the surfing bear on their packages. Go surfing bear, go!

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Too sexy? Or not sexy enough?

I just got an e-mail from the fine folks at Hershey’s with a list of some of their new treats for Valentines Day. I tend to get these things well in advance of any holiday. They have a whole bunch of Valentine related treats to choose from, including some heart shaped boxes to give them to your loved one.

I went through a few of the images and came to these two box designs. With these two designs you might want to be sure that you’re trying to put out the right message. Make sure that it’s not about cute little cherubs and romantic dinners. Pretty much with these boxes all you're saying is “let’s get it on”.

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“A truly Canadian Dream Roll”

In an attempt to foil a particular Korean restaurants lame attempt to represent Canada in a plate of sushi, Allison came up with an awesome Canadian/Japanese/Korean fusion food that tasted mmm…. mmmm… yummy. Learn how to make it yourself and be the best Canadian you can be, even if you’re not from here.

Click here to check out the site.

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Arrrrrrr, there be cookies

My favourite bagged cookies, or at least one of my favourites is these Pirate cookies by Mr Christie. But I’ve always had a little problem with the name.

They’re basically oatmeal cookies with a peanut butter cream in the centre. They’re super yummy, and even better in milk. I just don’t understand where the pirate angle fits in.
My only guess is that they’re kind of shaped like old gold coins, if you squint and have a vivid imagination. Not that this bothers me too much; it’s just something I need to figure out.

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A little catching up to do.

With all of this update stuff I’ve been neglecting the regular blog updates. Here’s one of a few sites I’ve been pointed to in the last little while. Paul (my brother in law) found this site called Candy Fab. It appears to be a 3D printer that works in sugar. I’ve always wanted to take a bite out of something surreal and now I can.

Click here to check out the site.

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Last of a crazy update filled week

This is it; this is the last in this week's, one update everyday for a week (Asian themed). It was fun, it was a lot of candy, and it will probably happen again this year (although it’ll probably have a new theme). I did however fall a little behind with a few other finds that I’ve come across in the last week so next week’s blogs will be full of neat stuff. I figure to end this little romp I’d finish with an Asian classic treat with a twist.

Click here to read the review.

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The update insanity is almost over.

Yesterday I got home really late and almost forgot to update. So I managed to pry my eyes open just long enough to put up the new review. Then I remembered that I have to write a “clever” or “witty” blog about the treat and I was pretty much at a loss. So today I figured I’d make it back up to you guys by telling you a little something you may not have known about me. So here goes: The best cookie I’ve ever eaten in my life was purchased in Toronto at a little dingy coffee shop in the basement of a mall near the bus station. I don’t know if that has any importance to any of you, unless you live in Toronto in which case I should let you know that last time I walked by that shop (about a year ago) they still appeared to have those cookies.

Click here to read the review.

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I’m busy

I don’t have much time to write about today’s great review. I’ll talk more about it tomorrow but for now I’m just tired and I want to go to bed.

Click here to read the review.

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I figure this update might remind me of warmer days.

With a name like… well really you have to read it to believe it. But basically I figure that I need a little warming up, considering outside my window it’s about 30 bellow freezing. That pretty much will ruin any plans you might have for fun and just allow you to go out only on missions of survival.

Click here to read the review.

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This is a lot of updates.

The cool thing about today’s update is it’s the first time I can remember having two completely different treats with the same name. Basically if you venture to Australia you’ll come across a fun little bar called Pinky and today’s review is also called Pinky. However today’s review is pretty much as different as you could get from its Australian counterpart.

Click here to read the review.

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Update day… or as we call it Tuesday

With a review every day I’m going to have to come up with at least 7 clever tittles. Well 5 now because this one is not very clever and neither was the last. Today’s review on the other hand is pretty clever, and it’s kind of neat because it’s an Asian (This weeks update bonanza being Asian themed) and North American. So it’s like I’m promoting world peace and togetherness with one simple review. Too bad I didn’t like it that much.

Click here to read the review.

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Update day late? Update day more? Update day all week.

Some may say that update day is a day late, but really it’s a plan. This week I’ll be updating with a new fun treat every day. That means a whole lot of candy eating for me, and a whole lot of candy reading for you. Best of all we have a theme to go with this madness. This week’s reviews are all Asian treats full of strange and wonderful themes, packages and textures.

Click here to read the review.

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Marron Madness

I recently received an e-mail from Deborah asking me where I got my jar or Marron crème that I used in the Reece article for Candy Critic (Click here to check it out). Marron crème is a strange substance that’s basically candied chestnuts smashed into a butter like spread. I’m not a huge fan of the stuff but it’s ok. The problem is you don’t really see it around North America at all. In fact I’ve only seen it in a few specialty grocery shops and most of the time they’re hidden away. However if you go to Europe it’s pretty much all over the place. They love the stuff. Allison developed a taste for it when she used to get crepes on the streets of Paris. Put it on pancakes or maybe toast, just give it a try. While searching to see if I could find any for sale online I came across these:

Pocky with marron crème might be kind of tasty. I also found full cans of it too:


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Stick it to the wall.

The Chive has a great collection of photos from Bubble Gum Alley in Seattle. This place is both repulsive and wonderful all at the same time.

Click here to check out the link.

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Ahhhhhhh cookies!

Apparently if you eat little lemon alphabet cookies bears may be a problem. It’s a cookie with a message, a terrifying message that will keep me up for several nights, but a message non the less.

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First update day of 2009

So I’ve made a few New Years resolutions that I’m sure that I won’t pull through with. As far as Candy Critic goes I’m thinking of more reviews this year. Presently I do about one review a week, but next year I think I’m going to throw in a few extras now and again. In fact I’m thinking about next week doing a review every day. This particular cluster of reviews will be dedicated to treats from Asia. This weeks review may not be from Asia, but it’s still pretty unique.

Click here to read the review.

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Chips, no Allan Key required.

I just tried these new chips from IKEA and they’re not too bad.
The thing I liked most about them is that they’re “Scandinavian style chips”. I didn’t know Scandinavia was known for they’re chips at all.

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