Happy Halloween!

Don’t forget to wear something scary and eat lots of candy. And if you want to know where I live so you can get something cool, well that’s a closely guarded secret.

CC

The Halloween Review-a-thon is over everybody.

I know it’s sad, but at least you can go out tonight and collect a few of the treat you’ve seen on the list. You may also want to avoid a few too. I’ve loved doing this particular review-a-thon because I got a whole bunch of help from a few Candy Companies and in great part thanks to the NCA. If you don’t know who the NCA are that’s ok, but give them good thoughts because they’re people helping to get the candy word out and helping you find new treats even though you don’t know who they are.

Click here to read the review.

CC

Go carve your pumpkin!

Here are a few inspirations to get you started. After all how will I know that you’re giving away candy unless you’ve got one ready to go.

Click here to check them out.

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Not sure what to do this Halloween?

Well I think this classic cartoon clip can give you a hand.

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Candy Corn Art

I thought since today is ‘National Candy Corn Day’ I would show you guys this great link on Boing Boing about artists diabetik and his Candy Corn Traffic Cones.

Link Via Boing Boing.

CC

I oops the review-a-thon

I really am freaking out because I completely forgot about these fun little treats in this Halloween review-a-thon. I specifically held out to post them today because today is National Candy Corn Day and I thought I’d keep some kind of theme. I was so busy being clever that I forgot to be clever. Well it’s all fixed now and here’s the review for these squishy little treats, and that also means there’s still another review for tomorrow.

Click here to read the review.

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Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Good Morning Gang! Well, as Oatmeal Crisps sails off the horizon and I turn my attentions to another cereal next week, I feel it's time to pick up with what I alluded to yesterday - prizes in cereal boxes! Ow, 好痛！The pain! How I enjoyed getting prizes, small toys and so on, out of cereal boxes when I was young - and still would! Had it not been decided that it was too much of a hazard...in our messy world crawling with hazards, for some reason young children really enjoyed choking on cereal prizes? True enough, inedibles in with food make for a more troublesome scenario - but by that token we should take the bones out of pork ribs too! Bah! I say, give me back my prizes! Now, on to today's video! It's the intro to G-Force, otherwise known as Battle of the Planets - a neat Japanese anime from the 70s that was gutted and repackaged to be shown in North America (not that I knew this when I was young - I loved this show then!). I would like to see the actual episodes from Japan one day, nominally, just to see that in fact there was an overarching plot! Enjoy!

Jon

What’s behind door number 1?

I just thought I’d spend a few minutes before Halloween and explain the Halloween Advent Calendar I received from the fine folks at Madeleine’s Chocolate.Since there really aren’t any countdown days for the month of October instead they just have random doors with pictures on them, in this case monsters. One of the doors is marked as the first and behind the door is a clue that tells you where to go next.

The chocolate inside is fun little themed chocolate with all kinds of ghost and ghouls. And the chocolate itself is dam fine. I’m a big fan of the non-Christmas Advent calendars and I love the creativity behind them.

CC

Meat my Hand

This isn’t really about candy, but it is creepy and it is Halloween so I thought why not.

Click here to see more.

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Communist Candy Display

David Hlynsky has a collection of Russian window displays before the fall of communism. Included is a window display showing off some confections as well as a chocolate display.

Click here to see more.

CC

Second Last Review-a-thon entry

Wow tomorrows the big finally for our Halloween review-a-thon, and it’s been great. It’s also been a big surprise because I really didn’t expect to be able to find 1 treat that was worth reviewing this Halloween, but I was proven wrong and I couldn’t be happier about it. Today’s review is a shinning example of how Halloween is changing too. Adults are joining the fun, and the candy is getting a lot more sophisticated.

Click here to read this review.

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Halloween of the future.

I like the idea that creepy robots will be going door to door in future Halloweens. This means that I have a chance to go back out on Halloween in the future. I just hope all the robots are this creepy.

Click here to check it out.

CC

Bad Choice for that Hannah Montana

I was at the store when I came across this pack of Hannah Montana gummies. Everything seemed pretty normal until I noticed one of the gummy selections.

I understand why they would make guitar and microphone gummies for this particular assortment but I’m thinking that flesh coloured microphones are not the best idea. It kind of gives off the wrong idea about the… purity of this show.

CC

Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Astrofirmative Carboblaster Control! I hope you're all well this morning! Now, as I bid this Oatmeal Crisp - Male Nut cereal a fond farewell, I conclude with the following: I recommend it as a delicious cereal and suggest that the makers create a more candified version that eliminates the flakes and replaces it with a slightly different kind of cluster. But then, there are already cereals of that nature - that we shall explore in weeks to come! Today's video is a strange Count Chocula commercial from 1979, wherein Star Trek: The Motion Picture trading cards are included in the boxes - for a limited time! Indeed, just how limited is a sore spot for me, oh yes, don't get me started on how they've taken the prizes out of cereal! I can hardly wait to review Count Chocula too... if it's not too late! Well, enjoy this brief but mild-smile-inducing video!

Jon

Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Hola, amigos del cereal! Language is great! So...more on this Oatmeal Crisp, Maple Nut edition...I am typing now and leaving some in the bowl to fully assess its powers of crunchiness but regardless of that factor, as I said the taste is full and the fibre makes you feel that it's not so bad to eat it compared to a straight up blorpy candy cereal (much as we love them, long may they live!). Now, having returned after a good many minutes to finish it off, I find the flakes go soggyish as expected, but the clusters stay very crunchy and it totally saves this cereal - it ought to have an even higher percentage of clusters! I give this cereal an 8 out of 10 - mainly because it's a 'healthier' cereal and thus is in part responsible for the destruction of the candy cereal scene, it can't get a 9. Now, today's video comes just in time for Halloween! A song number from the cartoon The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy - I really liked this show, the vacant stare in Billy's eyes, his huge nose and protruding idiot tongue - that's good Billy! And Mandy's unflappable icy exterior and considerably larger brain to offset Billy... classic pairing with good results; and speaking of BRAINS, that's the subject of the video - let's all watch, listen and swing to it with our favourite dance partner! Cereal Away!

Jon

To review or not to review, that is the question.

Sometimes I wish I had all the time in the world, and all of the appetite in the world so I could review every single treat that crosses my path. That would be great, but truly that’s pretty much impossible. My mind explodes when people ask me how I manage to find enough treats to review on this site. This gummy is a fine example of a questionable review, in fact just about every gummy becomes a bit of a question for me. I mean gummies are fairly similar in texture and flavours, the shape is really the only difference but I’m not sure I could write a few paragraphs about how this gummy really doesn’t look like any bug I’ve seen but still looks creepy.
The other problem with choosing treats is when I’m present with two or more flavours of something. Do I go with the popular one, the strange one, or the one that I’ll probably like?

Finally treats that I get as gifts are always a difficult choice. Whether I get them in a restaurant after a meal or in a bag from friends, I’m never sure if I should review them. Would my friends be offended, and are these restaurant mints really any different than other restaurant mints? I have to think about this.

CC

Halloween is coming.

I’ve always wondered where the expression “boooo” comes from. Its something one does to freak people out, but why does it? Why do ghost make that noise, and why to we chant it when we want a team to lose. It’s a pretty versatile word and that’s cool, I just don’t really get where it came from. Today’s review is a shinning example of how common an expression it is.

Click here to read the review.

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Told you I’d post another review today.

It’s getting late and I want to get up early tomorrow. Things here at Candy Critic are going a little crazy with Halloween only a few days away things here often get even crazier. I guess this may have been a bad time to do a review-a-thon but it just seemed right. Well I’m going to go to bed; sure hope the sugar doesn’t keep me awake.

Click here to read this (second) review of the day.

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The Book title

I do have a title for the book. I’ve been thinking about it since I got the idea to do a book about Japanese Snacks. I don’t want to say what it is yet but I assure you I love it. I don’t know how you’ll feel about it if you buy a copy but hopefully you’ll think it’s ok.

CC

The Halloween Review-a-thon continues…

Today I may just have two reviews. Today I’m feeling like I want to post a second review because I like you guys, and you make me smile. Today it’s pretty miserable outside and I want more candy goodness to make me happy. Today is the day; I’ll post the second review this afternoon so keep up if you can.

Click here to read this review.

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Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Good Morning All! This morning I've carved into a box of Oatmeal Crisp - Maple Nut variety, as there are a number of other varieties too! This cereal is great, it's crunchy, sweet, has a strong mapley flavour and comes in flakes and clusters! I find it's cousin Vanilla Almond to be also just as excellent. It makes me feel better to eat it than eating candy cereal, despite the fact that it's just as loaded with sugar, probably; it's likely a result of this cereals higher fibre content. Being one of the modern 'healthy' cereals, we can say it is likely healthi-er, however, that's besides the point, it's tasty and not as blorpy. More tomorrow! So today's video is one of the excellent Schoolhouse Rock commercials from the 70s/80s - I loved these! So let's all sing along with Interplanet Janet!

Jon

Bloody Bag

The Chive has a great shot of a candy that I’ve never seen or tried but I couldn’t resist if I ever find it.

Click here to check it out.

CC

It’s starting to get spooky.

I love the week building up towards Halloween. Walking through the stores, checking out all the candy. Think about it, this is the only time of year that stores can advertise candy front and centre without getting into trouble. Also I love looking at all of the costumes that are available and guessing which will be the one I see over and over again.

Click here to read part II of the halloween review-a-thon.

CC

I think I may have made a mistake.

This morning I decided that it might be fun to try out these ‘Tung Tattoos’ I got from the fine folks at the NCA. The problem is I didn’t really think the whole plan through.

I thought that maybe the tattoos might come off my tongue fairly easily and it might only last a few seconds. As it turns out it’s pretty permanent and even with a bunch of scrubbing there was still a pumpkin on my tongue. I say this because I had plans this afternoon and a pumpkined tongue may not be appropriate.

CC

Creepiest Review-a-thon ever.

It’s day one of the Candy Critic Halloween Review-a-thon. Funny considering this year I thought I’d have a hard time finding just one treat to review this year. However thanks to the folks at the National Confectioners Association and other candy friends I’m loaded with Halloween type treats. This first review is actually the only one of the reviewed treats I picked out myself. I got them because they looked cool, and I’m sure you can see why.

Click here to read the review.

CC

It’s what’s inside that counts.

‘Mutantedelorto’ sent me this link with a great look at what might be inside your gummy bears. I warn you after reading this you might find it a little harder to bite their heads off.

Click here to check it out.

CC

Halloween Census

I got this very boring looking, but interesting factual information sent to me from the US census about what people do on Halloween. Most interesting is the fact that the US census actually collects data on Halloween. I’m wondering if they have the numbers about how many people dressed as Michael Jackson in 1985? I know of at least one.

Click here to check it out.

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I’m not sure if this is a joke.

This guy seems like he’s really giving advice that he thinks is new and really helpful, but really is this the best advice this guy can have about Halloween? Here are a few tips from me:

Buy nut free candy, it’s just as good as the nut stuff and it assures you’ll have no problems.

Sit outside if you can, it creates a great feeling of neighbourhood and also allows you to see some of the crazy antics.

Themed bowls are not required but a big one is a good idea.

Invite friends over, or go to a friend’s house, giving away candy can take a lot out of you and a little help is always great.

CC

Jon's Cereal Brigade!

大家早上好！ Now I hope you're all well today and will enjoy your next bowl of fruit loops as much as I have enjoyed my most recent for the moment last bowl! Aye, what more can I say - in the realm of candy cereal it is a classic keeper and I'm not surprised that it's still around. I wonder some days when a new candy cereal classic will be created that is as memorable as Cap'n Crunch, Fruit Loops and the like, however, that is a subject that gets a bit deeper than the focus of this humble, happy, good morning posting. What more can I say about this cereal? Go buy some and enjoy it with a favourite morning cartoon, it may just put you in a better mood! Now, our video today is an old commercial for Apple Jacks cereal that, as far as I can tell has mostly fallen from view. I never really had a bowl of these growing up even, as I was most fruit-a-phobic, however, I did always consider them to be Fruit Loops' cousin cereal, owing to their O shape and non-Cheerios plainness. This commercial though...if I had just known that Apple Jacks had the power to let me thwart my enemies, or that if I ate too much my head would swell up like red balloon and I would be unable to stop tap dancing... well, I probably still wouldn't have eaten it! Enjoy!

Jon

A box of treats from Madeliane’s

Just as I was leaving the house today a knock at the door and a man holding a box gave me a little smile. Best of all the box was filled with fun chocolate treats from Madeliane’s Chocolates.

Included was this bag of strange little golden cubes that I’m sure will be reviewed in the near future.

Also included was a Christmas advent calendar and this crazy Halloween advent calendar thing. I wish I had more time to investigate but I gotta go.

CC

Places to go in NY

Time Out New York has a great list of local candy shops in NY. They also have a cool photo gallery. I haven’t been to NY in a long time and with each message I get about cool foods there the more I start planning the trip in my head.

Click here to check out the site.

Thanks to High/Low Food/Drink for the link.

CC

It’s my Business

The folks at M&Ms have come up with a brilliant idea. For a while now they’ve had it set up so you can design your own M&Ms with pictures and words printed on each. Well now you can also get these M&Ms in a special package that basically turns them into your own business card. I’d go for it except for the fact that I would eat all my business cards before I could manage to get them out to anybody.

CC

Going to a Chapel

I went to my friend Heather and Lee’s wedding this weekend and man do my friends have great taste. As a late night addition to dinner they had a Candy buffet filled with all kinds of great snacks. They didn’t go for strange treats but instead went with the classics, and the best classics at that.
Best of all rather than giving people bowls or plates to carry their candy, they gave out little paper bags. I filled up and had enough treats to last me through the night and even enough to last me the 5-hour drive home.

CC

Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Good Morning Everyone! As I sit here today with my next morning bowl of fruit loops I find I really have missed them after all these years. Surely the sacrifice in health I make for this expedition is worth it! I think Toucan Sam played it smart to last these years through the healthy cereal storm. While Cap'n Crunch increasingly took to violent means to ensure his cereal empire, ol' Sam holed up in his jungle and let mystery do what cannons did for the Capn'. Toucan Sam invites us to come in search of his cereal, following our nose...I like that style, how like water! I would have to give Fruit Loops a healthy 8 out of 10. And speaking of strategical geniuses, today's video is one of my favourite scenes from the movie Red Cliff - the story of how military genius ZhuGe Liang borrowed 100,000 arrows for his commander. ZhuGe Liang was a historical figure with a great deal of fiction attached to him, he occurs in the Chinese classic The Romance of the 3 Kingdoms (an event which historically came after the events at Red Cliff) and in addition to being a strategist he is credited with many inventions, including the steam bun (or mantou) - which is today is still an excellent breakfast food! Enjoy!

Jon

Halloween Cupcake Madness

The Chive posted a picture of what might be the best decorated cupcakes ever for Halloween. These things look great and horrible all at the same time.

Click here to check it out.

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Hot Dog and Fries together at last.

This has to be one of the greatest ideas ever. It makes money for the person selling the hot dog because it forces people to get the side of fries. It makes my life easier because I don’t have to use both hands when I eat my hot dog and fries. But most of all it helps the world population thin out a little with all that cholesterol.

Click here to read all about it.

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Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Good Morning Cereal Brigadiers! I've dispensed with getting into 'healthy' cereals just yet as I have followed my nose (it always knows) and buried myself in a box of fruit loops. In fact, I couldn't help myself and had a bowl of it as an after work snack! This is another beloved childhood candy cereal of mine from long ago. I like its bright colours; the fact that it stays reasonably crunchy is a small plus but most importantly is the taste - each ring really does have a slightly different fruitesque taste and... and I find that I enjoy it! I'll have to do some more sampling as I work through the box but ol' Toucan Sam, wise, somewhat less obsessed (probably because he was always able to eat his cereal unlike so many other cereal mascots - though the Cap'n also could enjoy his product too) bird that he was, knew what he was doing deep in the jungle when he crafted this cereal! Now, today's video is a 1963 commercial for the board game Mousetrap...do note the announcer's enthused voice, Billy's plastic hair and how many times they shout Mousetrap! I had the privilege of playing this once when I was young, in the early 80s, and I still love the Rube-Goldberg contraption that is the center of the game - take that you peanut butter stealing mouse!

Jon

Gingery Mint

My friend Leba gave me this little tiny ginger candy and it was yummy. The best thing about them isn’t the flavour though; the best thing is the little messages on the outside.
It’s as if I’m having a love affair with a Ginger Mint.
Although this one seems to be moving a little too fast for my liking.

CC

New Photo on my web site.

Talk about colour, these gumdrops are just so bright and so much fun to shoot. They also taste really good and that doesn’t hurt either.

To pick up a copy of this print click here.

CC

Photo Show For Christmas Presents

Hey everybody, do you like candy? How do you feel about photography? Well if you answered these questions with an enthusiastic “YES!!!” then have I got a deal for you. I’ll be selling my candy photos (and others as well) at the “Sandy Hill One and Only” art show on November 22. You can read more about it and plan your visit by clicking here.

CC

Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Morning all! Well, things were a little shaky here at Cereal Brigade Logistics when I ran out of cereal and then milk but things are as they should be now!. Today, before I dive into a new box of cereal, I am having my second and last bowl of cocoa Rice Krispies that was provided by the Candy Critic himself - and they are from Japan no less! Now, I really like regular Rice Krispies and grew up eating them but these...these are ~chocolate~ and for me it makes them even more delicious. They stay crunchy a long time in milk, their cargo of chocolate sloughs off into the milk turning it chocolatey and of course there is the familiar snap crackle pop sound. So, despite a lack of pithy commentary like the Cap'n had (I'll save it for regular Rice Krispies), I'll just say cocoa Krispies is my kind of cereal indeed and I'll have to give it a 9 out of 10. I just can't bring myself to say 10 cause I believe there is an even better cereal just waiting! Now, for today's video I have another epic Greek mythology movie scene for us - Perseus vs. Medusa from Clash of the Titans! If you've ever wondered how to tangle with a gorgon, now you know... it's all about the mirror! I personally always feel bad about Medusa's plight in Greek mythology - in which, actually, I guess there are a great many people whose plight one could feel bad for!

Jon

Bean there drank that.

While in Japan I was “lucky” enough to sample Shiso Pepsi (basil Pepsi) and I thought how or why could they top that. Well apparently they have, Red Bean Pepsi is here people, and it’s time to be afraid.

Click here to read more, although the site is in Japanese.

CC

Fall Down

With the fall colours in bloom it’s starting to look real Halloweeny around my neck of the woods. I’m super happy I live in a place that pretty much has the proper weather for all of the big holidays. I get a ton of snow at Christmas, fall colours and bare trees for Halloween, and lots of cake for my birthday… well the last one really has less to do with the weather and more to do with how well my friends know me. Enjoy this week’s review.

Click here to read more.

CC

Ode to a French Cruller (or Honey Cruller as they are now called)

This little donut light as air
So many on the shelf, no one did care
Covered in icing you are so sweet

Those little groves they are so neat

The problem I have is how light you are
Other than that you would be a star
Your lack of dough, o that couldn’t fool her

Because your name sounds so much like cruel-er

CC

I’m not sure about this.

But being aware of Halloween candy safety is important… or at least I think it is… not that I’ve ever heard of any real incident of candy being tampered with… ever.

CC

Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Morning cereal troopers! I have yet to buy a new box of cereal, however, a word about healthy cereals. Now, I enjoy a box of some of these so-called healthier cereals and I am sure that they are indeed somewhat healthier, at least in terms of fiber. However, I had mentioned before how once upon a time candy-like cereals were more prevalent and nowadays they seem less prolific and their development in more of a torpor while the shelves burst with 'healthier' alternatives. Now I have no objection to healthier foods and cereals, we can see the effects of our high fructose MSG preservative based diets too readily.... still... the commercials of yesteryear call to me to try the latest, radical candy cereal! In the days to come we shall explore this phenomenon more fully. As for today's video, it's great! This has to be one of my earliest TV memories..I can't believe it's on youtube! I recall the cowboys, the gum and the 'XXX' gum the other guy was chewing.... let's watch now!

Jon

BUUUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

SF weekly has a list of crazy things that contain caffeine. This list will either feed your addiction, help you work late on that all-nighter, or scare the living crap out of you.

Click here to read more.

CC

A Pictures says… what?

Loblaws (a big chain here in Canada) has changed the packaging on their “No Name” discount groceries again back to the no frills look. I’m ok with not dressing up inexpensive food and cutting the cost on graphic design, but is the ugly food photo really necessary. How about you just skip it and describe what’s inside. Or do copywriters get paid more than photographers?

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Jon's Cereal Brigade!

Hiya gang! That's the end of the Cap'n, this flavour ship has set sail for another few months! Aye, well, what can I say? It's crunchy, crunchier than many cereals in milk, it's sweet and cuts your mouth a little with an ambiance that recalls earlier days. A roundly likeable chap, the Cap'n is. Now, as for today's clip, I just happened upon a commercial for Mr.T cereal! It's cool! I am informed twice and invited to eat small Ts that from the description ought to taste like Cap'n Crunch. I don't even remember this cereal but after my video of C3POs it occurs to me that they'll make a cereal (or used to) out of anything! Now, Mr.T was a comparatively serious character but not even he could hold his own, cereal-wise, against the Cap'n... it seems to add to my pet theory that in fact, in the office, Cap'n Crunch is a ruthless businessperson!

Jon

A little something to get you up this morning.

I just read this article about these little watermelon looking things. Apparently they’re sausages and that only makes me wonder. Why haven’t we done more to dress up sausage casing, why is this a new idea?

Click here to read more.

CC

Corn Flakes News

I’m not sure if this is a hoax or not, the idea of being able to write on a corn flake is pretty cool. The thing is even if it’s not a hoax I’m curious if they’ll actually put their name on every flake from here on in.

Click here to read more.

CC