Just keep Chewing - Yogurt3 Hi-Chew

Yogurt Drink Hi-Chew - Hung Vuong Market

I want buffalo chicken and Yakult flavored everything.

Yakult, is a tiny, sweet, yogurt-based probiotic drink popularized in America by the, "To All The Boys," series of movies. (Which I haven't seen.) They are easy to find in any Asian market, and there all all kinds of brands with their own takes on the drink and fruity flavor variations.  

It's typical for me to go through foodie-flavor-phases, meaning I'll get really into something and consume it until I get absolutely sick of it, but this is a particularly unique combination. To satisfy my cravings I have made buffalo chicken dip, buffalo chicken soup (which was especially delicious), a buffalo chicken casserole, and I went to H-Mart and grabbed several packs of Yakult and these candies from Hung Vuong Market.  

That said, these are not technically "Yakult" flavored candies, but we all know what they're going for.

Aldi's Journey to Japan - Take 2 - Ponzu Ginger

Journey to Japan Ponzu Ginger Chips -Aldi

Aldi likes to release "around the world" products, with a particular recurring focus on India, Germany, Italy, and Japan. These were the flavor companion to the Wasabi flavored chips I reviewed a little while ago, and the newest addition to the "Journey to Japan" line.

If you haven't already read my wasabi review, spoiler alert, they're good, but not great. I am on a mid to high tolerance range for wasabi/horseradish, it takes a lot for me to feel the burn, and I wanted those chips to pack a punch. They didn't. Here's hoping that this flavor is a bit more unique and flavorful.

Black Cookie - Egg and Cheese Flavored Cookies?

Black Cookies - Hung Vuong Supermarket

We have metallic gold against the image of a black-brick wall, a picture of what looks like a black-colored macaron, BUT it is supposedly egg and cheese flavored. How could I NOT buy this?! 

I'm a sucker for weird flavors and a pretty package, but I've been down this road before. Will this actually deliver? We shall see. 

Starburst on Steroids

Sweet & Sour Hi-Chew  - H-Mart

If you've never experienced a Hi-Chew, you're missing out. These are Starburst on steroids. I introduced my fiancee to these candies when we started dating, and since he loves all things chewy, they quickly became one of his favorite candies. 

Thankfully they are getting more traction here in America. A few years ago I could only find them in Asian markets, but now big chains like Target, Walmart, and 7-Eleven regularly keep them in stock. It's beautiful. Still, for the more unique flavors and mixes, the Asian markets can't be beat. I grabbed these at H-Mart and I'm excited to give them a try since I have NEVER had a bad flavor of Hi-Chew, but you know what they say? Never say never.

Kari Poké! - Confessions of a Pokemon Hoarder

Kari Pori Pokémon Candy Sticks - Empty Boxes Being Sold HERE on eBay

Confession time, I haven't played a Pokémon game since the original Gold and Silver on Gameboy Color. Well, I have played a bit of Pokémon Stadium (love those mini games) and Pokkén, but I don't think those really count. 

I still consider myself a fan of the franchise, and I keep up with all the new Pokémon being released, but I just don't have time to play games like I used to. In spite of my lack of integration in the bread and butter of the fan-base, I still buy tons of random Pokémon merch! I have all of these boxes you see above, some regrettable gum that came with collectible stickers (as seen on my Instagram), some laser cut Pokémon seaweed sheets, and a box of pouches containing (what I believe to be) children's curry in my pantry. I just can't help myself. I see that sweet little electric rat's face and into my cart it goes. (I'm also hype for Detective Deadpool Pikachu.)  

I have a lot of Pokémon stuff piled up in my home...and I am running out of places to put it. A lot of it sits forgotten in bins that never see the light of day, and that is a shame. So, to fix all that, and to get hype for the upcoming movie, I decided to review it all and get rid of it. Time to Marie Kondo this b*tch! But...in true hoarder fashion, I don't want to just get rid of it all, instead I'll be putting all the packaging up on eBay so it'll hopefully find a new, loving, home where it can be displayed proudly. If that fails...I guess it'll go in the recycling bin, The circle of Poke-life and all that, but at least I tried!~

First up, these Kari Pori sticks. The candy is expired, but I'm going to review it anyway! 

Frieza is Cool, but His brother is Cooler, Just Saiyan - Dragon Ball Beverages

Dragon Ball Beverages

I love Dragonball, especially Dragonball Z, but you know what I don't love? Their novelty products. I've had a few in the past, both snacks and beverages, and they were mediocre at best and inedible at their worst. One of these days I'll finally wise up and ignore the nostalgia pangs in my heart when I see these characters on the grocery store shelves, but that day is not today!

I've Got Grape News! (Seriously)

Senjaku Pione Grape Gummies  - ???

No need to hear it through the grape vine, I'm engaged! 

My boyfriend fiancé whom you may remember from such posts as The Week My Boyfriend Went Keto, or driving me crazy at the end of THIS youtube video, proposed to me on Valentine's Day inside the Dunkin' Donuts from our very first date. (This donut review is actually from that date!)

After 3+ years of having him try all kinds of weird foods, it seems he's in it for the long haul. We've got a lot of planning ahead of us, but in the meantime....let's eat some candy!

Carbonated Matcha Soda?

Matcha Ramune - Rocket Fizz

We went to brunch the other day (which is the preppiest white-girl thing I have probably ever typed), and right next-door to our hipster brunch-oasis was a Rocket Fizz. In case you don't have them in your area, Rocket Fizz is a quirky candy and novelty product franchise that has all kinds of sodas, sweets, and squirrel underpants? Yeah, it's like the Spencer's gifts of snacks. All those crazy Chicken Wing flavored sodas and stuff you'd seen the guys on Wreckless Eating and Cult Moo drink? (Which are two of my favorite Youtube-foodie channels.) They've got it!

I wasn't too adventurous with my selections, so if you want to see some gross sodas, check out these videos, but I did pick up this matcha ramune. I've had tons of match flavored sweets over the years, but I've never had a matcha soda. This could be interesting...

A Candy Farewell Toast! - Goodbye to My Beloved Asian Food Markets

Tokachi Wine Candy - Asian Food Markets 

Two weeks ago, the Asian Food Markets, arguably, the best Asian grocery store in South Jersey, broke my heart by closing it's doors. 

According to articles online, their lease was up and they are currently looking for a new location, but as of now, they haven't found one. I'm a little nervous that this could be goodbye forever...

(Before I get too dramatic, these are a chain and there are other locations, but there are none within reasonable driving distance of my home.)

I couldn't let my favorite store disappear without one last hurrah, so the day before they closed, I stopped by and took advantage of their 30% off everything sale. Normally I stick to a simple hand cart, but if this was (potentially) a "good bye forever" situation, I was going to go out with a BANG. I grabbed a full-size cart and filled it with all kinds of goodies. We're talking candies, tons of tea, snacks, curry cubes, wasabi tubes, and tons of cooking ingredients. Pretty much I grabbed everything I had always wanted to try and knew I couldn't buy at H-Mart or the other Asian markets here in South Jersey. 

When I got to the check-out, my cart was pretty heavy and practically overflowing with stuff, and the total? Only $109.76 for 50 items! The frugal part of me was stoked, but it ultimately a bitter sweet victory. 

To celebrate my love for the oddly pluralized "Asian Food Markets," (and to get my butt back into blogging semi-regularly) I'll be reviewing a bunch of the stuff I purchased there, starting off this these wine flavored candies. 

A crunchy candy farewell toast!

Puccho Fruit Chews - Grapefruit & Yubari Melon

Puccho, Grapefruit & Melon - Asian Food Markets

Even though I have reviewed a BUNCH of different Puccho flavors, there is only one other Puccho review here on the site, and it's the Banpeiyu Da Mon Puccho. 

All the other posts are still in my Tumblr archives, and we both know I'll probably never get around to transferring all those posts over....so let's start fresh with a little information about this candy. 

Puccho is a fruit chew candy produced by UHA. At a glance, the fruit chews look similar to Hi-Chew and many other dense fruit chews from Asia, but this particular variety has some different mix-ins that make it unique. Usually those mix ins are small, stiff, oval-shaped gummy candies with their own unique flavors, but I have had some in the past that used fizzy candy as well.  

Unlike Starbursts, which are more like a stiff taffy that dissolves as you chew it, Puccho has a denser, bouncier, almost gum-like chew that dissolves more slowly. It's a texture I have only experienced in Asian candies, like Hi-Chew, and it's something you really need to experience for yourself to truly appreciate. 

There are tons of flavors available, pretty much every fruit you can imagine, as well as localized specialty items, cola, ramune, and even a mystery fruits flavor. I've tried every flavor I've come across and even though I do have a few favorites, I have never been disappointed.

Will today mark the end of that winning streak? We shall see. 

Cute Packaging AND Pear flavored candy? SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

Pop Candy Peko Chan Lollipops (Pear Flavor) -  Asian Food Market $3.99

Peko chan is back with more lollipop flavors! Well, just one new flavor, but it's an interesting one! 

Last year I reviewed the insanely adorable Halloween version of these lollipops which included the standard grape, strawberry, and orange flavored candies which are also included in this bag. To see my thoughts on the original fruity trio, check out last year's review. This time around I'm only going to focus on the new, green-colored flavor addition: Pear!

Popcorn-less Matcha Milk Flavored Caramel Corn

My hard drive had a case of the hiccups, but thanks to my awesome b/f,
my video files are safe and sound! 

Here's something I shot a while back, Popcorn-less Matcha flavored Caramel Corn!

Three Colors Crunch Ball Snacks - H-Mart

Three Colors Crunch Ball Snacks - H-Mart 

Three Colors. Crunch Ball. When I saw this adorable pastel and pink package at H-mart picking it up was a no-brainer.

More Pokemon Goodies! - What Starter did you pick?

Since Sun and Moon came out  today in the USA, I thought it'd be fun to (finally) review these Pokemon themed fruit chews I picked up at H-Mart. 

Did you pick up Sun & Moon? And if so, what starter did you pick? 

Befco Seaweed flavored Baked Rice Crackers - H-Mart

Befco Seaweed flavored Baked Rice Crackers - H-Mart

I picked up this bag at H-mart and to be honest, I initially had no idea what this was. The images made them look like some kind of flattened potato, but they seemed to be some kind of flavored rice cracker. Since the package was so colorful, and they were celebrating a 25th anniversary of...well, something, I decided to give it a try. (Full disclosure, the weird little illustrated characters on the package was the true deciding factor.)  

Drinking out of the Toilet? - YouTube Video Review

Big THANK YOU to my office buddy Jamie for giving me this kit last year for my birthday!

LOOK Peko Chan & Hello Kitty Halloween Chocolates - H-Mart (tbt)

LOOK Peko Chan & Hello Kitty Halloween Chocolates - H-Mart (tbt)  

While everyone else is obsessing over the sudden influx of all things pumpkin (and pumpkin spice), I'm freaking out over all the spooky Halloween craft store goods. Don't get me wrong, I love summer, and I wish this heatwave would never end, but I'm also really excited about Halloween, so I thought I'd revisit these seasonal sweets for today's #tbt.

Fleche White Peach Gummies - Asian Food Market

Fleche White Peach Gummies - Asian Food Market 

It's good to be back! 

I rely so heavily on my computer that when something goes wrong it feels like my whole life falls apart. I need it for my design work, for blogging, for video editing, for emails...it practically IS my life. (Is that sad?) I may or may not have had a mini-crisis over it this weekend. Thankfully, my PC is back in working order, all my programs are functioning, and I re-made all my custom Photoshop brushes. Now, let's get back to business and celebrate this awesome news with some beautifully packaged gummy candies! 

OREO Chocolat Rich 70% Cacao #TBT

OREO Chocolat Rich 70% Cacao - Gift (I think) #tbt

You might have seen this little box in my celebratory National Junkfood Day haul. It's been in my stash for quite a while and I can't really remember where I got it. I'm 98% sure it was part of our Candyology 101 gifts from The Impulsive Buy when he sent us our little plaques, but I can't truly remember. (Food hoarder problems, am I right?) 
My haul photos showed only HALF of my food hoard and it really lit a fire under my butt to knock out these reviews a lot faster, so here we are! Let's eat some fancy dark chocolate Oreos!

Fruity Pocky - Amazon

Fruity Pocky - Amazon

I leave for the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York TOMORROW! Am I prepared? Well...

Professional food blogger business cards? Check! My fancy new Media Kit (which took me all night to finish)? Check! Clothes and luggage packed? ....kind of? Food reviews queue up for YouTube and the blog? . . . .

I still have a LOT to do before I leave, but I'm doing my best to knock all of that out today, plus this way I can take care of a few more products in my food stash. Win win! For today's post I have some fancy Pocky I bought online. I usually refrain from buying food stuff on Amazon because it never arrives in one piece. Even though the seller packaged these with lots of bubble wrap and FRAGILE stickers...the strawberry box is still a little worse for wear. But hey, even if it's in pieces it'd still edible! Let's see if these fancy foreign Pocky taste any different than the Japanese versions.