Friday, April 30, 2010

I Believe in Ferries

What: Prawn Cocktail Pringles
Where: Between Belfast and Dublin
Cost: £1.99

In North America these chips would not be flying off the shelves. We are not used to a potato chip selection that includes roast chicken and steak. Fortunately "crisps" in the UK are often meat-flavoured and this one was particularly exotic. We were all pretty tired which is usually a bad time to be tasting new, potentially gross foodstuffs but I threw caution into the wind and popped this can open in the van.

The verdict: not actually gross.

It would be more accurate if these chips were labeled Prawn Cocktail Sauce flavoured, since they really just taste of tomato sauce. Maybe a slight prawny smell, but definitely not too fishy tasting.

If you're Canadian and like Ketchup chips than I would suggest these as a nice alternative.

7.8/10

HR

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Baby Sheeps

Four days ago I didn't know I was going to Europe, yet here I am. It has been a whirlwind past few days.

We arrived in Paris around 11am Monday morning. We hadn't really slept on the plane and were due on a train to London a few hours later, but we decided to make the most of our brief time in the city.

A croque-madame, a crème brûlée and a coffee, then a nap on the grass in Place des Vosges. We worked out some new ukulele-autoharp arrangements surrounded by the best-dressed teenagers I have ever seen, then witnessed an impromptu recital performed on a leaf.

Did you know that a single leaf - pulled out of a drink and blown upon - can sound like a lithograph recording of a trumpet?

Then - a short train ride under the sea, a brief, hug-filled reunion with fave European tour manager DT and some lovely, stripped-down shows in London and Manchester.

At some point before our show in London I wandered outside for food. I must have peeked into a dozen restaurants, yet somehow I arrived back at the venue with just three chocolate bars and a Fanta.

They were delicious.

The only way this trip could have been better so far is if more band members were here and I didn't feel like I forgot my brain in Toronto (although I can feel it slowly growing back now).

I will be keeping my eye out for unusual foods (of course) so check back soon.

England, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Poland, yeoooow!

HR

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

And It Tastes Great on a Cracker

What: Ooze Toobz (Strawberry)
Where: Toronto
Cost: Unknown (purchased by Eric and Katie)

I went over to my friends' house for nachos a few days ago only to find this tube of goo placed in front of me.

Immediately everyone around the table started speculating about the type of person who would buy a toothpaste tube full of neon pink syrup. Why does this product exist? Do you eat it with your fingers? Are all of our children going to have diabetes?

"You're going to eat that whole tube." One of my friends said to me.

"Haha" I replied. "Gross."

And then I kind of did.

It was hard not to. It was basically just really runny, extra-sweet strawberry jelly. You put a little bit on your finger to taste it, then a little bit more, then all of a sudden you look down and half the tube is gone and there are sticky pink spots all over your lap and the floor around you.

Picture Gushers lovingly harvested by Oompa Loompas and hand-squeezed into this tube. I like to imagine it this way so I can pretend it is a gourmet product and not just a tooth-rotting amount of high fructose corn syrup and dye.

The tube was passed around and everyone agreed it was ok, although no one would ever buy it for any other reason than to watch me eat it.

I tried it on some leftover tortilla chips and it was good. But not better than cheese.

6.2/10

HR