SPOTTED ON SHELVES (INTERNATIONAL EDITION) – 4/15/2013

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by your fellow readers in other countries. If you’re Canadian or British and tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Hellmann's Mayonnaise with a Hint of Wasabi

Ugh! I’m disappointed the U.K. gets wasabi mayonnaise in a squeeze bottle before the U.S. does. I could really use this to help my Subway sandwiches taste better. (Spotted by Kelly at Sainsbury’s.)

Cadbury Dairy Milk with Oreo

Oh, Cadbury! What can’t you do with chocolate? (Spotted by Kelly at Sainsbury’s.)

Phileas Fogg Cool Sour Cream & Onion Mexican Style Taco Rolls

I didn’t read Around the World in Eighty Days so I didn’t know who Phileas Fogg was. I also didn’t read Journey to the Center of the Earth. I also didn’t watch any of the movie adaptations of the books. I’m sorry, Mr. Verne. (Spotted by Kelly at Sainsbury’s.)

French's Flavour Infusers

It’s kind of strange to see a bottle of French’s with French on it. I wonder if it’s equally as strange for a Canadian visitor to see a French-less French’s bottle when in the U.S. (Spotted by Darren at Calgary Co-op.)

Tetley Vanilla Bean Chai Tea

Did you know Tetley is the world second largest manufacturer and distributor of tea and Canada’s largest tea company? Well, now you do. So go impress your friends with that knowledge while sipping a cup of tea with your pinky sticking out. (Spotted by Darren at Calgary Co-op.)

Kellogg's Mini-Wheat Centres

That mascot looks either overly excited about the fruit filling or overly excited about the fiber. If it’s the fiber, I totally understand. I get that bonkers whenever I see a Fiber One product with over 40 percent of my daily fiber in it. (Spotted by Darren at Calgary Co-op.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 4/12/2013

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Talenti Gelato Pops

If these are gelato pops, why is there a spoon graphic on the front of the packaging? (Spotted by Eric at Publix.)

Hormel Rev 1

Hormel Rev 2

Hormel Rev 3

Hormel Rev 4

Meat and cheese. Meat and cheese. Meat and cheese. Meat and cheese. Meat and cheese. Meat and cheese. Meat and cheese. (Spotted by Andrew at Wegmans.)

King's Hawaiian Original Sweet Bread Hot Dog Buns

Because I live in Hawaii, I’m required by state law to promote anything that has the word “Hawaiian” on it, even though the company is now located in California. (Spotted by Lauren at Walmart.)

Taipei Asian Garden

Now I know four things named Asian Garden — these frozen entrees, a Chinese restaurant, a buy-me-drinkie bar, and a late night massage parlor. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf (or really unusual), snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

REVIEW: Frito-Lay Doritos Locos Tacos Tortilla Chips (Nacho Cheese & Cool Ranch)

Doritos Locos Taco Tortilla Chips

If you’re bored right now, there’s something I’d like you to do. Go to your nearest Taco Bell to pick up Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos, then go to a store to buy the Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch flavors of the Limited Edition Doritos Locos Tacos Tortilla Chips, then slide some of the chips into the tacos, and then let your mind be blown by the fact that you’ve just put chips that are supposed to taste like Taco Bell Doritos Locos Tacos into a Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco.

Inchiption!

(searches internet)

Argh! Someone beat me to Inchiption!

The Doritos Locos Tacos Tortilla Chips are similar to what Doritos did with their discontinued Collisions line, taking two flavors and putting them in one bag. In this case, they paired Crunchy Taco Doritos with either Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch Doritos. In the Frito-Lay press release, they are known as, DLT Nacho Cheese and Crunchy Taco and DLT Cool Ranch and Crunchy Taco.

So in order to get the desired flavor, you’re going to have to eat two different chips at the same time. Or bite one Taco Doritos and then take a bite of the other flavor. Or crush the contents of the bag into little pieces, shake the bag, pour the broken chips into a bowl, and eat them with a spoon.

Doritos Locos Taco Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese In Bag

It sounds simple, but if you pick option one or two there’s a slight problem. Parent Trap. Or Chiparent Trap. Just like the twins in the movie Parent Trap, it’s hard to tell the two flavors apart, especially when looking into the bag. There were numerous occasions when I thought I pulled out a Nacho Cheese Doritos, but it ended up being the taco-flavored one, and visa versa.

Doritos Locos Taco Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese Closeup

Doritos Locos Taco Tortilla Chips Cool Ranch Closeup

Whenever I was able to get both flavors into my mouth at the same time, by using all my strength to crush the chips, I think I persuaded my taste buds to believe I went to Taco Bell to Live Más. Each bag’s two flavors are equally balanced, but the taco seasoning tends to linger in the mouth longer. They’re both quite tasty and as addictive as Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch Doritos. Of course, the chips don’t have the nuances of the actual tacos, like the lettuce that always falls out or the ground beef grease that soaks through the taco shell.

But overall I think both Doritos Locos Tacos Tortilla Chip varieties did the actual tacos justice, although I have to admit that these chips have more flavor than the tacos they try to recreate.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 ounce – Nacho Cheese – 140 calories, 70 calories from fat, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Cool Ranch – 140 calories, 70 calories from fat, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.)

Item: Frito-Lay Doritos Locos Tacos Tortilla Chips (Nacho Cheese & Cool Ranch)
Purchased Price: $2.99 (on sale)
Size: 11 oz. bags
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Nacho Cheese)
Rating: 8 out of 10 (Cool Ranch)
Pros: Did the actual Taco Bell Doritos Locos Tacos justice. Have more flavor than the actual tacos. As addictive as Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch Doritos. Wonderfully crunchy. Not the first Taco Bell labeled Doritos.
Cons: Makes your fingers messy. Hard to tell apart the two flavors in each bag. MSG-haters will not like. Not being first to use Inchiption. Trying to stuff two chips into your mouth at the same time.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 4/10/2013

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Doritos Locos Tacos Chips

Now that Taco Bell has their Doritos Locos Tacos and Frito-Lay makes chips that taste like Taco Bell Doritos Locos Tacos, the next logical step would be Taco Bell making a Doritos Locos Taco using a shell that’s made out of Frito-Lay’s Doritos Locos Tacos chips. My head hurts. (Spotted by Seth at Walmart.)

Chewy Chips Ahoy Chocolate with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

It all started with this. Then Nabisco made a chewy version. So these Chewy Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Made With Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the logical next step. And after these cookies, it’s probably world domination. (Spotted by Marvo at Walmart.)

Dreyer's Outshine Coconuts Waters with Banana

Dreyer’s is changing the name of their fruit bar line to Outshine. The previous name? Dreyer’s Fruit Bars. So yeah, any name would’ve been an improvement.
(Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Simply Orange with Banan

Do you know what would be a great way to wash down a coconut and banana fruit bar? An orange and banana juice, of course. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Banquet Deep Dish Sausage & Gravy

With Banquet’s Deep Dish Sausage & Gravy Pie, I’ve got all my meals covered if I want to eat nothing but pies all day and do it for around five dollars. I can eat this pie for breakfast; their Chicken Pot Pie for lunch; their Turkey Pot Pie for dinner; and their Apple Pie for dessert. BBQ & More has a review. (Spotted by Marvo at Safeway.)

Thank you to all the photo contributors! If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new or limited edition product on the shelf (or really unusual), snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. If you do so, you might see your picture in our next Spotted on Shelves post.

REVIEW LIGHTNING ROUND – Dr Pepper Gum, Doritos Ranch Hot Wings Jacked, Tostitos Cantina & BK Loaded Tots

Here are some quick reviews of new-ish products we’re too lazy to write full reviews for:

Wrigley's Hubba Bubba Dr Pepper Bubble Gum

Item: Wrigley’s Hubba Bubba Dr Pepper Bubble Gum
Purchased Price: $1.49
Size: 5 pieces
Purchased at: Walgreens
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Tastes almost like Dr Pepper. Soft chew when it has flavor. Flavor lasts for a few minutes. If I had the ability, I could blow bubbles the size of my head with this gum. Sweetened using sugar, corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners.
Cons: My inability to blow bubble gum bubbles bigger than my fist (I have small fists). Only five pieces. Not a soft chew after the flavor goes away; it gives my jaw a low impact workout. I feel like I need to brush my teeth after chewing it.
Nutrition Facts: N/A
Other reviews: TV and Gum Are Awesome

Doritos Jacked Ranch Dipped Hot Wings

Item: Doritos Jacked Ranch Dipped Hot Wings
Purchased Price: $3.50 (on sale)
Size: 10 oz. bag
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 7 out of 10
Pros: Pleasing tangy hot wing sauce flavor with a bit of creaminess. There’s a slight chicken flavor thanks to the ingredient chicken fat. Hearty crunch. Huge chips. New Doritos logo.
Cons: Red hue makes them look evil, but they aren’t very hot. Not as addictive as most other Doritos varieties. Smelling them will burn nostrils, just like real hot wings. Not for MSG haters.
Nutrition Facts: 1 oz. – 130 calories, 7 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 290 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 0 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
Other reviews: Junk Food Guy, Brand Eating, Chip Review

Tostitos Cantina Thin & Crispy

Item: Tostitos Cantina Thin & Crispy Tortilla Chips
Purchased Price: $3.00 (on sale)
Size: 9 oz. bag
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: Tastes like other Tostitos tortilla chips. Simple ingredients. Crispy. With some Corona beers and these chips, you could make your Taco Bell meal seem like it’s from a cantina.
Cons: Tastes like other Tostitos tortilla chips. Too fragile for thicker salsas.
Nutrition Facts: 1 oz. – 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 110 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.
Other reviews: Spoil Your Dinner

Burger King Loaded Tater Tots

Item: Burger King Loaded Tater Tots
Purchased Price: $2.99
Size: 8 pieces
Purchased at: Burger King
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pros: At times, it kind of tastes like a loaded baked potato. Slightly crunchy exterior. Longer than BK’s Cheesy Tots. Better than Burger King’s fries. Available in 8, 10, or 12 pieces. BK’s changing menu.
Cons: Not a lot of bacon flavor and can’t taste the bacon at all in some tots. Light cheese flavor. Potatoes inside looked more like mashed potatoes than tater tots. Not as satisfying as BK’s Cheesy Tots. Made with partially hydrogenated oil.
Nutrition Facts: 380 calories, 22 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 640 milligrams of sodium, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of sugar, and 10 grams of protein.
Other reviews: Junk Food Betty, Brand Eating

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