Wei-Chuan lotus seed paste buns: I love mantou, a Chinese steamed bun often consumed for breakfast. I recently purchased this Taiwanese lotus seed filled bun from Hmart and am a huge fan. The filling is very lightly sweetened (2g of sugar), and after about 10 minutes of steaming, the bread is pillowy yet slightly chewy. It's very difficult to find a brand of filled frozen buns that isn't insanely sweet, and these were also reasonably priced. 4.5/5.0
hmart exceptional frozen chinesetaieanese weichuan lotusseed 4.5 breakfast asian lotus seed paste buns
Golden Gate Bakery egg tart: Back in 2010, I came across this legendary Chinatown institution notable for its long lines of Chinese patrons. I ordered a single egg tart and sat on the curb on Grant street savoring the best egg tart I'd ever had. Unlike most I had previously tasted, which tend to sit out in display cabinets, this tart came out hot, giving the custard a glistening glow and a silky texture that was almost pudding-like. Ever since that day, I've gone out of my way to buy another on almost every trip back to... (read more) 4.5/5.0
eggtarts goldengatebakery sanfrancisco chinatown danta exceptional dessert sweets custard 4.5 egg tart
Chimes mango ginger chews: I love ginger flavored things. If I see ginger candy, ale, or beer, chances are very high that I will try it. Over the years, I've become wary of non-Asian ginger candy, as they tend not to be particularly potent, likely in order to appeal to western palates. To my pleasant surprise, Chimes ginger chews defies this stereotype. I bought this flavor in particular because mango and ginger is not a common combination, particularly for ginger candy. Though difficult to remove from its packaging, ... (read more) 4.5/5.0
chimes ginger candy mango westsidemarket exceptional 4.5 chews
Corner of Vermont lemonade with maple syrup: Corner of Vermont is a small shop in Brooklyn selling Vermont maple syrup and other specialty items as well as maple-syrup enhanced dishes including hot dogs and ice cream. I ordered their lemonade with maple syrup and found it to be a perfectly balanced drink. The acidity level was very nicely paired with a mild sweetness from the maple syrup, which, despite my concerns, did not overwhelm. Served cold, it is an entirely satisfying summer drink. 4.5/5.0
cornerofvermont drinks lemonade maplesyrup exceptional 4.5 maple syrup
Bonchi Ponsuke Nori-Aji: One of my favorite things about Asian snacks is the combination of sweet and savory. These substantially-sized wheat crackers have a sweet, soy-like glaze with speckles of nori. Balance is very good. Texture is similar to a rice cracker, but slightly more dense. Very addicting. For the type of snack it is, it's one of the best I've had. From Japan. 4.5/5.0
japanese hmart exceptional wheat crackers nori soy bonchi 4.5 ponsuke nori-aji
Horizon cheddar snack crackers: I've always had a soft spot for cheese crackers in cute shapes, but that doesn't mean I'm not discerning in comparing the several options on the market. Goldfish have long gone downhill, with Pepperidge Farm substantially increasing the sodium content and with an unacceptably high risk of getting a burnt batch. Next best are Annie's cheddar bunnies, which are perhaps the crunchiest of the bunch but have good cheddar flavor and an ideal level of salt. Slightly better is Trader Joe's cheddar r... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional cheddar cheese crackers horizon cows 4.5 snack