Dalton Cola soda: I spotted this intriguing bottle of cola on my colleague @sharingnicely's desk, but we noticed it was over a year expired. Still, the list of ingredients (which includes lemon, ginger, cinnamon, star anise, and lavender) was enticing enough that we gave it a taste. After chilling the beverage and sampling it, I found an expertly balanced cola with mild yet distinct floral and citric notes. The soda itself was slightly flat, but I'll attribute this to it being far past its intended shelf life... (read more)
dalstoncola cola drinks recommended ginger lemon citrus spiced daltoncola soda
Trader Joe's peanut butter & jelly nonfat Greek yogurt: A unique yogurt flavor I haven't seen from another brand. The yogurt captures the essence of peanut butter and jelly in a surprisingly faithful way. So much so that I wanted a glass of milk afterward. The yogurt itself is thin and watery for Greek yogurt; not the best texture. Nonetheless, TJ's scores some points for originality here. 3.5/5.0
traderjoes pbj yogurt greekyogurt snack dairy recommended 3.5 peanut butter jelly nonfat greek
Trader Joe's popcorn in a pickle: This is a prime example of purchasing a novelty snack that had a glimmer of promise. Luckily, this one turned out worthwhile. The flavor is very distinctive, with a briny and herby (dill) flavor. I imagine this would go perfectly with a sandwich, burger, or hotdog. As a seasonal item, it definitely begs for a summer picnic or barbecue. Nonetheless, I enjoy eating it on its own but recognize that people who aren't big fans of pickles should steer clear. Luckily, I'm not one of them. 3.5/5.0
traderjoes pickle popcorn dill briny picnic recommended snack 3.5 in a
PopCorners Cheesy Jalapeño Chips: I've generally been a fan of Pop Corners, a mainstream popcorn chip brand whose products are flavorful without being over-seasoned. After stumbling across the jalapeñ cheddar flavor for the first time, I decided to give it a try. With the first chip, I thought the heat level was quite weak, but the jalapeñ sneaks up on you after several more. The flavor is kind of junk-food-like but in a satisfyingly healthy way, as you know you're eating popcorn and not some deep fried potato chip. I went t... (read more) 3.5/5.0
popcorners recommended 3.5 chips popcorn jalapeno cheddar cheesy jalapeño
Fuku Koreano sandwich: An off-menu item at David Chang's new fried chicken joint in the East Village, this sandwich is exactly the same as the regular fried chicken sandwich with the addition of pickled daikon radish. The pickled veggies are well worth the extra dollar (at $9), as they cut through the surprisingly fatty fried chicken. The chicken itself is very moist and mostly dark meat, and the seasoning of the breading is spot on. The sandwich comes with a side of Saä sauce, which tastes like a combination of s... (read more) 4.0/5.0
fuku friedchicken davidchang eastvillage sandwich recommended 4.0 koreano