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)
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Dominique Ansel Bakery Gingerbread Pinecone: I still haven't tried a cronut, but I have tried some of Dominique Ansel's desserts in the past, mostly through special events held at his New York West Village Kitchen location. While some were exceptional, namely a pea and carrot dessert modeled after a baby's first word, others have actually been quite bad (like the pie night a few years ago). There is a relatively short line at his first bakery and restaurant in Los Angeles at The Grove, so I opted for a seasonal treat: the gingerbread... (read more) 4.5/5.0
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Echo Farm Puddings Heidi's Spiced Pumpkin: Made with whole milk, this seasonal pudding has a texture a bit looser than I would expect (almost like non-Greek yogurt), spiced with a pumpkin-pie mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and clove. It's very sweet, with 27g of sugar in a cup. It feels homely and understated, in that you know exactly what you're getting; as a result, it isn't especially memorable. 3.0/5.0
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Joia grapefruit, chamomile, and cardamom soda: A refreshing take on grapefruit soda that's nicely spiced and sweetened. Grapefruit flavor is prominent and concentrated. Fizz is substantial and lasting. 4.0/5.0
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Newman's Own Ginger Hermits: These soft cookies are remarkably like Fig Newtons, with the same rectangular shape and dried fruit (raisins) throughout. While spiced like a holiday cookie, there is little ginger flavoring I could discern. Decently filling and moist, with a chewy texture. 3.0/5.0
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R.W. Knudsen spiced pear drink: While this juice consists predominantly of apple and pear juice from concentrate, the flavor is undeniably festive and perfect for the late fall. Spiced cinnamon and clove add to this well balanced drink, which is good hot or cold. Definitely on the sweet side, but I still enjoyed it. 4.0/5.0
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