Trader Joe's Rice Bites with Quinoa & Cranberries: To be honest, I'm not a big fan of quinoa, and dried cranberries are probably my least favorite dried fruit. So why exactly did I purchase these grain + fruit bites from Trader Joe's? I blame it on my curiosity for this growing food trend of bite-sized squares, in both chewy and crunchy varieties, that appeal to health-minded consumers yet are not actually so healthy from a pure calorie and sugar-intake perspective. Trader Joe's take is simply not good. It has a cloying, artifical sweetn... (read more) 2.5/5.0
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In-N-Out Neapolitan Shake: A not-so-secret item available at fast-food chain In-N-Out is the Neapolitan shake, combining their strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate shakes to create an insanely sweet and thick concoction. When I was a grad student at Stanford, I ordered this shake once in a while when I found myself eating a quick meal at In-N-Out, getting through about 1/4 before feeling stuffed. Having the drink again after 5 years away from the bay area, I had a similar reaction, yet it still manages to have the tas... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Bubble Tea Station Mango slush with boba: Bubble Tea Station is a good reminder of the realities of bubble tea in mainstream America. When NYTimes published an article on the odd-blobs-in-drinks trend, a mostly-justifiable outrage was heard from bubble tea fanatics across the country, leading to multiple revisions and an official apology from the editors. While bubble tea is by no means a new cultural phenomena in the states, it's also nowhere near as pervasive as those of us living in urban centers might think. Last month, I found ... (read more) 2.0/5.0
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Uji Pineapple softserve in small taiyaki cone: Two exciting updates on the Uji-front (my favorite soft serve spot in Berkeley): they now have "small" sized taiyaki cones, which are ideal (you still get a ton of soft serve, and it's about $5), and the new seasonal flavor is pineapple. The taiyaki cone is as good as ever - a fish-shaped waffle that's crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside, with a surprise of red bean plugging the bottom. It's the ideal serving vehicle that holds up especially well compared to regular cones (it d... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Balthazar Ginger Citrus Tea: A fantastically warming ginger beverage that's equal parts ginger and lemon, with a touch of honey. Well-balanced, with a pronounced and cleansing spicy flavor. A noteworthy classic worth going out of the way for. 4.0/5.0
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Fuku Strawberry Lemonade Slush: Lemonade can be the perfect complement to fast food, cleansing your palate in between bites of rich fried foods. Fuku's strawberry lemonade slush takes classic lemonade to a whole new level. A seemingly endless supply churns in their screw-driven slushie machine, its mechanics drawing your attention as much as its vivid pink color. The texture is consistent in a way that probably only a machine can achieve, with ice crystals that are just large enough to hold its texture. The drink itsel... (read more) 4.5/5.0
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