Berkeley Bowl Pumpkin Ice Cream: Actually from Loard's Ice Cream, a chain based in Oakland, the Berkeley Bowl Pumpkin Ice Cream is sherbert orange with specks of brown throughout. If you let it sit out at room temperature, it takes on a whipped consistency almost like whipped cream cheese (I prefer this to the otherwise firmer, more dense texture). Sweet but endearingly so, like a dessert made with far too much cream but with a lot of love. 3.5/5.0
recommended berkeleybowl pumpkin cream 3.5 icecream
C2O Coconut Water: Despite its clip-art labeling, this all-natural coconut water is as good as most, with a slightly sweet taste (there is no added sugar). Comes in a large 2-serving can. Refreshing. 3.0/5.0
drinks coconutwater c2o coconut water 3.0
Mary's Gone Crackers Everything Pretzels: Each pretzel stick is shaped like a twig and sized like a skinny cinnamon stick, with a texture that did not match my expectation for a pretzel at all – it's crispier, as if fried. The sticks are covered with an array of seasonings like poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and caraway seeds, but the flavor combination overall tastes like burnt garlic. One of the more unpleasant snacks I've consumed in some time. 1.5/5.0
avoid organic vegan marysgonecrackers everything pretzels 1.5
Trader Joe's Soft Baked Drizzled Gingerbread Oat Bars: Despite the double-fisting polar bear on the packaging, each of these seasonal bars is individually wrapped. More similar to a soft baked cookie than a granola bar, they are moist and chewy, and while the icing feels unnecessary, it adds a festive touch. Spiced flavor contains molasses, ginger, and fig paste, along with your favorite wintery spices. A snack I would be happy to eat year round. 3.5/5.0
recommended traderjoes soft baked drizzled gingerbread oat bars 3.5
Yaokin Cabbage Taro Baked Cookies: This bag of puffed corn snacks was purchased solely based on packaging, with its friendly green police frog and lack of English labeling. They are more airy than your typical cheese ball, with a flavor that is almost like a junk food mirepoix, with tomato, onion, and carrots. It's unmistakably Japanese, with added sprinklings of nori and MSG. And, like many Asian snacks, they come in small packages, with only 3 servings in a bag. Brought out during a party, these were quickly devoured an... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended japanese vegetables yaokin cabbage taro baked cookies 4.0
Trader Joe's Peppermint Pretzel Slims: A festive take on yogurt pretzels, these flat pretzels have a white "coating" (essentially palm oil mixed with milk solids) and crushed candy cane on top. Together, they compose a crunchy minty snack that's pretty well balanced and avoids tasting like a breath mint. High in saturated fat, with a low serving size (4 pretzels). 2.5/5.0
traderjoes peppermint pretzel slims 2.5