Month: November 2022

Taste Test – Dorina Milk Chocolate with Puffed Rice

Croatia, Europe, Taste Test

Dorina Milk Chocolate with Puffed Rice is a product of Croatia and is very popular in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Some Bosnian friends introduced me to this candy bar and I developed a fondness for it. It is very different from the Nestle Crunch type bar you may be familiar with. First of all the chocolate is of a higher quality but the big difference is the rice inclusions. The rice is puffed and filled with air unlike the compact kernels most common in the US. The amount of rice is also greater with the majority of the candy bar being rice with a coating of chocolate.

Alex loved it and the three bars we bought disappeared fast

Taste Test – Premium Orchard Pumpkin Seeds

Bulgaria, Europe, Taste Test

Every fall we get a pumpkin and carve our Jack-o-Lantern, for me the best part is scooping out the seeds and roasting them in the oven with a little salt sprinkled on them. The vast majority of commercially produced pumpkin seeds available for purchase pale in comparison to these homemade roasted seeds. This brand from Premium Orchard is the exception. These seeds are very reminiscent of seeds you can do at home. I prefer mine to be a little more cooked and brittle but these are a close approximation in both texture and flavor with just the right amount of salt.

Taste Test – Heath Riles Garlic Butter BBQ Rub

Taste Test

Heath Riles has been grilling since he was 18 years old when he participated on a competition BBQ team in Ashland, Mississippi. Since then, he’s established himself as an industry leading expert in both competition BBQ and grilling. We purchased a jar of his Garlic Butter BBQ rub after seeing it being used by The Meatdad on TicTok.

Sprinkled on some wings and thrown into the air fryer – delicious, highly recommend

Taste Test – Boiled Peanuts

North America, South Carolina, Taste Test, United States

Boiled peanuts are popular in some places where peanuts are common. Fully mature peanuts do not make good quality boiled peanuts; rather raw, or green ones are used.  After boiling in salt water they take on a strong salty taste, becoming softer with prolonged cooking, and somewhat resembling a pea or bean, to which they are related because they are legumes and not an actual nut. I lived in Florida while going to graduate school and saw these around but had never tried them. We purchased a can from Amazon to give them a go. Alex and I both agreed that they are an acquired taste. We found the texture off putting being mealy and slimy in nature. We also found the flavor somewhat insipid.

Whether directly out of the can or heated up Alex’s reaction is representative of us both

Taste Test – Korean Army Hardtack Biscuits

Asia, South Korea, Taste Test

Hardtack is a simple type of dense cracker made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Hardtack is inexpensive and long-lasting. It is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages, land migrations, and military campaigns. Along with salted meat, hardtack was a standard ration for many militaries and navies from the 17th through the early 20th centuries. I had tried authentic hardtack years ago at a Civil War reenactment and found it both interesting and enjoyable. Seeing this product on Amazon I decided to give it a go. The small crackers were durable and tasted similar to the flour and water biscuits I had had before but they were not as bullet proof as I remembered.

Alex is always game to give things a try