Snack Review: Cinnamon Sunchips

A friend of mine referred to me recently as “epicurean.” I found it odd at first that he should reach this revelation while watching me enjoy a Tootsie Pop - as tasty as the chocolaty pops of happiness may be, they’re hardly comparable to a fine wine. After doing a bit of research on Epicureanism, however, I realized the philosophy of Epicurus and his school is about more than being a food-and-drink snob. It’s about enjoying life in general, even the more seemingly-trivial aspects - including friendship, romance, and, yes, food and drink. A sense of adventure about these small pleasures is key to the philosophy, so I suppose my snacking habits are indeed epicurean. After all, I derive a lot of pleasure from trying odd and unusually-flavored snacks.

The other day, it might have been the spirit of Epicurus who guided me straight through the chip-aisle of a nearby discount store. Under his ghostly influence, I reached for a bag of Cinnamon-flavored Sunchips, wheeled my cart toward the counter, and purchased the strangely-flavored chips. My possession ended halfway through the drive home (poor Epicurus was probably frightened; life in ancient Greece hadn’t prepared him for LA traffic!).

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Snack Review: Kraft Bagel-fuls

Bagel-fuls are toasty warm bagels with a cream cheese filling inside. I tried the brown sugar and cinnamon bagel with cinnamon cream cheese inside. Sounds yummy, right?

After zapping it in the microwave for 15 seconds, I immediately wanted to bite into it and when I did, the outside tasted just like a soft chewy bagel. As for the cream cheese inside, the texture was creamy, but I couldn’t really taste it, so my thoughts are that it should be a little stronger tasting, or possibly have more cream cheese in it.

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Snack Review: Seneca’s Crispy Cinnamon Apple Chips

Let me share something with you guys – I’m from the Berkshires, a tree-covered cow oasis at the edge of the demented rectangle that is Massachusetts (think “opposite of Cape Cod,” and you’re there). Where I grew up, old paper mills perch atop snow-covered foothills, cows bellow loudly at the rising sun, and restless teenagers throw loud, vodka-fueled house parties in an effort to quell their epic boredom. Basically, it’s like any other American suburb, but with fewer Republicans and more fresh air.

As far as I can tell, our economy sustains itself on two main exports: 1) Rustic New England Charm, which we serve by the bucketful to middle-age tourists from New York. And 2), apples.

Yes, round, glistening apples. In the Berkshires, apple orchards are as plentiful as Priuses blasting NPR. They inspire a love that other towns reserve for their high school football teams, or local dogs who save their owners by dialing 911 with their snouts. We even hold a three-day festival called the “Apple Squeeze,” which features more apple fritters than should be legally allowed within a four block radius.

What I’m trying to say with this extended introduction, is that when I placed one of Seneca’s Crispy Apple Chips in my mouth, I had a Proustian experience that transported me straight back to one of those Berkshire orchards. Seneca claims to use “fresh apples” in their products, and honestly, I have to believe them. Eating one of their Crispy Apple Chips felt like biting into a Macintosh plucked straight from the tree - and I’m fully aware of how schlocky that sounds.

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