Last week I finished the book Candyfreak, by Steve Almond (small sidenote: the writer and I have “1 mutual facebook friend in common”, according to Bing. Maybe you have friends in common, too). A delightful sweet treat! It made me feel less-freakish for loving sweets as much as I do. In addition, it made me feel much more normal because I am definitely not as freak-ish as this guy Almond is about candy. The book basically details his youth as a, well, candy freak, specifically when it came to chocolate candy bars. His obssessive-compulsive candy behavior sends him on a pilgrimmage to several independent candy bar factories in the guise of  “research for a book”. He tours a number of factories that make the confectionaries that their locals love … I remember in the Alton Brown series Feasting on Asphalt, Alton made a point to try all of the local candy bars he could find).

Memo to self: Investigate if there is a chocolate factory that offers tours somewhere in the Seattle area.

I recommend this if you loved chocolate or candy as a kid. It’s a delightful (and quick) read. Made me want to write to the writer after finishing it. But I’m a few years late and he’s moved on to other projects. 

I wasn’t a local-candy freak growing up (to be honest, I don’t remember if Connecticut even had “local” favorites). But I did love Snickers. I remember working at the Bishop Corner Shell gas station and for lunch, if I didn’t go to McDonald’s, I’d have a bag of M&M’s or a Snickers bar and a Coke for lunch. And a few blow-pops. Ah yes, a healthy adolescence.

Anyway, I finished the book late Tuesday evening (or, rather early Wednesday morning), and Wednesday at lunch decided to take a quick trip to Cost Plus World Market across the street from my office. Yes, how lucky am I, to work kitty corner from  CPWM. There they carry tons of European candies with funny German names or kooky Japanese characters. But they also carry some of the retro bars that Almond mentions in his book. In the pic below you’ll see the Clark Bar (which I remember from the movie “Terms of Endearment”); the Abba-Zaba; and next to that the Big Hunk (the Big Hunk plays a somewhat memorable scene in Almond’s youth). On the left, behind the display of the pig that poops chocolate you’ll see Pop Rocks peeking out.

You’ll also find here two candies that were very significant in my college years: Mike & Ikes and Swedish Fish. Without those, Chewy Spree and Skittles, not sure I could have made it through my third and fourth years.

Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews is another old-fashioned candy, famous in Philadelphia. They were later sold to Just Born (makers of Mike & Ikes, Hot Tamales, etc).

For the record, while I was seen walking around Cost Plus carrying both a Clark Bark and a Peanut Chew for a few minutes, eventually I put them down and picked up a bag of Utz’s Butter-flavored pretzels. Why? Because since leaving Chicago I’ve been haunted by the loss of what I considered the best-tasting pretzel ever, that being Jay’s Butter Minis (available all over Chicago, but nowhere near me!). Utz’s was a pale comparison (a little too salty, not buttery enough).

I also bought some Swedish Fish. Which I had to give to my office neighbor the next day for fear of OD’ing on them (not exactly SBD-friendly).

One final note. I wrote ages ago about my favorite Easter candy, the cadbury mini-egg. This chocolate treat has quickly made it up the ranks to be probably my favorite chocolate candy (or at least is in hot contention with the See’s Scotchmallow. While the See’s favorite is available throughout the year, the CME has budget considerations on its side. And, let’s be honest, I’m not actually buying candy all year long. Just when the mood strikes). In my previous post I wrote about how one bag got me through the Easter season. Not to be outdone, this year I’ve already purchased 4 bags, well-hidden from chocolate-fiends, to last me well after Easter comes and goes. I’ve got my eye on at least one more bag (specifically the “royal dark” flavor) before Easter comes along. Just need to make it to a store that has them in stock …

Now, I think that’s enough about candy for one post. Nearly 750 words, according to WordPress’ word count.