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The Bakery Collection. You may think we are trying delicious homemade pies and cakes… but nope, we are trying out the Bakery Collection by M&M’s.

But first…

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Which M&M’s are we trying today?

* Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll

* Lemon Meringue Pie

* Cherry Chocolate Cupcake

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris - his shells are cracked.

* Matt - the Green M&M’s child.

* Amy - what the heck?

A History of M&M’s

M&M’s got their start with Mars. Forrest Mars Sr, who managed the Mars candy company, got the idea for M&Ms while working in Europe in the 1930s. He was overseeing production of Mars candy bars as a part of army rations. Forrest discovered soldiers liked to eat sugar coated chocolate so it wouldn’t melt as fast. So upon returning to the states, Forrest Mars worked with Bruce Murrie and created M&Ms (Mars and Murrie)

Some fun facts about M&Ms…

* Initially M&Ms were exclusive to the US Army.

* The M on the candies was added to distinguish themselves from the copycat competitors.

* M&Ms were the first candy in space.

* The movie ET was supposed to feature M&Ms but Mars declined and Reese’s Pieces were put in the movie instead, resulting in a 65% sales increase for Hershey.

* There are over 400 million produced each day.

List of past and present flavors

* Almond

* Banana

* Birthday Cake

* Café Mocha

* Candy Apple

* Carrot Cake

* Cherry Cordial

* Cherry

* Chili Nut

* Cinnamon

* Coconut

* Crispy

* Crispy S’mores

* Easter Sundae

* Gingerbread

* Honey Nut

* Hot Chocolate

* Peanut

* Dark Chocolate

* Mint

* Orange

* Peanut Butter

* Pecan Pie

* Pineapple

* Pretzel

* Pumpkin Spice Latte

* Raspberry

* Red Velvet

* Strawberry

* Vanilla Shake

* Toffee Apple

* White Chocolate

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Lemon Meringue Pie

* Amy - “It has a sickly sweet to it.” - 4

* Kris - “I don’t like these.” - 3

* Matt - “That first one was horrible.” - 4

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll

* Amy - “That’s an interesting transition.” - 6

* Kris - “I can’t tell if I really like these or I don’t like them at all.” - 6

* Matt - “I wish it was more balanced.” - 7

Cherry Chocolate Cupcake

* Amy - “It’s giving cordial cherries.” - 6

* Kris - “Once you get past the black licorice hit, they are pretty good.” - 5

* Matt - “It gets chocolate cakey at the end.” - 6

There you have it. We give the Peanut Butter Cinnamon Roll M&M’s the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.mms.com/

Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! And right now, maybe more importantly… SHARE! We want more people listening! SHARE!

Show Notes:

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-story-of-the-mms-characters-2016-3#after-the-super-bowl-mms-said-its-spokescandies-were-back-9

https://www.mms.com/en-us/mms-candy-flavors/caramel-cold-brew-mms-905oz/ct1237-p.html

Oreo is cranking out the Limited Edition Oreos again. Let’s see if these new ones are worth it.

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Which Oreos are we trying today?

* BTS Oreos

* Cinnamon Bun Oreos

* Firecracker Pop Oreos

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, Amerrrrica!!!

* Matt, your brown sugar pancake.

* Amy, if you’re still with us.

The pretzel business is booming these days. It seems like ever since Dots came on the scene, everyone is trying their hand in making a new pretzel. Well, today we have Pop Daddy’s Pretzels to give a try!

Also, I want to apologize for our lack of episodes! This summer has been ABSOLUTELY NUTS and we have had a hard time getting the gang together to quest!

Thanks for joining us today. As always, let us know in the comments if there is a new food you really want us to try out. Also, be a pal of the show and donate!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, looking skeletal

* Matt, hi! I’m Nate!

* Amy, welcome back!

Which Pop Daddy Pretzels are we trying?

* Yellow Mustard

* Beer Cheese

* Garlic Parmesan

A History of Pop Daddy (pulled directly from their website)

We get that question a lot. With a name like Pop Daddy, people wonder about the person behind the product. Pop Daddy Snacks was founded by Mark and Erin Sarafa, who were passionate—some might say obsessed—with microwave popcorn. Seeking a healthier alternative to chemically laden options, Mark began experimenting with kernels and flavors in his basement after purchasing a large popcorn machine.

Mark and Erin were thrilled by the popularity of their homemade popcorn, which they gave away for free for two years before Erin and their children, J.T. and Grace, encouraged Mark to turn it into a business. In 2013, Pop Daddy Snacks was born, built on the foundation of “Bold Snacks made with Big Heart”, and became Mark’s full-time job. They started in a small bakery in Metro Detroit, staying afloat by splitting rent with tenants found on Craigslist.

While the brand continued to grow and gain traction, something new was coming. In 2018, inspired by a family gift of homemade seasoned pretzels, they launched their new product line that quickly became a hit. With the help of Mark’s son, J.T., the pretzels went viral on TikTok and have become pantry staples and top sellers in the snack market.

Pop Daddy Snacks continues to add new snacks to the lineup and reinforce their commitment to bold, unique flavors. Today, Pop Daddy offers over 25 flavors of snacks, available in over 30,000 U.S retail locations and 4 countries. Through their growth, Pop Daddy continues to operate out of Michigan and further their commitment to BOLD snacks with BIG heart.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Beer Cheese

* Kris: “The beer cheese doesn’t come out very well.” 4/10

* Amy: “It has a little bit of tang but no flavor.” 4/10

* Matt: “It’s really salty at first and then nothing.” 5/10

TOTAL: 13/30

Yellow Mustard

* Kris: “The very first bite is mustard tang.” 7/10

* Amy: “This tastes just like mustard.” 7/10

* Matt: “They probably do a good pickle one since they pulled this off.” 7/10

TOTAL: 21/40

Garlic Parmesan

* Kris: “I would **** up a whole bag of those.” 8/10

* Amy: “That’s a good pretzel.” 8/10

* Matt: “This smells like crazy bread.” 8/10

TOTAL: 24/40

There you have it. The Garlic Parmesan Pop Daddy’s receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you still want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://popdaddysnacks.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these pretzels? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

Show Notes:

https://popdaddysnacks.com/pages/about

Shrinkflation is real. Remember when full sized candy bars actually used to be full sized? And not $2.50 each? Remember when your bags of chips weren’t 75% air? And remember when PopTarts actually had filling in them?

Today we go back to the good ol’ days… because PopTart has a “new” product… (which I would argue is just their product from years ago) Super Stuffed PopTarts!

Thanks for joining us today. As always, let us know in the comments if there is a new food you really want us to try out. Also, be a pal of the show and donate!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, off the rails

* Nate, off the rails

* Matt, extremely off the rails

* Amy, trying her best

Which Poptarts are we trying?

* Crunchy Poppers Frosted Brownie Crunch

* Crunchy Poppers Frosted Strawberry Crunch

* PopTarts Super Stuffed - Strawberry Blast

* PopTarts Super Stuffed - Molten Lava Cake

A Mini History Pop Tarts

In 1963 Post Cereals adapted a process for enclosing food in foil to keep it fresh without spoiling. And with this process, they made a new toaster-prepared breakfast food. These fruit-filled pastries could be shipped and stored without having to be refrigerated. In 1964, Post unveiled this product, called Country Squares. But unfortunately, Post was slow to release the product to stores and six months later, in September of 1964, Kellogg’s swooped in, stealing the market with a new product called Fruit Scones. The first toaster pastries that were produced were all unfrosted. They came in four flavors. Apple Currant Jelly, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Brown Sugar-Cinnamon. In 1967 the first frosted Pop-Tarts hit the shelves with four flavors as well. (Any guesses on the flavors?) Dutch Apple, Concord Grape, Raspberry, and Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

Today, around 2 billion Pop Tarts are sold each year in the United States. The best selling Pop Tart? Strawberry, followed by Brown Sugar Cinnamon and S’mores.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Crunchy Poppers Frosted Strawberry Crunch

* Kris: “Good for a 5 year old because they don’t know any better.” 3/10

* Amy: “Weird and crunchy.” 3/10

* Nate: “Nope.” 3/10

* Matt: “I’m not eating this.” 4/10

TOTAL: 13/40

Crunchy Poppers Frosted Brownie Crunch

* Kris: “It’s better because it’s chocolate...” 4/10

* Amy: “That’s a bad product.” 4/10

* Nate: “Huh...” 3/10

* Matt: “Nobody does chocolate like PopTarts.” 3/10

TOTAL: 14/40

PopTarts Super Stuffed - Molten Lava Cake

* Kris: “I don’t really care for the fudge flavor on that.” 5/10

* Amy: “Yeah, It doesn’t need to be heated.” 6/10

* Nate: “It’s super sweet.” 4/10

* Matt: “I could eat this over some ice cream.” 5/10

TOTAL: 20/40

PopTarts Super Stuffed - Strawberry Blast

* Kris: “This is better than the fudge.” 6/10

* Amy: “It tastes more like a strawberry should.” 7/10

* Nate: “It’s pretty decent.” 6/10

* Matt: “This tastes different from the original strawberry flavor.” 5/10

TOTAL: 24/40

There you have it. The Super Stuffed Pop Tarts receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you still want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.poptarts.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Pop Tarts? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

Show Notes:

https://medium.com/@tonylow/the-pop-tart-story-6a5269062bb9

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-selling-poptarts-flavors_n_5836520

https://www.mashed.com/117295/untold-truth-pop-tarts/

It’s time to clean out the cupboard of all the foods we have collected but haven’t had a specific show to put them with! So we will call this Rando Snacks and Other Garbage. (BTW… sorry about the retching noises in this one, folks)

Which randos are we trying today?

* KFC Jelly Beans

* Butterfinger French Toast

* Harry Potter Butterbeer Kisses

* Harry Potter Butterbeer Goldfish

* Reeces PB&J Filled Pretzels

* Dots Snack Mix - Bold and Savory

Who is on this garbage quest?

* Nate, a little excitable.

* Kris, OMG Hufflepuff.

* Matt, smells like salmonella.

* Amy, subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

KFC Jelly Beans

* Amy - retching - 1

* Kris - “This is worse than jelly bean roulette.” - 1

* Matt - “I don’t know what I’m eating anymore.” - 3

* Nate - “For the first time ever, we might need a spit bucket.” - 1

Butterfinger French Toast

* Amy - “The original Butterfinger was perfection. This is not great.” - 4

* Kris - “Hint of cinnamon, hint of butterscotch.” - 3

* Matt - “This is imbalanced.” - 4

* Nate - “Anything is not terrible after those KFC Jellybeans.” - 3

Harry Potter Butterbeer Kisses

* Amy - “This is pure sugar.” - 4

* Kris - “I’m not a butterscotch fan.” - 4

* Matt - “It’s the best one we’ve had yet.” - 4

* Nate - “It’s very creamy.” - 4

Harry Potter Butterbeer Goldfish

* Amy - “These just taste like graham cracker.” - 5

* Kris - “So dusty on my fingers.” - 5

* Matt - “These would be alright with a cup of coffee.” - 5

* Nate - “I would follow this trail into a chamber of secrets.” - 5

Reeces PB&J Filled Pretzels

* Amy - “These actually smell nice.” - 5

* Kris - “I had high hopes.” - 5

* Matt - “The jam ruins it.” - 5

* Nate - “It’s hard to do a dry jam.” - 4

Dots Snack Mix - Bold and Savory

* Amy - “It tastes very Dotty, but has a kick to it.” - 5

* Kris - “I’m underwhelmed by the size of the Rye chip.” - 8

* Matt - “If I was really in the mood for this…. 8” - 7

* Nate - “It’s good.” - 7

There you have it. Dots Snack Mix - Bold and Savory gets the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? Which one was your favorite? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. Additionally, donate! We could use your support!

Have you ever eaten something where the flavor and the texture do not match up? Well, I am afraid that is what we are running into today with the Limited Edition Flavor Swap chips.

Which chips are we trying today?

* Sweet Southern Heat BBQ Cheetos

* Cool Ranch Ruffles

* Cheddar & Sour Cream Doritos

Who is on this twisted quest?

* Nate, needs a theme song.

* Kris, hoggin’ the stank.

* Matt, aka Foley Matt.

* Amy, subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Sweet Southern Heat BBQ Cheetos

* Amy - “The BBQ flavor goes away fast.” - 4

* Kris - “That heat takes over.” - 4

* Matt - “It tastes like spicy Corn Pops.” - 4

* Nate - “The aftertaste tastes like a bottom burp.” - 3

Cool Ranch Ruffles

* Amy - “Meh.” - 4

* Kris - “I don’t know about the ranch on that.” - 3

* Matt - “It’s too salty for this flavor.” - 5

* Nate - “I’d call that chip for a second date.” - 7

Cheddar & Sour Cream Doritos

* Amy - “The flavor doesn’t last long enough.” - 4

* Randi - “The tortilla hits hard.” - 5

* Matt - “It’s the best one.” - 6

* Nate - “It’s alright.” - 5

There you have it. Cheddar and Sour Cream Doritos gets the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these flavor swaps? Which one was your favorite? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. Additionally, donate! We could use your support!

Today it’s getting dirty in the podcast studio. It’s time to try some Dirty Mountain Dew.

Who is on this dirty quest?

* Kristopher, with a t.

* Nate, with a t.

* Matt, with a t.

* Amy, without.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support!

Burritos would not be the food that comes to mind when visiting Iowa. But today we have an Iowa Burrito showdown to see who does it better.Today we are trying national chain (Pancheros) vs local link (Greenhouse Kitchen).

Who is joining us in this battle?

* Kris, has the bottom burps.

* Nate, has lots in the chamber.

* Matt, aka Fresher Presser.

* Amy, subscribe!

And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support!

About Greenhouse Kitchen

Greenhouse Kitchen’s story begins with a group of friends and former co-workers. This crew all had experience in the local restaurant industry and decided they could do it themselves. And Greenhouse Kitchen was born.

100% locally owned, Greenhouse Kitchen focuses on fresh culinary options using only whole, clean ingredients. There is a preset menu, but diners also have the option to create customized meals. Greenhouse Kitchen presses their own flour and gluten free tortillas, as well as offering homemade sauces and salsas.

About Pancheros

Pancheros originally started in Iowa City back in 1992, founded by Rodney Anderson. Even though this started locally, Pancheros quickly grew into one of the biggest Mexican fast-casual brands in the country. Using scratch-made dough and fresh-pressed flour burritos (brought to you by The Fresher Presser 7000) and mixing all ingredients perfectly with Bob the Tool, Pancheros has the recipe for mouthwatering flavor.

Pancheros has grown over the last 30 years to 70+ restaurants in 13 states.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Greenhouse Kitchen

* Kris: “A little more of the southwest ranch would help this out.” 6/10

* Nate: “Nice and tender chicken but I’m not getting anything that’s sticking out.” 5/10

* Amy: “I really enjoy the flavors, but there is a little crunch to that rice.” 6/10

* Matt: “It tastes like chicken and rice.” 7/10

Total: 24/30

Pancheros

* Kris: “It’s over seasoned. It always is.” 6/10

* Nate: “I don’t think it makes that great of a tortilla.” 5/10

* Amy: “I really just taste the grill flavor.” 5/10

* Matt: “I think this chicken is a little overdone.” 6/10

Total: 22/40

There you have it. Greenhouse Kitchen gets the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Check out their website to find a location near you.

https://greenhousekitchen.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these menu items? Which one was your favorite?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

If you were entertained today, consider donating to our podcast! Keep these episodes coming with your own treasure. We would really appreciate the support!

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

Show Notes

https://pancheros.com/about/

https://greenhousekitchen.com/about/

Sometimes you need something quick. You stop at one place and can pick up pizza, chips, soda, beer, cookies, and fill up your gas tank.And other times you have more time, maybe want to heat up the oven and you know, make your own food.Today we are trying Inconvenience (Papa Murphy’s) vs Convenience (Casey’s)

Which pizzas are we trying?

* Supreme

* Pepperoni

* Bonus! Casey’s Wings

Who is brave enough to battle it out?

* Kris, so humble.

* Nate, runs hot.

* Matt, one upper.

* Amy, overloaded.

And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support!

Nate and Randi flew on a plane!

They flew across the pond.

They visited a place… Australia? Austria? No, Ireland!

Saw a lot of sheep.

Ate a lot of food.

Brought back some snacks!

Let’s see if these are any good!

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Matt - Doing his best.

* Amy - Crikey, mate!

* Nate - Light on the chunk

* Randi - Lost a hubcap.

Which Overseas snacks are we trying?

* Cadbury Crunchie

* Star Bar

* Wispa

* Dunnes Milk Chocolate Chunky Biscuit

* Signature Caramel Chocolate Rounds

* Mr. Brownie

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Cadbury Crunchie

* Amy - “It makes my throat hot.” - 5

* Matt - “This is nothing special.” - 6

* Nate - “This is the best milk chocolate ive had in a long time.” - 6

* Randi - “Reminds me of a whopper.” - 5

TOTAL: 22/30

Star Bar

* Amy - “I like that the outer layer of chocolate is thin.” - 4

* Matt - “The peanuts are not that crunchy.” - 5

* Nate - “That is ooey gooey.” - 7

* Randi - “I like it.” - 7

TOTAL: 23/40

Wispa

* Amy - “Very light and airy - I like the textures.” - 5

* Matt - “That aftertaste is very milky.” - 5

* Nate - “It smells like that Nesquik powder mix.” - 5

* Randi - “That is interesting.” - 5

TOTAL: 20/40

Dunnes Milk Chocolate Chunky Biscuit

* Amy - “This is my least favorite.” - 3

* Matt - “European Pocky Stick.” - 5

* Nate - “It’s fine.” - 5

* Randi - “They aren’t that chunky.” - 4

TOTAL: 17/40

Signature Caramel Chocolate Rounds

* Amy - “Fancy.” - 5

* Matt - “It’s like those elf cookies.” - 6

* Nate - “Not bad. It’s appealing.” - 7

* Randi - “I liked them.” - 8

TOTAL: 26/40

Mr. Brownie

* Amy - “This has a bit of a rind taste to it.” - 6

* Matt - “It tastes like those Terry’s Oranges.” - 5

* Nate - “I like that the cake was still moist.” - 6

* Randi - “I didn’t get much of an orange taste.” - 7

TOTAL: 24/40

There you have it. We give Signature Caramel Chocolate Rounds the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried this? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

A road trip is never complete without some good road food. Whether you are packing up a cooler before you leave or stopping at a gas stations on the way, your snack choice is critical to the enjoyment of the trip.

Cue Buc-ee’s!

If you are lucky enough to live near a Buc-ee’s, you know their snack and food selection is top notch. So today we are trying out their own branded potato chips.

Let’s see if these are any good!

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, bless you my daughter.

* Nate, appreciates a clean urinal.

* Matt, smells like mothballs.

* Amy, this podcast is off the rails.

Which Buc-ee’s Chips are we trying?

* Kettle Cooked Sweet Southern Barbecue

* Kettle Cooked Salt and Vinegar

* Kettle Cooked Jalapeno

* Kettle Cooked Sorta Spicy Dill Pickle

* Original

* Salt and Pepper

* Bold and Blended

We have had a brief hiatus from the show! And not because of something fun or cool. Our cat, Oy, who has made some appearances on this podcast, had emergency surgery. He was questing for the best piece of plastic and got it stuck in his tummy. So for two weeks we have been in recovery and comfort mode. But thankfully, Oy is doing much better and he is now roaming the house, annoying our other cat, Bumbler.

Today we have a couple sodas to try… Cherry Float Coca Cola and… Mr. Pibb is back! Let’s see if these are any good!

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, never go full retard.

* Nate, never go full Beatles.

* Matt, wait what?

* Amy, Dr. Pepper Girl

Which sodas are we trying?

* Cherry Float Coca Cola

* Mr. Pibb

Welcome to Quest for the Best!

Today we have another random selection from the grocery store! I am always on the lookout for some new products. If you see any you want us to try, let us know!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which snacks are we trying today?

* Twix Bits

* Chips Ahoy Chewy Cookies & Creme

* Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets - Cinnamon Sugar

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - Haaaeeey.

* Nate - Will cry if he wants to.

* Matt - Accurate.

* Amy - Subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

Smoky flavoring can be quite good when done well. Can Pringles do smoky? Let’s find out!

Which Pringles are we trying today?

* Smoky Cheddar

* Smoky Mesquite BBQ

* Smoky Bacon

Who is on this Newfangled Pringle Quest?

* Nate, picking down.

* Randi, good Lord.

* Matt, putting up.

* Amy, subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Welcome to Quest for the Best!

Every time I head to the grocery store, I always have my eyes peeled for something new. And usually I find something. Those new items go to the cupboard and the next time we get together, I usually have quite the collection. Well, today’s episode is a random sampling of cookies and snacks that nicely fit into a junk food category. Let’s see if any of them are good!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which snacks are we trying today?

* Pepperidge Farm Holiday Nog Cookies

* Honey Roasted Peanut M&M’s

* Cookie Dough Flavor Oreos

* Chips Ahoy Chewy Cinnamon Bun

* Cinnabon Bakery Inspired Cinnamon Roll Frosted Pretzels

Who is on this quest?

* Randi - Get outta here!

* Nate - Chugga Chugga!

* Matt - Talking about some noggin’.

* Amy - North Dakotan with a hint of anime.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

If you have a maturity level higher than a 5th grader, I apologize ahead of time.

Which sodas are we trying today?

* Twigs

* Bawls

Who is on this quest?

* Randi, too mature for this episode.

* Matt, ribbed for her pleasure.

* Nate, getting kicked out.

* Amy, not mature enough for this episode.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Join us at Bit Brewery in Central City, Iowa for a Chili Cook Off!

And then go to Bit Brewery and try some of their amazing beer and pizza, and stay around for the events they have all year long. Check out their website here!

https://www.bitbrew3.com/

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Frozen pizza is a staple in most freezers across the US. But today we are trying out some strange strange pizza that popped up in the grocery store.

If you have it in your heart, consider becoming a producer of our wonderful Quest for the Best podcast! By becoming a producer, you are helping us with the production costs of our show (this doesn’t happen with nothing!). We really appreciate your support!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which Frozen Pizzas are we trying today?

* Tombstone Chili Cheese French Fry Crust Pizza

* Tombstone Loaded Bacon Cheddar French Fry Crust Pizza

* DiGiorno Thanksgiving Pizza

Who is on this seasonal quest?

* Randi, did not consent to cannibalism.

* Nate, did someone say beans?

* Matt, hold me!

* Amy, in a fugue state.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The History of Frozen Pizza

The simple act of turning on the oven, grabbing a frozen pizza out of the freezer, and baking it until the cheese melts, the toppings are hot, and the crust has a nice crunch, is actually something that has not been around very long. Sure, pizza made it’s way to the United States in the early 1900s thanks to Italian immigrants, but there wasn’t even the ability to preserve a pizza until freezers were made and home freezers became a regular thing, which wasn’t until the 40s and 50s.

But with the popularity of pizza taking off after World War II, pizza restaurant owners in the U.S. started offering take-and-bake pizzas, and soon after, frozen pizzas were common in the grocery store. In the 50s, frozen pizza started taking off, with many regional companies raking in the dough. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that a brand rose to national fame. Rose and Jim Totino began mass-producing frozen pizzas in St. Louis Park, Minnesota in 1962 and by the 1970s, Totino’s became the country’s top-selling frozen pizza, with sales reaching $50 million by 1974.

Totino’s was not a the only company reaching great pizza heights, however. In the 1960’s, Mama Celeste came onto the scene. Also, in 1966, the Simek brothers went from selling pizza in their bar, called The Tombstone Tap, to selling their frozen pizzas to other taverns. And by 1984, Tombstone Pizza was one of the top frozen pizza distributors.

Who rolls on the scene next? Schwan’s of course, with the purchase of Kansas-based pizza manufacturer Tony’s. And in 1976, Schwan’s expanded their pizza business further by launching Red Baron, which is now one of the country’s leading pizza brands.

By the 1980s, the market was worth $1 billion

Today the top frozen pizza brands in the U.S. are…

* Di Giorno - $319.28 million in annual sales

* Red Baron - $255.73 million in annual sales

* Totino’s Party Pizza - 104.22 million in annual sales

* Jack’s - 91.48 million in annual sales

* Tombstone - 57.43 million in annual sales

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Tombstone Loaded Bacon Cheddar French Fry Crust Pizza

* Randi - It tastes like a loaded baked potato. - 7

* Nate - I was expecting to be underwhelmed. I’m slightly whelmed. - 7

* Matt - It’s not bad - it’s just really salty. - 5

* Amy - It’s giving me a Casey’s pizza breakfast pizza sauce vibe. - 5

Tombstone Chili Cheese French Fry Crust Pizza

* Randi - Reminds me of chili cheese Fritos. - 5

* Nate - I’m not getting too much of the potato element. - 6

* Matt - It was okay. - 5

* Amy - This reminds me of a frozen burrito. - 6

DiGiorno Thanksgiving Pizza

* Randi - I hate it so much. - 3

* Nate - There is too much gravy. - 4

* Matt - The turkey is somehow moist. - 5

* Amy - This is a very good crust. - 5

There you have it. Tombstone Pizza receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite frozen pizza? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Show Notes:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/02/the-history-of-frozen-pizza-from-totinos-to-digiorno.html

https://www.statista.com/statistics/915572/leading-frozen-pizza-brands-us-dollar-sales/

On a vacation this past fall, Matt and I visited Silver Dollar City. Today we are trying Taffy made at the park!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which Taffy are we trying today?

* Ghirardelli Jack-o-lanterns

* Mike-n-Ike Sour Spooky Treats

* Albanese Apple Harvest Gummies

* Sour Patch Kids Apple Harvest

* Nerds Gummy Clusters Spooky

Who is on this quest?

* Kris, aka Marshmallow Butterfinger

* Matt, aka Snickerdoodle Kit Kat

* Amy, fire in the hole!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Mystic River Splash (Fruit Punch)

* Amy - “Not getting the fruit punch.” - 4

* Matt - “It has a detergent aftertaste.” - 4

* Kris - “If you are doing fruit punch, you have to go for it.” - 4

Caramel Apple

* Amy - “This tastes like it’s supposed to.” - 5

* Matt - “Pretty darn good apple flavor.” - 6

* Kris - “I want the apple to be really sour.” - 7

Cookie Dough

* Amy - “I’d rather have my taffy taste fruity.” - 4

* Matt - “I’d rather eat cookie crisp.” - 4

* Kris - “This smell is weird.” - 5

Fire in the Hole (Lemonade and Cinnamon)

* Amy - “I’d rather just have lemonade.” - 4

* Matt - “It’s interesting.” - 4

* Kris - “The lemonade really stands out.” - 4

Grape

* Amy - “It’s like if you chewed grape bubble gum for 3 days too long.” - 3

* Matt - “I was thinking it was some nasty ass sweet potato.” -

* Kris - “It does not taste like grape.” - 3

Root Beer

* Amy - “It hits okay for a minute.” - 3

* Matt - “No.” - 4

* Kris - “Black licorice… oh hellllll no.” - 2

Cherry Cola

* Amy - “It smells like the Bubbalicious cherry cola.” - 4

* Matt - “It takes a nasty turn.” - 2

* Kris - “Is that cleaning products?!” - 3

There you have it. Caramel Apple receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

200 Episodes!?!?! CRAZY!In honor of this amazing milestone, we have decided to do a battle between two local BBQ joints, Starbeck’s vs. Cindy Lou’s. Because who doesn’t love some good good BBQ?

Which menu items will we be trying?

* Brisket

* Pulled Pork

* Smoked Turkey

* Corn Bread

* Cole Slaw

* Mashed Potatoes

* Baked Beans

Who is joining this battle?

* Nate, surprise meat.

* Kris, is a saucy guy.

* Matt, tater guy.

* Amy, too earthy.

And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support!

Sorry Folks, Totally missed this edit. So let’s turn back time to… Halloween!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which candies are we trying today?

* Ghirardelli Jack-o-lanterns

* Mike-n-Ike Sour Spooky Treats

* Albanese Apple Harvest Gummies

* Sour Patch Kids Apple Harvest

* Nerds Gummy Clusters Spooky

Who is on this quest?

* Randi, the sane one.

* Nate, can’t follow that up.

* Matt, making his own gravy.

* Amy, tickle tickle.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Albanese Apple Harvest Gummies

* Amy - “They are very juicy.” - 5

* Matt - “They were soft and squishy.” - 6

* Nate - “What an unpleasant thing to chew on.” - 3

* Randi - “The Granny Smith is the best.” - 7

Sour Patch Kids Apple Harvest

* Amy - “The flavors were not great.” - 4

* Matt - “They would have gotten a 6 if they were shaped like children.” - 5

* Nate - “Obnoxiously sweet.” - 2

* Randi - “I generally like Sour Patch Kids but I didn’t love the flavors.” - 5

Mike and Ike Sour Spooky Treats

* Amy - “That is super sour.” - 7

* Matt - “I didn’t expect grape to be sour like that.” - 5

* Nate - “These just hurt my teeth.” - 2

* Randi - “Not a big fan of the sour or texture.” - 5

Ghirardelli Jack-o-lanterns

* Amy - “It’s too sweet for me.” - 5

* Matt - “I’m not a big fruit and chocolate guy.” - 4

* Nate - “It has a gooey center.” - 4

* Randi - “That wasn’t well executed.” - 4

Nerds Gummy Clusters Spooky

* Amy - “These are good but not my favorite gummy cluster.” - 6

* Matt - “They are alright.” - 5

* Nate - “This makes sense as I chew it.” - 3

* Randi - “I really like Nerd Gummy Clusters.” - 7

There you have it. Nerds Gummy Clusters and Albanese Gummies receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

We travel, we explore, we buy food, we go back home, we podcast about it.Let’s do it.

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which popped corns are we trying today?

* Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joe’s

* Silver Dollar City Peanut Brittle Premium Goo Goo

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - kris kris kris kris kris kris

* Nate - nate nate nate nate nate nate

* Matt - matt matt matt matt matt matt

* Amy - amy amy amy amy amy amy

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Silver Dollar City Peanut Brittle Premium Goo Goo

* Amy - “It needs less vanilla.” - 4

* Matt - “I’d rather have a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup.” - 3

* Kris - “Nothing is sticking out.” - 3

* Nate - “More like premium poo poo.” - 2

Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joe’s

* Amy - “Sometimes the flavor isn’t quite right, it’s almost earthy.” - 6

* Matt - “It’s over pepperminted.” - 6

* Kris - “It is slightly like dirt at times. But it’s a decent cookie.” - 7

* Nate - “Im disappointed but not really disappointed.” - 7

There you have it. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joe’s receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Thanksgiving was just yesterday, and today you are probably out shopping. And in your shopping adventure, you may see some Thanksgiving seasoned popcorn. Should you buy it? Listed and find out.

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which popped corns are we trying today?

* Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn

* Casey’s Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - Three best friends that anyone can have.

* Nate - Three best friends that anyone can have.

* Matt - Three best friends that anyone can have.

* Amy - Subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Casey’s Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn

* Amy - “It tastes like Stovetop Stuffing smells.” - 3

* Matt - “Oooh no!!!” - 3

* Kris - “Why not just buy stuffing.” - 3

* Nate - “Who needs to be fired for making this?” - 1

Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn

* Amy - “This is much better than the Casey’s.” - 4

* Matt - “There is a bit of a Funyun flavor in it.” - 4

* Kris - “Whoa! What’s that there at the end?!” - 4

* Nate - “Audible sigh?” - 2

There you have it. Neither of these receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Every time I go to the grocery store, it is just new chip after new chip. Weird chips, crazy chips, hopefully tasty chips… Let’s find out!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which chips are we trying today?

* Beanito’s Black Bean Tortilla Chip

* Funyun Hot and Spicy Chicken Ramen

* Lay’s Hot Sauce

* Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos

* Lay’s Kettle Cooked Cheesy Buffalo Dip

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - Never go full retard.

* Matt - Earl of Chip.

* Amy - Subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Beanito’s Black Bean Tortilla Chip

* Amy - “Nope! Nope! That’s horrible!” - 2

* Matt - “They don’t get better.” - 3

* Kris - “That tastes like baby vomit.” - 2

Funyun Hot and Spicy Chicken Ramen

* Amy - “That heat hits right in the back of the throat.” - 5

* Matt - “Quite a bit too spicy for me.” - 4

* Kris - “It’s exactly what I thought it was going to be.” - 6

Lay’s Hot Sauce

* Amy - “Tastes like hot sauce.” - 4

* Matt - “I like the flavor a bit better but too hot for me to mess with.” - 4

* Kris - “It does have a decent little kick to it.” - 5

Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos

* Amy - “It’s the cheddary part that I don’t like.” - 5

* Matt - “This is one of those flavor adventures.” - 5

* Kris - “You get hamburger queso, then some chive, then bean.” - 6

Lay’s Kettle Cooked Cheesy Buffalo Dip

* Amy - “Nope, not for me.” - 3

* Matt - “It was eh.” - 4

* Kris - “The burp is not any better.” - 3

There you have it. Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite chip? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

We randomly found some crazy new candy bar flavors in the store recently. Let’s see if these are any good!

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, stop it.

* Matt, aka Carl.

* Amy, changing it up.

Which candy bars are we trying today?

* Oreo Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

* Snickerdoodle Twix

* Marshmallow Butterfinger

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Oreo Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

* Amy: “I wish there was less shitty chocolate.” 3/10

* Kris: “This is terrible, peanut butter is good though.” 4/10

* Matt: “People were raving about this?” 4/10

TOTAL: 11/30

Twix Snickerdoodle

* Amy: “This is really horrible.” 3/10

* Kris: “Why?” 3/10

* Matt: “That was not good.” 4/10

TOTAL: 12/30

Butterfinger Marshmallow

* Amy: “I do not mind this, I’d eat this again.” 5/10

* Kris: “I’d coat this in chocolate instead.” 5/10

* Matt: “It’s just alright.” 5/10

TOTAL: 15/30

There you have it. We give the Butterfinger Marshmallow the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.butterfinger.com/find-in-store

Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

Today we are trying out the new Pizza Hut Flatzz. Let’s see if these are worthy of ordering again!

Which Flats are we trying?

* Nashville Hot Chicken

* Ultimate

* Chicken Bacon Ranch

Who is brave enough to battle it out?

* Kris, can’t out pizza the hut.

* Matt, wants to argue.

* Amy, subscribe!

And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support!

The History of Pizza Hut

The history of Pizza Hut dates back to 1958 when two brothers, Frank and Dan Carney of Wichita Kansas, started a small pizza joint with $600 they borrowed from their mom. They named the restaurant Pizza Hut for one simple reason. Their sign only had room for eight letters. The restaurant, which was located by the Wichita State University’s campus, was pretty much an instant hit. Within a year and a half two more locations would open up. One thing that was key to their success was letting customers sample the pizza, since it was new. As soon as the people would try the pizza, they became instant customers. With the success of these first three locations, franchisees flocked to the brothers, wanting to open their own locations. And the brothers kept the fees low so people could easily start them up and rapidly grow the business. By 1966 there were 145 locations.

At this time, the brothers were beginning to worry about growing competition as they looked to keep expanding. They partnered with Richard Burke , an artist and architect, and came up with the red roof design to help set them apart from all the other pizza joints. In 1969, the familiar red roof was adopted for all the Pizza Hut restaurants. By 1971, Pizza Hut was the number one pizza restaurant chain in the world in both sales and number of restaurants. And by 1972 the 1,000th location opened.

Some other notable dates include…

* 1980: The Pan Pizza was introduced

* 1984: Book It reading incentive program was launched with 200,000 elementary students enrolled. And who can forget their book it pin and those wonderful personal pan pizza rewards?

* 1986: Pizza Hut celebrated the opening of its 5,000th restaurant, located in Dallas, Texas.

* 1988: Hand-Tossed Traditional Pizza is introduced throughout all Pizza Hut restaurants.

* 1989: First Lady Barbara Bush throws a pizza party for 200 Washington D.C. children during a “Reading is Fundamental” reception, ordering all the pizza from the Hut.

* 1994: Pizza Hut becomes the first national chain to offer pizza delivery ordering on the internet.

* 1995: Pizza Hut launches Original Stuffed Crust, which immediately set company sales records.

* 2016: Pizza Hut sets a world record by making a pizza delivery to Mt. Kilimanjaro to celebrate opening in its 100th country.

Today Pizza Hut has over 18,000 locations worldwide.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Ultimate

* Kris: “It’s a wet churched up frozen pizza.” 4/10

* Amy: “I expected it to be more flat bready.” 4/10

* Matt: “It does have a moisture issue.” 5/10

Total: 13/30

Nashville Hot Chicken

* Kris: “I wish it was grilled chicken on it instead of the nuggy.” 5/10

* Amy: “The dill ranch is my favorite part of it.” 5/10

* Matt: “My mouth’s a burnin’.” 5/10

Total: 15/30

Chicken Bacon Ranch

* Kris: “I don’t like how the bacon is the small pieces.” 4/10

* Amy: “I don’t like that each slice just has a chicken nugget in it.” 4/10

* Matt: “The corner pieces are better.” 6/10

Total: 14/30

There you have it. After trying 3 different menu items from Pizza Hut, Nashville Hot Chicken gets the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Check out their website to find a location near you.

https://www.pizzahut.com/c/content/crafted-flatzz

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these menu items? Which one was your favorite?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

If you were entertained today, consider donating to our podcast! Keep these episodes coming with your own treasure. We would really appreciate the support!

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

Show Notes

https://pizzahalloffame.com/pizza-hut/

https://www.wichita.edu/museums/pizzahutmuseum/history.php

https://blog.pizzahut.com/our-story/

Time for mOreo Cookies!

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, getting double stuffed.

* Matt, crazy scientist.

* Amy, on the fence.

Which cookies are we trying today?

* Blueberry Pie Oreos

* Apple Pie A La Mode Oreos

* Reese’s Oreos

A History of Oreos

So the first Oreo cookie was produced in 1912 at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. As everyone knows, an Oreo is basically a sandwich cookie made from two chocolate cookies sandwiching a disc of vanilla frosting. Oreos are actually sort of a knock off. Hydrox cookies were already on the market. These kosher cookies were introduced in 1908 as two chocolate shortbread cookies with a vanilla fondant center. These cookies had a scalloped edge and a design on the top of the cookie. Oreos and Hydrox are supposed to be very similar and Hydrox cookies are still sold today.

So the original Oreo was introduced in 1912. It wouldn’t be until 1974 that the Double Stuf was introduced. In 1992 the Oreo Minis came to stores. In 2013 minds were blown by the Oreo Mega Stuf. And if Mega Stuf was not enough, the Most Stuf was introduced in 2019 which has 4x the amount of frosting as the original.

The 2010s is when Oreo started releasing limited edition runs on their flavors, which is why we have the pleasure of trying out these Neapolitan cookies today.

Oreo is the best-selling cookie of the 20th century. Approximately 34 billion Oreo cookies are sold each year, 92 million cookies per day - with 10 billion of those cookies sold in the US annually. An estimated 500 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since the Oreo biscuit was introduced.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Blueberry Pie

* Amy: “Tastes like most blueberry things I have had.” 6/10

* Kris: “You get the blueberry right away.” 6/10

* Matt: “Mmmm Mmmm.” 6/10

TOTAL: 18/30

Apple Pie A la Mode

* Amy: “Tastes like a caramel apple sucker minus the caramel.” 4/10

* Kris: “There is something I’m not liking.” 3/10

* Matt: “It’s a super sugary Apple Jack.” 5/10

TOTAL: 12/30

Reese’s Oreos

* Amy: “It tastes like a Nutter Butter.” 5/10

* Kris: “It has a roasted nut flavor that Reese’s doesn’t really have.” 7/10

* Matt: “It is very nutty.” 7/10

TOTAL: 19/30

There you have it. We give the Blueberry Pie and Reese’s Oreo Sandwich Cookies the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.oreo.com/

Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Oreos? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

Show Notes:

https://www.rd.com/article/dunking-cookies-in-milk/

Coke, Mt. Dew, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper… These are all sodas that have a huge collection of soda flavors. Some good, and some are complete abominations. So, let’s see if A&W can show these other soda brands a run for their money.

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, patching up his swearing.

* Matt, chocolate soda kid.

* Amy, I’ll take two root beers please.

The History of Root Beer

Well the first thing you should know is that the drink we know today is quite different from the original root beers. Root teas and medicines were very common in America’s past. Indigenous people of North America brewed medicinal teas out of roots, barks, berries, and flowers. Sassafras, wintergreen and sarsaparilla were plants that were thought to boost immune function, reduce inflammation, combat allergies, and more. Therefore, they were not used for everyday consumption, but for medicinal purposes.

When European colonists brought “small beer” to the Americas, they saw what the indigenous people were doing with roots and decided to add it to these beverages. You see, “small beers” were low-alcoholic beverages that colonists made by shortening the fermentation time of the brew or by re-using grain from stronger beers.

In the 1870s everything changed however, thanks to pharmacist Charles E. Hires. Philadelphia pharmacist Charles Elmer Hires discovered a recipe for an herbal tea while in New Jersey. Not long after, he began selling a dry version of the tea blend but it had to be mixed with water, sugar, and yeast and left to ferment for the carbonation process to take place. Hires began working on a liquid formulation for a carbonated root beer beverage shortly after, with the goal to be more appealing to the masses. His concoction contained more than 25 herbs, berries, and roots that Hires used to flavor carbonated soda water. Hires introduced his root beer to the public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition where it was a huge hit. In 1893, the Hires family sold and distributed their first bottled root beer.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

A&W Root beer Ice Cream Sundae

* Amy: “It fits the bill for Ice Cream Sundae.” 4/10

* Kris: “I wish it had more root beer flavor.” 5/10

* Matt: “It’s a Tootsie Pop kind of chocolate.” 4/10

TOTAL: 13/30

There you have it. We do not give A&W Ice Cream Sundae Rooter the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried this? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-root-beer-1992386

https://sprecherbrewery.com/blogs/blog/the-history-of-root-beer

You can pretty much never go wrong with popcorn!

Let’s see if AMC can keep the popcorn party train going with their microwave popcorn!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which flavors are we trying today?

* AMC Classic Butter

* AMC Extra Butter

* AMC Cinnamon Butter

Who is on this seasonal quest?

* Randi, the only normal one.

* Nate, savory boy.

* Matt, pegged.

* Amy, damn straight.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The History of Popcorn

While you may automatically think of movie theaters, air poppers, or stove tops, popcorn dates back thousands of years. Corn was probably cultivated as a domesticated crop around 9,000 years ago, but it wasn’t until 2012 that archaeologists unearthed the first evidence of popcorn in Peru; 6,700-year-old cobs studded with puffed kernels.

While maize was grown throughout Mesoamerica, South America, and North America, it was also a very important cultural staple for some tribes. Popcorn was integral to early 16th century Aztec tradition. Aztec Indians used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces, and ornaments on statues of their gods, including Tlaloc, the god of rain and fertility.

Early popcorn likely resembled parched corn, which is made by cooking dried kernels in a frying pan. It would be thousands of years of careful cultivation of a few different strains of corn before we would be chowing down on the fluffy kernels we love today.

One invention that would ensure the survival of popcorn was the steel plow in the mid-1800s. Soon after this invention, corn became such an important cash crop in Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana, that it was dubbed “prairie gold.” With all this “prairie gold” came innovation on how to pop the corn. Inventions such as corn-popping devices that had a stay-cool handle burst onto the popcorn scene. And in 1885, Charles Crestors invented a lightweight electric machine that popped corn in oil, allowing vendors to travel and to make bank.

Popcorn has been a cheap snack for a long time, but to these vendors, it was an excellent source of income. And nothing boosted that income more than movie theaters. When the first wave of theaters opened in the 1920s and 30s, popcorn wasn’t allowed however. Actually, no foods or drinks were allowed in an effort to keep the theaters clean and pristine. As the industry grew, and technology advanced, going from silent movies to audible movies, movie theaters shifted their stances to help bring in more patrons and money. Movie theaters started renting portions of their lobbies to popcorn and snack vendors. There are depression-era stories of farmers and vendors who made thousands of dollars during the great depression, which is quite a feat.

Some other fun facts about this delicious snack…

* Iowa actually is an important place when it comes to popcorn. The first commercial popcorn brand started here. Iowa’s Albert Dickinson Co. sold popcorn under the names of Big Buster and Little Buster in the 1880s.

* Popcorn was once a popular breakfast food. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, popcorn was eaten just as we eat cereal today. You may remember the history of John Harvey Kellogg and his Battle Creek Sanitorium health spa… Well Kellog praised popcorn as being “easily digestible and to the highest degree wholesome, presenting the grain in its entirety and hence superior to many denatured breakfast foods which are found in the market.”

* During World War II, sugar was sent overseas for U.S. Troops which meant American’s ate three times as much popcorn as usual.

* The first microwave popcorn was released in 1981. It contained perishable butter and required refrigeration. In 1984 shelf-stable versions hit stores and in 1986 Americans bought $250 million worth of popcorn.

* And the final tidbit of information I will give you comes from the Tiny but Mighty Popcorn Company, in Shellsburg, Iowa. This is directly from their website…

* It’s only fair we warn you this heirloom popcorn can be addictive. We feel lucky to be able to share it with you, since this one-of-a kind seed was nearly lost forever. It was discovered by Samuel Kelty in Shellsburg, Iowa in the 1850s, and kept in the Kelty family for over 100 years.

* Fast forward three generations to Richard Kelty, Samuel’s great, great, great, grandson, discovering his mother about to pop the last remaining kernels. He grabbed the small jar of seeds, rescued a few handfuls for planting, and allowed his mom to pop the rest.

* Richard kept planting, with the dream of sharing this amazing popcorn with the rest of the world. Having trouble with the yield of this rare seed, at the time called K&K popcorn (for Kelty & Kramer), he hired a farmer and soil consultant to help. That farmer was Gene Mealhow, current caretaker of the Tiny But Mighty Popcorn. Never genetically modified or hybridized to become something that it isn’t, this little heirloom, full of mighty flavor, has captured hearts and taste buds across America and beyond.

* And the reason I bring up this specific brand because… Shout out to Loraine, our most cherished producer of this podcast, and of course Brett, her husband, and son of Richard Kelty, the founder of the K&K Popcorn business which is now Tiny but Mighty popcorn! We are friends with popcorn royalty!

As of 2020, the most popular brands of popcorn in the U.S. are…

* Orville Redenbacher - consumed by 63.59 million Americans

* Pop Secret - Consumed by 49.16 million Americans

* Act II - Consumed by 47.2 million Americans

* Store Brand - Consumed by 45.36 million Americans

* Cracker Jack - Consumed by 17.27 million Americans

* Jiffy Pop - Consumed by 16.86 million Americans

* Smartfood - Consumed by 15.01 million Americans

* Jolly Time - Consumed by 14.9 million Americans

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Classic Butter

* Amy - “This is a nice corn. Not too buttery.” - 8

* Randi - “It’s very reminiscent of movie theater popcorn.” - 8

* Matt - “It’s pretty salty.” - 7

* Nate - “I like this popcorn.” - 8

Extra Butter

* Amy - “I like the classic better.” - 6

* Randi - “Tastes the same but buttery.” - 6

* Matt - “This is nice.” - 6

* Nate - “This has cut back on the saltiness.” - 5

Cinnamon Butter

* Amy - “I generally don’t care for sweet popcorn but this is good.” - 7

* Randi - “I’d prefer kettle corn.” - 5

* Matt - “It’s not bad.” - 5

* Nate - “I do enjoy the stank.” - 5

There you have it. All three of these receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Does anybody else out there love popcorn as much as I do? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.seriouseats.com/popcorn-history-movie-theaters

https://www.popcorn.org/All-About-Popcorn/History-of-Popcorn

https://www.statista.com/statistics/277155/us-households-most-eaten-brands-of-popcorn-products/

https://tinybutmightyfoods.com/about/our-story/

Some random candy bars! YAY!

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

Who are our Questers today?

* Randi, prematurely optimistic.

* Nate, producing a smell quite fowl.

* Matt, will do anything for love.

* Amy, covering my s**t.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Butterfinger Salted Caramel

* Randi: “Not everything has to be salted caramel.” 5/10

* Amy: “I don’t mind it.” 5/10

* Nate: “It’s better as a chocolate treat.” 4/10

* Matt: “It’s a terrible scotcharoo.” 5/10

TOTAL: 19/40

Hostess Twinkies Candy Bar

* Randi: “I can’t each much of that.” 4/10

* Amy: “Not bad, but cannot eat more.” 4/10

* Nate: “It’s pure sugar.” 3/10

* Matt: “That’s too sweet.” 4/10

TOTAL: 15/40

There you have it. We do not give either of these the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

There are a ton of different Reeces bars out there. But it seemed like it had been a while since a new flavor has come out and suddenly, they can’t stop. So today we are trying the PB&J cups!

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

Who are our Questers today?

* Casaundra, getting the side eye.

* Kris, bring me all your quarters.

* Matt, under pressure.

* Amy, kickin’ out BTUs.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Grape

* Casaundra: “I’m not instantly repulsed.” 3/10

* Amy: “This is like the worst grape soda flavor.” 3/10

* Kris: “What is this??” 2/10

* Matt: “Who knew peanut butter and Robitussin went well together.” 4/10

TOTAL: 12/40

Strawberry

* Casaundra: “It’s musty!” 1/10

* Amy: “It reminds me of something….” 3/10

* Kris: “Some of us are puking.” 2/10

* Matt: “What is this flavor… PB&Balls?.” 3/10

TOTAL: 9/40

There you have it. We do not give the Reese’s PB&J Big Cups the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

shop.hersheys.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

What should I have for breakfast this morning? If I was smart, I’d go with a banana or some other piece of fruit. But no. I think a PopTart sounds good. And to really sell it on the balanced breakfast idea - I’ll make them Girl Scout cookie PopTarts.

Thanks for joining us today. As always, let us know in the comments if there is a new food you really want us to try out. Also, be a pal of the show and donate!

Who are our Questers today?

* Randi, can’t even.

* Nate, not yet pregnant.

* Matt, as always.

* Amy, who is in charge of this circus?!

A Mini History Pop Tarts

In 1963 Post Cereals adapted a process for enclosing food in foil to keep it fresh without spoiling. And with this process, they made a new toaster-prepared breakfast food. These fruit-filled pastries could be shipped and stored without having to be refrigerated. In 1964, Post unveiled this product, called Country Squares. But unfortunately, Post was slow to release the product to stores and six months later, in September of 1964, Kellogg’s swooped in, stealing the market with a new product called Fruit Scones. The first toaster pastries that were produced were all unfrosted. They came in four flavors. Apple Currant Jelly, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Brown Sugar-Cinnamon. In 1967 the first frosted Pop-Tarts hit the shelves with four flavors as well. (Any guesses on the flavors?) Dutch Apple, Concord Grape, Raspberry, and Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

Today, around 2 billion Pop Tarts are sold each year in the United States. The best selling Pop Tart? Strawberry, followed by Brown Sugar Cinnamon and S’mores.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Thin Mint

* Nate: “I get a little tinge of mint in there.” 4/10

* Randi: “This would not be one I would ever have again.” 4/10

* Amy: “I would never buy this again.” 4/10

* Matt: “Not great texture.” 4/10

TOTAL: 16/40

Coconut Caramel

* Nate: “I don’t get caramel or coconut, definitely not good coconut.” 3/10

* Randi: “I did not like this.” 4/10

* Amy: “It smells like the back room of a candle store.” 2/10

* Matt: “It smells really maply.” 4/10

TOTAL: 13/40

There you have it. We do NOT give either of these Pop Tarts the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you still want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.poptarts.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Pop Tarts? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

Show Notes:

https://medium.com/@tonylow/the-pop-tart-story-6a5269062bb9

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-selling-poptarts-flavors_n_5836520

https://www.mashed.com/117295/untold-truth-pop-tarts/

There have been a lot of kitchen gadgets over the years used to cook your food. Toaster Oven, Pizzazz, Pressure Cooker. Well, Air Fryer is all the rage and we wanted to give some freezer foods a try in the air fryer! Let’s go!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which Air Fryer Foods are we trying today?

* White Castle Original Chicken Rings

* Farm Rich Crispy Dill Pickle

* Jose Ole Mini Tacos Beef and Cheese

* Old El Paso Stuffed Nachos Beef and Cheese

* El Monterey Extra Crunchy Southwest Chicken Taquitos

Who is on this quest?

* Randi, sick dude.

* Nate, pizzazz me, bruh!

* Matt, always needs privacy.

* Amy, taquito fan.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Farm Rich Crispy Dill Pickle

* Amy - “The breading is too thick and the pickle too thin.” - 3

* Matt - “They were bland.” - 5

* Nate - “This is not a freezable product.” - 2

* Randi - “Not a strong pickle flavor at all.” - 3

White Castle Original Chicken Rings

* Amy - “I’m not mad at that.” - 5

* Matt - “They are okay. Middle of the road.” - 5

* Nate - “Nothing to write home about.” - 5

* Randi - “This reminds me of chicken patties from high school.” - 6

Old El Paso Stuffed Nachos Beef and Cheese

* Amy - “All frozen foods like this with beef have the same beef flavor.” - 5

* Matt - “That wasn’t that bad.” - 6

* Nate - “There is something lacking.” - 3

* Randi - “Middle of the road.” - 5

Jose Ole Mini Tacos Beef and Cheese

* Amy - “This has the best flavor so far.” - 6

* Matt - “I wish it was all crunch.” - 7

* Nate - “I did not enjoy the texture of this at all.” - 3

* Randi - “It tastes more like nachos than the nacho one did.” - 7

El Monterey Extra Crunchy Southwest Chicken Taquitos

* Amy - “I love these things.” - 8

* Matt - “Come on, those are pretty good.” - 8

* Nate - “The extra crunchy is accurate.” - 6

* Randi - “I don’t like these.” - 4

There you have it. El Monterey Extra Crunchy Southwest Chicken Taquitos receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Every time I go to the grocery store, it is just new chip after new chip. Weird chips, crazy chips, hopefully tasty chips… Let’s find out!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which chips are we trying today?

* Pringles Beer Can Chicken

* Lay’s Farmhouse Cheese and Ranch

* Cheeto’s Puffs Cheese Pizza

* Sunchips Honey Barbecue

* Taki’s Churro Charge

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - smells like ramen noodles.

* Hannah - not 50% air.

* Matt - will eat a potato.

* Amy - Subscribe!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Sun Chip Honey Barbecue

* Amy - “It doesn’t need the honey part.” - 5

* Matt - “It’s the worst barbecue thing I’ve had in a long time.” - 4

* Hannah - “It’s sooo sweet.” - 2

* Kris - “This flavor of bbq does not belong on a Sunchip.” - 4

Pringles Beer Can Chicken

* Amy - “It gave me the vomit twinge.” - 1

* Matt - “I can taste the grill, or maybe that’s lighter fluid.” - 3

* Hannah - “My mouth is watering but not because it’s good.” - 1

* Kris - “It smells like vomit.” - 1

Cheeto’s Puffs Cheese Pizza

* Amy - “It’s if Spaghetti-O’s and Cheeto’s had a baby.” - 3

* Matt - “It’s not the greatest.” - 5

* Hannah - “This one wouldn’t be getting as good of a score if I didn’t just eat the others.” - 1

* Kris - “Definitely tastes like a mid-cheese pizza.” - 5

Lay’s Farmhouse Cheese and Ranch

* Amy - “It’s very potent.” - 3

* Matt - “It’s not horrible but not good.” - 4

* Hannah - “The ranch is only in the smell.” - 2

* Kris - “It has the stank.” - 4

Taki’s Churro Charge

* Amy - “The initial cinnamon is great, but needs more.” - 5

* Matt - “I like that it isn’t too sweet, but needs more cinnamon.” - 6

* Hannah - “This would make a good cereal.” - 7

* Kris - “I wish it had a longer cinnamon flavor.” - 5

There you have it. Taki’s Churro Charge receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite chip? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

It’s been a minute since Oreo has given us a new flavor to try… So, I was happy to see these new Chocolate Covered Pretzel Oreo! Let’s give it a try!

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Casaundra, resting smiling face.

* Kris, ASMR nerd.

* Matt, scripted.

* Amy, interpretive dance encouraged.

A History of Oreos

So the first Oreo cookie was produced in 1912 at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. As everyone knows, an Oreo is basically a sandwich cookie made from two chocolate cookies sandwiching a disc of vanilla frosting. Oreos are actually sort of a knock off. Hydrox cookies were already on the market. These kosher cookies were introduced in 1908 as two chocolate shortbread cookies with a vanilla fondant center. These cookies had a scalloped edge and a design on the top of the cookie. Oreos and Hydrox are supposed to be very similar and Hydrox cookies are still sold today.

So the original Oreo was introduced in 1912. It wouldn’t be until 1974 that the Double Stuf was introduced. In 1992 the Oreo Minis came to stores. In 2013 minds were blown by the Oreo Mega Stuf. And if Mega Stuf was not enough, the Most Stuf was introduced in 2019 which has 4x the amount of frosting as the original.

The 2010s is when Oreo started releasing limited edition runs on their flavors, which is why we have the pleasure of trying out these Neapolitan cookies today.

Oreo is the best-selling cookie of the 20th century. Approximately 34 billion Oreo cookies are sold each year, 92 million cookies per day - with 10 billion of those cookies sold in the US annually. An estimated 500 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since the Oreo biscuit was introduced.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

* Casaundra: “I don’t not like them, but it’s salty graham cracker.” 6/10

* Amy: “The aftertaste is more pretzel than the actual taste.” 5/10

* Kris: “No pretzel and large pieces of salt.” 5/10

* Matt: “You can tell what they are going for but they are not getting there.” 5/10

TOTAL: 21/40

There you have it. We give the limited edition S’mOREO Sandwich Cookies the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.oreo.com/

Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Oreos? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support!

Show Notes:

https://www.rd.com/article/dunking-cookies-in-milk/

Who is ready to try some DORITOS?!?!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which Doritos are we trying today?

* Jumpin’ Jack Cheese

* Twisted Queso

* Guacamolé

* Late Night Sizzlin’ Cheeseburger

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - Loves to sniff.

* Hannah - Howdy!

* Matt - Get your muckbang on!

* Amy - Surprise!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The History of Doritos

To go back to the beginning of the Doritos saga, you are going to have to travel back to 1955, and to an unlikely location. That location? Disneyland in Anaheim, California. In 1955, Frito-Lay struck a deal with Disney to open a Mexican restaurant in the Frontierland section of the park. This restaurant was known as “Casa de Fritos”.

You see, Doritos actually came as a solution to old tortillas. Instead of throwing out old, stale tortillas, the restaurant would cut them up, add seasoning, and fry them. That way they wouldn’t lose money on inventory, and actually make money on would-be trash. The employees liked the chips so much, they started packaging them as well.

In the early 1960s, Archie West, the vice president of Frito-Lay, visited the restaurant and saw how busy it was. And along with being busy, they were selling huge amounts of the bags of chips. Archie was taken with the chip. He decided that since they were golden in color, to name them for the Spanish word for gold, “oro”. Combined with the “ito” in Frito, and slapping the letter “D” to the beginning, the name Dorito was born. Soon after, mass production of the chip began.

A soft launch happened in the southwest region of the United States and it was so successful that the factory was overwhelmed by the demand. The popularity was unquestioned. Doritos made their national debut in 1966, when Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola merged.

The first flavor that debuted was taco flavored. In 1972, history was made with the release of the Nacho Cheese Doritos, becoming the most popular variety. In 1986, Cool Ranch Doritos were released.

Since the release, there have been over 100 different flavors. Flavors you can get today include…

* Flamin’ Hot Cool Ranch

* 3D Crunch Spicy Ranch

* 3D Crunch Chili Cheese Nacho

* Flamin’ Hot Nacho

* Flamin’ Hot Limon

* Nacho Cheese

* Cool Ranch

* Spicy Sweet Chili

* Dinamita Chile Limon

* Spicy Nacho

* Flamas

* Salsa Verde

* White Cheddar

* Tapatio

There have also been flavors like

* Cheeseburger

* Ranch-Dipped Chicken Wings

* Mountain Dew

And overseas…

* Olive

* Yogurt and Mint

* Clam Chowder

In 2020 99.67 million Americans consumed Doritos.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Jumpin’ Jack Cheese

* Amy - “That’s not too bad… cheesy poof vibe.” - 6

* Matt - “It is like a mellow Cool Ranch.” - 6

* Hannah - “I like those better than regular Doritos.” - 7

* Kris - “It has a cheesy heat.” - 7

Guacamolé

* Amy - “It’s lime then earthy.” - 4

* Matt - “Not bad, not good either.” - 5

* Hannah - “It almost has a mustiness to it.” - 5

* Kris - “I’m waiting for an avocado taste.” - 6

Twisted Queso

* Amy - “It tastes a lot like the cheap jarred queso.” - 6

* Matt - “Didn’t taste like good queso.” - 5

* Hannah - “I didn’t hate it or love it.” - 5

* Kris - “It tastes like the spicy nacho Doritos.” - 5

Late Night Sizzlin’ Cheeseburger

* Amy - “It tastes like a Whopper.” - 7

* Matt - “I taste Thousand Island.” - 6

* Hannah - “It’s like a Freddy’s” - 4

* Kris - “I can taste the sauces.” - 6

There you have it. All of these receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite chip? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

There are a ton of different brands of candies in the store. And it isn’t too often that you find a brand new, well, brand. But at Target I happened to stumble upon Joyride Candies! Let’s see if this is any good!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which Joyride Candies are we trying today?

* Sour Watermelon Wedges

* Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

* Gummy Busters

* Sour Smacks

Who is on this quest?

* Kris - Not the bandaid!

* Hannah - Swear jar!

* Matt - Feels good about eating crap!

* Amy - Punctuation, please.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

History of Joyrideour story

what's up, y'all! we're JOYRIDE, and we're on a mission to change the way the world eats candy. back in 2022, our founder Tyler Merrick set out to create better-for-you candy that's plant-based, low sugar, and non-GMO. no big deal right?Tyler was looking for a partner and reached out to Ryan in the spring of 2022. Ryan is a YouTuber and former D1 athlete that loved candy and wanted to make better versions of them but needed a partner to help make it a reality. JOYRIDE is based in Austin - and so was Ryan - so things started to come together. together they set out to revolutionize the candy experience and joined as Co-Owner and Chief Creative Officer in 2023.today, JOYRIDE offers delicious, flavorful candy made with real ingredients. that means no junk, no fake colors, and less sugar than the leading brands. from sour strips to watermelon wedges, ropes, and twists, there’s still a lot more innovation to come.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Sour Watermelon Wedges

* Amy - “Good punch of sour.” - 6

* Matt - “It’s sour! It’s good though!” - 7

* Hannah - “I didn’t think the watermelon had much flavor.” - 4

* Kris - “Joyride, huh? Pretty good!” - 7

Sour Smacks

* Amy - “Mmm! That yellow’s really good!” - 8

* Matt - “One of the best lemon flavors I have ever had.” - 7

* Hannah - “I would like them to be more sour.” - 7

* Kris - “They are really making my mouth water.” - 6

Sour Blue Raspberry Strips

* Amy - “Man… that’s sour.” - 5

* Matt - “Too much messing around.” - 5

* Hannah - “I like playing with my food.” - 8

* Kris - “Middle of the road product.” - 5

Gummy Busters

* Amy - “The initial flavor is not great.” - 4

* Matt - “These are interesting.” - 4

* Hannah - “It almost seems like a yogurt coating.” - 5

* Kris - “I can’t not eat them.” - 4

There you have it. Joyride Sour Smacks receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite candy? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Cookies and snack cakes. You either love the store bought ones or you hate them. Today we have four NEW snack cakes and cookies to try and discover if any of them are worth your cold hard cash.

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which snacks are we trying today?

* Trader Joe’s Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe Joe’s

* Soft Baked Nutty Buddy Creme Pies

* Selena Gomez Oreos

* Chips Ahoy Chewy Ice Cream Inspired Cookies

Who is on this quest?

* Kris, toppling the tower.

* Hannah, armed, and legged.

* Matt, I need coffee.

* Amy, what is happening?

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Chips Ahoy Chewy Ice Cream Inspired Cookies

* Amy - “Remember when Chips Ahoy used to be good?” -4

* Matt - “I know what it should taste like, and this ain’t right.” -4

* Hannah - “This is why they say inspired.” -3

* Kris - “At least make the creme in the middle taste like ice cream.” -4

Selena Gomez Oreos

* Amy - “It tastes really good, I love it.” -8

* Matt - “It smells like one of those stores my mom likes to shop in.” -5

* Hannah - “Why does it smell like that?!” -6

* Kris - “Does it taste like a graham cracker?” -6

Soft Baked Nutty Buddy Creme Pies

* Amy - “This doesn’t work for me.” -3

* Matt - “The cookie is taking away from the peanut butter flavor.” -5

* Hannah - “If you weren’t comparing it to the original it would be better.” -6

* Kris - “It’s too much yet not enough.” -5

Trader Joe’s Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe Joe’s

* Amy - “It is a little bitter to me.” -5

* Matt - “These are rich.” -8

* Hannah - “These are so rich I could only eat one.” -7

* Kris - “There’s a lot to it, but they are good.” -8

There you have it. Trader Joe’s Chocolate & Peanut Butter Joe Joe’s receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite snack? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Cheez It is a fantastic cracker. Cheesy goodness in a nice crunchy package. Plus they have a lot of different flavors - even burnt ones for you weirdos out there. But is Cheez It Pizza something that should be made and sold? Let’s find out!

Which Cheez It products are we trying today?

* Cheez It Cheddar Jack Supreme Pizza

* Cheez It Italian Four Cheese Pizza

* Cheez It Snapped Margherita Pizza

Who is on this cheesy quest?

* Alan, pizza’s done!

* Matt, back to the boo box!

* Amy, heartburn city.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Italian Four Cheese Pizza

* Alan - “Wow, that does taste like Cheez It.” - 4

* Amy - “I don’t like that at all.” - 3

* Matt - “What are the pitch meetings like for this?” - 4

Cheddar Jack Supreme Pizza

* Alan - “I’m thankful this pizza has peppers and olives.” - 5

* Amy - “The Cheez It is what ruins the Cheez It pizza.” - 5

* Matt - “It’s just too much.” - 4

Cheez It Snapped Margherita Pizza

* Alan - “Yummy.” - 7

* Amy - “That’s not bad.” - 5

* Matt - “Better than the pizza.” - 5

There you have it. Cheez It Snapped Margherita Pizza receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Let’s get pickly!

Which Pickle products are we trying today?

* Vlasic Pickle Balls

* Dorito’s Tangy Pickle

* Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle

Who is on this juicy Pickle quest?

* Alan, born in the wrong decade.

* Matt, starts with the balls.

* Amy, it’s crunchy.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The History of Pickles

Pickles got their start over 4,000 years ago when ancient Mesopotamians began soaking cucumbers in acidic brine as a way to preserve them. Throughout history, pickling was a necessity since it was the best way to preserve food over a long period of time.

Pickles were brought to America by Christopher Columbus. He liked traveling with them because they could obviously survive the long journeys, and they helped prevent scurvy since they are rich in Vitamin C

The verb “to pickle” means to preserve something in a solution. This solution is often vinegar. Most bacteria can’t flourish in highly acidic environments, so by submerging foods in vinegar helps prevent spoilage. Pickles however, are generally submerged in brine, which is a salty water. The brining method relies on acid’s preserving properties. The acid is introduced by bacteria during fermentation.

Throughout history, people have added spices to their pickle brines, such as garlic, mustard seeds, cinnamon, dill and cloves. These add flavor to the pickles while also providing antimicrobial properties to the equation.

Kosher pickles are not necessarily kosher. Early kosher pickles may have been made kosher per Jewish law, but today the word is used to describe any pickles made in the traditional New York style.

Bread and Butter pickles are a popular option which omit the garlic and add something sweet to the brine, such as brown sugar or syrup.

By the 19th century, H.J. Heinz Company had cornered the market using some unique marketing efforts. At the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the “Pickle King” H.J. Heinz dispatched some local kids to tempt fairgoers with a free gift if they visited his booth and taste the food. By the end of the fair, Heinz had given out some 1 million pickle pins. They repeated the pickle pin promotion at the World’s Fairs of 1896, 1898, and 1939.

During World War 2, the US government rationed pickles with 40% of the nations production going to the armed forces.

Heinz was the top of the pickle game until the 1970s, when Vlasic and their cartoon stork who delivers pickles instead of babies took over. This marketing tactic worked, especially since it played on the belief that pregnant women crave pickles.

Today, cucumber pickle factories usually ferment cucumbers in large outdoor vats of salt brine. These vats have no cover, completely open to the elements, including bird droppings, insects and other airborne objects. They are left open to let the sun’s ultraviolet and infrared rays assist in preventing yeast and mold growth on the brine surface.

Pickles are rich in vitamin C. Additionally, Vitamin A, iron, zinc and magnesium are found in these delicious snacks. The Iron can help you feel less tired. The zinc can help heal your skin. Magnesium helps you absorb calcium. Vitamin A helps keep muscles and tendons strong and helps support your skeleton. Pickled cucumbers are also full of folate which can help your nervous system and vitamin K which aids in blood clotting.

The Department of Agriculture estimates that the average American eats 8.5 lbs of pickles a year. And in 2020, around 246 million Americans consumed pickles.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Vlasic Pickle Balls

* Alan - “Gimme more of these pickle balls.” - 8

* Amy - “I could get down with these.” - 7

* Matt - “It’s the real dill.” - 8

Dorito’s Tangy Pickle

* Alan - “I could keep eating these.” - 7

* Amy - “These aren’t bad.” - 6

* Matt - “They take a bit to get the flavor rolling.” - 6

Cheeto’s Flaming Hot Dill Pickle

* Alan - “Tiny twang of juicy.” - 3

* Amy - “It has a pickle twinge but not a taste.” - 4

* Matt - “It’s just heat and corn.” - 4

There you have it. Vlasic Pickle Balls receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these Dilly foods? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

SHOW NOTES:

https://food52.com/blog/13564-strange-but-good-9-ways-to-eat-pickles

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/648355/pickles-food-history

https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/pickles/history.html

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/627564/best-zoom-products-video-meetings?utm_content=infinitescroll1

https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/diet-nutrition/everything-need-know-pickles/

https://tornadoughalli.com/kool-aid-pickles/

Here we go… Trader Joe’s time again! Let’s see what’s good.

But first… You may have noticed that we are not being too consistent with our posting as of late. My computer died. And it had all my files. Hurrah. But we should be getting back on track!

Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these!

Which Trader Joe’s snacks are we trying today?

* Cookies and Creme Pretzel Slims

* Brookie Carmel Candy Clusters

* Teensy Candy Bars

Who is on this quest?

* Kris, not cultured.

* Casaundra, let’s get it!

* Matt, not again.

* Amy, meh.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The History of Trader Joe’s

The first Trader Joe’s opened in Pasadena, California in 1967 by Joe Coulombe. The first store was born out of failure. Joe was working for a pharmacy which decided to launch five convenient stores, making Joe the manager of one of them. The venture failed, and the pharmacy shut the stores down. But instead of letting his store go, Joe decided to buy it from the pharmacy and rebrand it.

His store was branded in a Tiki theme, which was very popular at the time. The store specialized in carrying unique foods that could not be find anywhere else. And it was an immediate hit. The chain quickly grew to over 500 stores in 42 states.

In 1979, Joe sold the company to the owner of Aldi, but stayed on as CEO until his retirement.

Why is this store so popular today? There are many reasons, but a standout reason is it is inexpensive. The store does not run any ads, and they do not carry very many name brands, which is a great way to keep prices down. They also only sell what people want. If you don’t have over stock of a bunch of stuff that sits on the shelf, you keep your margins down by keeping product flowing. They also keep their stores small, and operational costs as low as possible. And it works! People love going there because the stores carry what they want, the employees are friendly, and the prices are cheap!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Brookie Carmel Candy Clusters

* Amy - “I liked the dark chocolate.” - 5

* Matt - “Sea Salt is overrated. Please stop.” - 6

* Casaundra - “One is enough.” - 4

* Kris - “Not enough caramel.” - 5

Cookies and Creme Pretzel Slims

* Amy - “I am enjoying this quite a bit.” - 7

* Matt - “These are a cut above.” - 7

* Casaundra - “The coating is pretty thick.” - 7

* Kris - “A flat pretzel really adds to it.” - 7

Teensy Candy Bars

* Amy - “They smell better than what they taste.” - 5

* Matt - “It’s like a Snickers without the nuts.” - 5

* Casaundra - “Too much nougat.” - 6

* Kris - “It tastes like a chocolate salted nut roll.” - 5

There you have it. Cookies and Creme Pretzel Slims receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite Trader Joe’s snack? We would love to hear your rating!

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support!

Show Notes:

https://www.rd.com/article/trader-joe-history/

Would you believe it if I told you there are more new chip flavors out there? This is turning into a chip podcast. Not that I’m complaining. Nothing like a good chip.

Which chips are we trying today?

* Lay’s Wavy Fried Green Tomato

* Lay’s Valentina and Lime

* Lay’s Bacon Grilled Cheese

* Lay’s Wavy Korean Style Fried Chicken

Who is on this quest?

* Casaundra, yep.

* Kris, yep.

* Matt, yep.

* Amy, mhmm.

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can be a subscribed Quester. Do it!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Fried Green Tomato

* Amy: “It’s a roller coaster of flavor.” - 4

* Casaundra: “I wouldn’t buy them but I wouldn’t throw them away.” - 5

* Kris: “I never once thought to myself that I would try this.” - 4

* Matt: “It’s too strong.” - 5

Lay’s Valentina and Lime

* Amy: “It tastes like Mexican rice.” - 5

* Casaundra: “I would have wanted this as a kettle chip.” - 4

* Kris: “I’m into these.” - 6

* Matt: “I’d scoop some refried bean with this.” - 6

Lay’s Bacon Grilled Cheese

* Amy: “That was insulting to my mouth.” - 1

* Casaundra: “It is NOT a good chip.” - 2

* Kris: “Not for me, left stank in my mouth.” - 3

* Matt: “It smells like if a dirty foot could fart.” - 3

Lay’s Wavy Korean Style Fried Chicken

* Amy: “Who are the people that suggested these flavors?” - 3

* Casaundra: “It tastes like bad cooking oil.” - 4

* Kris: “It’s getting worse.” - 3

* Matt: “All of those turns were the wrong turns.” - 2

There you have it. Lay’s Valentina and Lime receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these chippers? Which one was your favorite? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

There are a lot of options out there for breakfast foods. You can go with a nice plate of bacon and eggs, maybe a couple slices of peanut butter toast. Some people go for the sugary favorite donuts, and others might try a muffin. Well, today we are trying an on-the-go breakfast grab, PopTarts, and their new flavor Lemon Blueberry Crumble. Will these be any good? Let’s find out!

Thanks for joining us today. As always, let us know in the comments if there is a new food you really want us to try out. Also, be a pal of the show and donate!

Who are our Questers today?

* Kris, as long as it’s a fruit flavor.

* Casaundra, here of her own free will.

* Matt, the best of the best.

* Amy, is recording.

A Mini History Pop Tarts

In 1963 Post Cereals adapted a process for enclosing food in foil to keep it fresh without spoiling. And with this process, they made a new toaster-prepared breakfast food. These fruit-filled pastries could be shipped and stored without having to be refrigerated. In 1964, Post unveiled this product, called Country Squares. But unfortunately, Post was slow to release the product to stores and six months later, in September of 1964, Kellogg’s swooped in, stealing the market with a new product called Fruit Scones. The first toaster pastries that were produced were all unfrosted. They came in four flavors. Apple Currant Jelly, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Brown Sugar-Cinnamon. In 1967 the first frosted Pop-Tarts hit the shelves with four flavors as well. (Any guesses on the flavors?) Dutch Apple, Concord Grape, Raspberry, and Brown Sugar Cinnamon.

Today, around 2 billion Pop Tarts are sold each year in the United States. The best selling Pop Tart? Strawberry, followed by Brown Sugar Cinnamon and S’mores.

Poptart Bowl Video

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

* Kris: “I want lemon to come through more.” 5/10

* Casaundra: “This is a blueberry PopTart, there is barely any lemon.” 5/10

* Amy: “I don’t really like it, but I don’t hate it.” 4/10

* Matt: “Not great.” 5/10

TOTAL: 19/40

There you have it. We do NOT give Lemon Blueberry Crumble Pop Tarts the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you still want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://www.poptarts.com

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Pop Tarts? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

Show Notes:

https://medium.com/@tonylow/the-pop-tart-story-6a5269062bb9

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-selling-poptarts-flavors_n_5836520

https://www.mashed.com/117295/untold-truth-pop-tarts/

Goldfish Crisps?!?!Say no more…

But first…

Without your support, this podcast would not be a thing. Thank you so much for subscribing and following our show. Whether it is on this site, or on your favorite podcast app. Thank you! Also… please share our podcast with your family, friends, enemies, whoever. Just share it on your social media accounts or by word of mouth. Help us get a bit of a following. We love doing this and are hoping it will catch on.

Also, feel free to donate to our show to help us out on our growing grocery bill.

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

What are we trying today?

* Goldfish Crisps - Spicy Dill Pickle

* Goldfish Crisps - Barbeque

Who are our Questers today?

* Casaundra, likes it crunchy!

* Kris, ooooh Jason Momoa.

* Matt, part of a paid promotion.

* Amy, Subscribe!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Barbeque

* Casaundra: “That texture is exactly what I want.” 8/10

* Amy: “I like that barbeque flavor a lot.” 8/10

* Kris: “They each have a lot of seasoning on them.” 7/10

* Matt: “They almost have a pizza flavor.” 6/10

TOTAL: 29/40

Spicy Dill Pickle

* Casaundra: “Ooo! I’m here for these.” 8/10

* Amy: “Sooo much kick to them!” 7/10

* Kris: “Those have some spice.” 8/10

* Matt: “It’s getting dinged for too much heat.” 6/10

TOTAL: 29/40

There you have it. We give both of these the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? We purchased these at Target!

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! And right now, maybe more importantly… SHARE! We want more people listening! SHARE!

Today we are trying one of my ultimate car ride snacks. Ritz Bits! I love the Ritz Bits with cheese… Matt loves the peanut butter. Will anyone like the NEW Spicy Queso?

But first…

Without your support, this podcast would not be a thing. Thank you so much for subscribing and following our show. Whether it is on this site, or on your favorite podcast app. Thank you! Also… please share our podcast with your family, friends, enemies, whoever. Just share it on your social media accounts or by word of mouth. Help us get a bit of a following. We love doing this and are hoping it will catch on.

Also, feel free to donate to our show to help us out on our growing grocery bill.

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Casaundra, likes it cheesy.

* Kris, likes it spicy.

* Matt, likes it peanut buttery

* Amy, Subscribe!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

* Casaundra: “Great flavor but kind of skimpy.” 4/10

* Amy: “They remind me of Wheat Thins Garden Salsa.” 4/10

* Kris: “It’s middle of the road, but I like the spice.” 5/10

* Matt: “The butter over powers it.” 5/10

TOTAL: 18/40

There you have it. We do not give the Ritz Bits Spicy Queso the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? We got ours at Kwik Star. Look out for a pack!

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! And right now, maybe more importantly… SHARE! We want more people listening! SHARE!

Who doesn’t like a good pickle? They are good on sandwiches.They are good fried up.They are good on pizza.They are good on their own.So let’s see if Popeye’s can keep up the pickley goodness with their pickle menu.

Before we chow down….

We really can only keep this going with support from our listeners. For some of you, that may come in the form of a monetary donation, which we really appreciate. For others, you may decide to share a link to the show on your social media accounts or just share via word of mouth. WE CAN’T SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH to all of you. We have a lot of fun making this show, but get a lot of pleasure out of hearing that you all enjoy it too.

So if you haven’t, you can always donate now, or you can share, share, share!

Which menu items will we be trying?

* Pickle Chicken Sandwich

* Pickle Wings - Bone in

* Pickle Wings - Bone out

Who is joining this fast food battle?

* Alan, a pickle person.

* Cody, is everyone.

* Matt, sinuses cleared.

* Amy, donate!

And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support!

The History of Popeye’s

Popeye’s started with one man, Alvin C. Copeland Sr. When Alvin was 18 years old, he was interested in opening a restaurant. So, selling his car, he used the money to open a doughnut shop. He was doing pretty well but after KFC became a national fast food sensation, Copeland shifted gears, taking his doughnut revenue and opening a chicken shop in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His restaurant, called “Chicken on the Run,” served traditional Southern-fried chicken. But his sales were quite lackluster. Instead of giving up, Alvin decided to try a re-brand. He re-opened the restaurant as “Popeyes” (after Popeye Doyle of The French Connection), and instead of selling Southern-fried chicken, he spiced things up with New Orleans-style chicken and in 1976 the first franchised restaurant opened in Louisiana.

By 1985 Popeyes became the number 3 fast food chicken chain based on number of units. And in 1999 they surpassed one billion-dollar annual sales for the first time.

Today Popeyes has 2890 locations in the United States.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Pickle Chicken Sandwich

* Alan - That’s a pickley glaze right there… I like that… Ooooh I like that.

* Matt - I don’t know if I have ever tried anything like this.

* Cody - That’s a solid sandwich - I’d get this again.

* Amy - It has a nice kick to it.

Pickle Wings - Bone In

* Alan - Oh I like that. Oh my gosh.

* Matt - It’s spicy for me but it’s really good.

* Cody - These are goddamn good.

* Amy - It has a weird sandiness.

Pickle Wings - Bone Out

* Alan - Just a different texture since there is no bone.

* Matt - The heat balance is better on these.

* Cody - I like the bone in better.

* Amy - Nugs are never as juicy.

There you have it. The Pickle Menu gets the Quest for the Best seal of approval.

Thank you for joining us on this versus episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these menu items? Which one was your favorite?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

NOTE: To comment, you do need to sign into substack. Anyone should be able to comment, but you have to have an account and be signed in to contribute.

If you were entertained today, consider donating to our podcast! Keep these episodes coming with your own treasure. We would really appreciate the support!

Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there.

There are so many chip flavors out there… but when this one came out, well… we weren’t sure what to expect. Gas Station Roller Dog is pretty self explanatory. But can they actually give the right taste? Let’s find out!

But first…

Without your support, this podcast would not be a thing. Thank you so much for subscribing and following our show. Whether it is on this site, or on your favorite podcast app. Thank you! Also… please share our podcast with your family, friends, enemies, whoever. Just share it on your social media accounts or by word of mouth. Help us get a bit of a following. We love doing this and are hoping it will catch on.

Also, feel free to donate to our show to help us out on our growing grocery bill.

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Who are our Questers today?

* Alan, yeehaw!

* Cody, where’s the gasoline?

* Matt, I am here.

* Amy, Subscribe!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

* Alan: “I would not want my hotdog to taste like this.” 6/10

* Amy: “They’re okay.” 4/10

* Cody: “I’m not finding much in flavor.” 5/10

* Matt: “I’m not finding hotdog.” 6/10

TOTAL: 21/40

There you have it. We give the Urge Gas Station Roller Dog the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Head over to your nearest Kwik Star or Kwik Trip!

Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! And right now, maybe more importantly… SHARE! We want more people listening! SHARE!

Chicken and Waffles, Pigs-n-Taters, and Soda Pop. What do these three Hammond’s chocolate bars have in common?

We tried them all and they were terrible.

So, what do some normal flavors taste like? Let’s find out.

But first…

Without your support, this podcast would not be a thing. Thank you so much for subscribing and following our show. Whether it is on this site, or on your favorite podcast app. Thank you! Also… please share our podcast with your family, friends, enemies, whoever. Just share it on your social media accounts or by word of mouth. Help us get a bit of a following. We love doing this and are hoping it will catch on.

Also, feel free to donate to our show to help us out on our growing grocery bill.

Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks!

Which flavors of Hammonds are we trying?

* Dark Chocolate Salted Almond

* Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup

* Dark Chocolate Mint Chocolate Chip

Who are our Questers today?

* Nate, thank God.

* Randi, are we doing this?

* Matt, what’s wrong with you?

* Amy, Subscribe!

History of Hammond’s

Hammond’s is one of the few companies I have researched who actually puts information of their origins on their website. So this is their historic timeline pulled directly from the website.

* 1913 - Carl T. Hammond, Sr. accepted his first apprenticeship in a candy factory in Denver, Colorado.

* 1917 - Carl T. Hammond, Sr was drafted by the army and left his apprenticeship at the candy factory to head off to World War I.

* 1918 - Carl returned home from World War I and was eager to return to making candy. He started as an apprentice at another Denver candy factory and continued to learn the tricks of the trade.

* 1920 - Carl proudly opens the Hammond’s Candy Company and launches his first original candy, Carl’s Piggy Packs - delicious chocolates topped with shredded coconut.

* 1925 - Carl’s slogan of “Nothing is more important than quality” is what likely kept Hammond’s Candy Factory afloat through the Great Depression.

* 1930 - Carl purchased a recipe for a bite-sized marshmallow confection surrounded by caramel from his friend. He named it the “Mitchell Sweet,” and it instantly became a favorite of his patrons. The “Mitchell Sweet” still remains a popular treat to this day.

* 1945 - Carl’s son, Carl T. Hammond, Jr. (Tom) was discharged from the Navy at the end of World War II. Carl brought Tom into Hammond’s as an apprentice candy maker, and brought his wife, June into the family business as well

* 1966 - Carl passed away, leaving behind the Hammond’s Candies legacy to his son, Tom Hammond. Tom took the reigns and it flourished under his leadership.

* 1967 - Tom expands, purchasing an enrober, which is a machine that coats treats in chocolate. This was a game changer for the company.

* 1983 - The business continues to expand and Tom’s daughter brings her husband, Emery Dorsey IV in to learn the trade.

* 1985 - Tom passes away and the company passes down to Emery Dorsey IV.

* 1995 - Williams- Sonoma placed an order for hand-pulled lollipops, chocolate covered toffee, and peppermint pillows. This order alone turns Hammond’s Candy Company into a national household name.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Hammond’s Salted Almond

* Amy - Way too salty! - 3

* Matt - It’s no See’s. - 6

* Nate - The dark chocolate is decent. - 5

* Randi - I didn’t get a lot of almond. - 6

See’s Dark Chocolate Almond Clusters

* Amy - Wow, I see why Matt gets these. - 8

* Matt - This is how it’s done. - 9

* Nate - Damn, that was a treat. - 7

* Randi - Yeah, those are good! - 8

Hammond’s Peanut Butter Cup

* Amy - Sickly sweet. - 4

* Matt - Is the dark chocolate too sweet? - 5

* Nate - Something ain’t right. - 3

* Randi - I don’t get much of a peanut butter flavor. - 4

Hammond’s Mint Chocolate Chip

* Amy - What’s up with the flavor of that mint? - 3

* Matt - I’d rather have a Junior Mint. - 4

* Nate - That aftertaste is awful. - 2

* Randi - I’m just feeling really sad right now. - 3

See’s Dark Chocolate Lemon Truffle

* Amy - Aren’t these sooo good?? - 10

* Matt - These are better than I remember. - 8

* Nate - These are really good. - 8

* Randi - One is perfect, I feel satisfied. - 9

There you have it. We do not give Hammond’s Chocolates the Quest for the Best seal of approval. But them See’s though…. *wipes drool* Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some.

https://hammondscandies.com/collections/chocolate

https://www.sees.com/

Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts?

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! And right now, maybe more importantly… SHARE! We want more people listening!

Girl Scout Cookies. Did you know that there are two separate bakeries that make these little snacks? And depending on where you live, you will either have Little Brownie Bakery or ABC Bakery. (Map below) So let’s see which one is better, shall we?

Which Girl Scout Cookies are we trying today?

* Caramel Delights

* Samoas

* Tag-a-longs

* Peanut Butter Patties

Who is on this cookie quest?

* Randi, please stop.

* Nate, sorry dear.

* Matt, now with more girl parts…?

* Amy, SUBSCRIBE!

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!

The History of Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scouts is an organization for girls 5-18. The organization combines “Life skills, STEM, the outdoors, and entrepreneurship with civic engagement to deliver crucial, life-changing, girl-led programming.” The program has 1.7 million members.

Girl Scout Cookies all began in the 1910s. Girl Scout Cookies were originally home baked by members with moms volunteering as technical advisers. In 1917, the sale of cookies to finance troop activities began. The Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma baked cookies and sold them in its high school cafeteria as a service project.

Throughout the 1920s, Girl Scouts in different parts of the country baked their own simple sugar cookies. These cookies were packaged in wax paper bags, sealed with a sticker, and sold door-to-door for 25 to 35 cents per dozen.

In 1933, Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia Council baked cookies and sold them in the city’s gas and electric company windows at 23 cents per box of 44 cookies, or six boxes for $1.24. This helped the girls develop their marketing and business skills and raise funds. In 1934, Greater Philadelphia became the first council to sell commercially baked cookies.

In 1935, the Greater New York federation raised money through the sale of commercially baked cookies and the group bought its own die in the shape of a trefoil and used the words “Girl Scout Cookies” on the box. In 1936, the national Girl Scout organization began the process of licensing the first commercial bakers to produce cookies that would be sold nationwide by the scouts. By 1948, 29 bakers were licensed to bake Girl Scout Cookies.

In 1951, Girl Scout Cookies came in three varieties: Sandwich, Shortbread, and Chocolate Mints. By 1956, there were four basic types of cookies: a vanilla based filled cookie, a chocolate based filled cookie, a shortbread cookie, and the chocolate mints. By 1966, Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies were added to the mix.

In 1978, the number of bakers was reduced to four to ensure lower prices and uniform quality, packaging, and distribution. And in the early 90s, only two bakers were licensed to supply cookies.

Today, Girl Scout Cookies are produced by two bakeries: ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers. So depending on where your cookies come from, you might get different names on the boxes (Like the Samoas might be called Caramel deLights. There might also be a slight variation to the recipe. For example, the ABC Bakers Thin Mint is crunchier with more mint than chocolate, and the Little Brownie Bakers Thin Mint has a richer smoother chocolate coating with a distinct peppermint taste. Our area sells the Little Brownie Bakers cookies. But if you are lucky enough to be in the location of ABC Bakers, you have access to a cookie flavor that was released in 2021, the Toast Yay!

The cookie season is usually January through April. And during prime cookie season, the girl scouts do about $800 million in total cookie sales. All of the net revenue from cookie sales stays within a Girl Scout council’s local area. The top selling cookie is the Thin Mints. The second best selling is the Samoas.

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Caramel Delights vs. Samoas

* Amy - A better caramel pull on the Samoas.

* Randi - Oh yeah, I don’t like coconut.

* Matt - More caramelly on the Samoas.

* Nate - The chocolate tastes better on the Samoas

Samoas win, Little Brownie Bakery.

Peanut Butter Patties vs. Tag-A-Longs

* Amy - The Tag-A-Longs have a flavor leeching into it.

* Randi - Peanut Butter Patties are dusty.

* Matt - The Tag-A-Longs have a creamier peanut butter.

* Nate - I’m leaning Tag-A-Long but it is only a slight lean.

Tag-A-Longs win, Little Brownie Bakery.

There you have it. Little Brownie Bakery gets the Quest for the Best Seal of Approval. Check out the Girl Scout website for more information on the cookie season.

https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/how-to-buy-cookies.html

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these cookies? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.girlscouts.org/en/cookies/about-girl-scout-cookies/cookie-history.html

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/1/24/18195824/girl-scout-cookies-explained-thin-mints-buy

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/644123/girl-scout-cookies-facts

So many flavors of chips out there, it seems like every time you go to the grocery store, there are tons of new flavors to try. So today we are trying 5 different chip flavors!

Which chips are we trying today?

* Trader Joe’s Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Chili and Lime

* Lay’s All Dressed

* Doritos Late Night Loaded Taco

* Taki’s Buckin’ Ranch

* Sun Chips Black Bean Southwestern Queso

Who is on this quest?

* Nate, his beef is multiplying

* Randi, sweet, tangy, savory

* Matt, woah woah woah

* Amy, goodbye cheese dip

And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can be a subscribed Quester. Do it!

The Results

**SPOILER ALERT!**

Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!

Subscribed

Trader Joe’s Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips Chili and Lime

* Amy: I don’t like the base flavor of the chip. - 4

* Matt: They hit a weird spot for me. - 6

* Nate: Too much going on with that lime. - 4

* Randi: That’s a lot of flavor. - 4

Takis Buckin’ Ranch

* Amy: These remind me of Bugles. - 5

* Matt: They are ranch and I’m from the Midwest. - 6

* Nate: We are buckin’ a little bit, but could use more ranch - 7

* Randi: These remind me of Fritos - 6

Lay’s All Dressed

* Amy: I can see why this is a Canadian favorite. - 8

* Matt: There’s a weird aftertaste I am not enjoying. - 7

* Nate: I like these a little more than original Lay’s. - 6

* Randi: I don’t like the texture of Lay’s - 6

Sun Chips Black Bean Southwestern Queso

* Amy: Just one lick has a lot of flavor - 6

* Matt: Delightful texture - 7

* Nate: Texture, flavor, the blend. I really like them. - 9

* Randi: It’s like everything you love from Sun Chips - 7

Doritos Late Night Loaded Taco

* Amy: This is the best taco flavor chip I have ever had. - 9

* Matt: It has all the right flavor for tacos. - 8

* Nate: This is f*****g good. - 10

* Randi: I would snack the heck out of these. - 9

There you have it. Doritos Late Night Loaded Taco receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Check out the Doritos website here for all your chip needs.

https://www.doritos.com/

Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these chippers? Which one was your favorite? We would love to hear your rating as well.

Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.