Bring it back!

Loyal Readers,

Wanted to update you all! I will definitely get back to reviewing if the interest does pick back up. I'm really getting back into the swing of being a new dad! It's probably been the most enjoyable thing I've ever done, but certainly the most time consuming.

Like most things, work, family and other responsibilities need to come before the leisure activities (like this). For things like this, it takes time and money to do correctly.

If anyone out there would like me to start doing this again, I'd love to do it, but without interest I cannot spend time on it.

Hopefully this doesn't offend anyone, but I'm glad to have the views and interest I've accumulated!

Take care, Happy Holidays!
Stocky

Here's my most successful post -
http://whatsstockyeating.blogspot.com/2011/03/okf-aloe-vera-king-peach.html 

Jimmy Jeng's Restaurant Review : Evansville, Indiana

I'm stepping a bit out of my normal zone here... and doing a restaurant review!

I'd prefer to give this a 2.5 star if i could... given the below mentioned 50/50 split. (This will make sense as you read)

Before people go on hating me for not raving about the wonderful food. Realize that my reviews are based both on equal parts service and equal parts food quality/taste etc. Bottom line is this, maybe we caught them on a bad time, or maybe just the fact we didn't order drinks. I was however, heavily recommended this place, by my manager at work.

That said let me start at the top. I went out with my mother and father in-law. This alone is a risk in and of itself, as they are really nice to me and I really like them. That aside, he was apprehensive in trying a new place. So we were seated by Jimmy Jeng himself, which is a treat. However his wife asked us for our drinks, and we declined and choose to go all water. My tendencies around my in-laws is to err on the side of being frugal. We also chose to not enjoy some of their wine. Upon that, I guess the wife did not seem to like the fact that we needed extra attention because she left us for a good 10-15 minutes before checking on an order. Again maybe i'm assuming something, but I've had several experiences similar, where wait staff don't want to take time with you. I guess this is because they perceive that you don't tip well.  My in laws and I, being new to the restaurant, didn't know what to order. She asked if we were ready, and we weren't. Then another 15 minutes go by, and no waitress. Jimmy came over maybe 10 minutes later, to take our order, we had questions, and took our order. All in maybe 30 or so minutes. At this point we ordered an appetizer to settle us in. The crab rangoons were INCREDIBLE and tasted pretty fresh!

Here is, however where the story turns bad... it was a table of 4 people, with 2 orders of their signature dish, string bean pancakes, and an order of sweet and sour chicken, finally an order of non spicy general tso's chicken. I'd say the order wasn't all that unconventional. However the orders took about an hour and a half to get out to us, maybe longer. As much as I love my wife and her parents, being stuck in a restaurant for nearly 2 hours without food, and being pumped full of expectations from my manager and this  Community... didn't make me feel any better. Not to mention they came over maybe 4-5 times with water, which at this point was downright offensive.We had to ask maybe 4  times, once to Jimmy himself, where our orders were. No, it wasn't busy, no there weren't any huge parties, no excuse. There were plenty of same size tables being served two-fold before we saw ours.

Anyway after about 2 hours or so, we finally got down to our food. I personally got the string bean w/ pancakes, of which you get 4 of them. A good size and I struggled to get through them. That said, the food looked great, and tasted really unique. I'd definitely recommend this dish 'if' you do go.

I hate not to concentrate on my food, as this SHOULD be where it is focused but as I said I've had such a poor experience, I could not, and probably will not, recommend this establishment. I think they were trying, but it wasn't good enough.

Final words, if I was being penalized, or treated poorly for not ordering any drinks or supplemental items, then that's just bad business. If however the service is just that slow for people who are NOT regulars (newbies), then I think it'll be hard for them to acquire some new business. It's a shame that i've had this poor experience, 3 hours ... and a headache, full stomach and some angry in-laws. That is what I got from my one, and likely only experience. Sorry JJ, I tried.

Overall ... 2.5 stars... not terrible food, just ... terrible service

Vinh Long *Shrimp and Mushroom Rice Plate*

As most of you may already know, I'm a huge fan of Vinh Long's restaurant here in Nashville. What you may NOT know is that I was born and raised Catholic. What that means is that I observe Lent. If you'd like more information on this religious practice, click here. Basically for those who want to know, Fridays during this period we are prohibited from consuming red meat, along with a couple other things, however this is the big one. That said I strayed from my normal beef and carrot stew... and suffice to say, I wasn't disappointed.

Semi-Touched plate... couldn't resist! ;-)

That aside, this will likely be one of my shorter reviews, but hey it DID take me a while to settle on this menu item. I tell you, squid particularly, which was pretty prevalent on this menu, was not going to be an option.I tell you what, I may in the future try it, but hell ... I can't justify it. As I mentioned a bunch of times before, I won't eat anything that will potentially get me sick, or otherwise nauseate me. Thankfully this dish did not disappoint  and was at a reasonable price point $8.75. I would say that's a bit high for Shrimp and Mushroom Teriyaki. However the sauce, doesn't taste like all the other Teriyaki sauces I've had before, more salty than tangy. It's a great contrast on two or three foods that go good with salt (Rice, Shrimp, and Mushrooms). 

A bit closer in, DIG IN!

That said, if you're looking for a solid alternative, or in my case, disallowed to eat meat on a Friday during Lent, this is a SOLID option. Bottom line, not as good as the beef and carrot stew, but a good change of pace and a solid second place plate. I could see that some people might not be a fan of a more savory dish, but I've never shied away from a good savory dish! Thanks for reading and supporting Bloggers, and my food habit -

Stocky!

Vinh Long *Beef & Carrot Stew* Nashville, TN

Vinh Long Vietnamese / Japanese

Tell you what, this SHOULD be one of the easier reviews I've ever done because this is hands-down the best eastern food experience I've had since a chance encounter on a NYC vacation. This place is much closer to home for me, and you know what... I love it!

When it comes to charm, this place is chock full of it. This is a typical hole-in-the-wall place, that people probably wouldn't go out of the way to get to, but is RARELY not standing room waiting for a seat during lunch. I cannot recall a time when I've not seen someone I know, and we're all probably at this point, considered regulars. I'd say this place seats 30 people TOPS, it's a crowded, yet clean place to sit and eat. Full of charm, trinkets, and a HUGE fish tank (proportionate to the rest of the place). They also only take CASH payment, no ATM/Debit/Credit cards here... so bring cash. There's not a lot to be said, but hey, enjoy my review on one of my most favorite dishes of alllllllllll time!

Now on to the first picture. Mind you, they have a much larger menu than just this one item... speaking of which, my friend always orders the teriaki that comes out sizzling hot! Without further ado, here we go!

Best STEW ever!!!

So anyway what is this 'Stew' of sort? I normally order it as it comes, a nice and full hearty beef dish with noodles mixed in the bowl ... similar to Ramen in a traditional sense. However this is way heartier with HUGE cuts of beef, carrots, onions, and various greens. For garnishing and a bit of a taste, they add crumbled peanuts. The broth is definitely on the 'spicy' side but is a relative term and is ALWAYS different every time I come in. This isn't a bad  thing, and you can ALWAYS tell how hot it'll be due to the amount of red hue. I assume most of this is some sort of chili oil or something similar. Again if someone knows more about the actual 'making' of this please comment below. Honestly I can't put my finger on it, but there is just SOMETHING in this dish that makes it appeal to me, and to a lot of other people too. Again, I'm no culinary genius but, this stew just has it all going on, and it's filling. I always leave really full. This is probably at least partially due to the side of bread they give you, which really rounds off the dish! I don't know if it's fresh baked, but it's certainly yummy!

Anyway I can't say too much more about  this dish without getting incredibly hungry, I may have to even go and eat there today! Bottom line, thank you to my loyal readers and you are a BIG part of why I do these blogs, but please comment and let me know if you want to see more content.

Dig in!

Thanks again,

Stocky!

A Post to my Followers (and a mystery review)

Hey guys! As you're probably reading this you're either one of a couple things. Either you're reading this blog for  the first time, and if that's you... welcome! However I am willing to admit, I've been less than thorough with this blog. I will say that it DID start off as a hobby and that's exactly what it is. When it comes to hobbies, as a married man... there just isn't room for as many I had before.

That said... PLEASE guys, who are my readers, let me know if and what you want to see from me. I'm here to entertain you guys. I do have a suggestion and here goes! I'd LOVE it if you guys and gals (my followers) ask me what I should review next? I know it sounds crazy, but let me know of something you either enjoy or think I would? Please don't suggest something that's incredibly dangerous, spicy or otherwise unsavory. Bottom line, I want to know what you guys and gals like... that might just kick-start me!

Thanks again!

Here's a random picture for ya! From my vacation!

Thanks again to my loyal readers,
Stocky

Jammie Dodgers (REVIEW)

Well hey it's been some time. I'm real sorry any of those who have been following my page. Again I'm REALLY sorry... I've been busy but it's no excuse. I owe it to you guys to do better... anyway!

Bright and Inviting Packaging

For my first review back, I went a little 'safe' and went with a relatively familiar snack food, Jammie Dodgers. My expectations were actually pretty high, believe it or not... unfortunately as you'll read ... that's not always a good thing.

Anyway Jammie Dodgers are a treat for children living in the UK, and that part of the world. Personally I had only heard about this by word of mouth. Honestly they said they don't have GREAT memories of them, however I still thought i'd at least try.

Looks cute... :-)

Like I mentioned before, my expectations were pretty high... well wow... Was I really disappointed. I was expecting something real sweet with a shortbread butter taste. I don't think they were expired, but they tasted like it. It was almost like bitter and 'sour' I guess. I mean, the filling was O-K at best, but wow was it not good. Also the aftertaste was horrible. 

Overall I would say PASS on these, I personally will not be buying these... ever again. I'd give these maybe a 3 out of 10. However, I could go for some other UK Treats!

Thanks again! STOCKY

*Evansville, IN, USA Fall Festival!* ~Stocky's Largest Review~

My Largest Review ... Evansville Fall Festival, Evansville, INDIANA, USA

Hey there What's Stocky Eating fans!! It's tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime! Finally I unveil the beast that I can only describe as AWESOME! For a bit of history and some quick facts about the Fall Festival, here we go! Supposedly started back in 1921 this festival has meant great food and great prices, with a cause. Another lesser, but still known fact about the festival is that it is a fundraiser for most organizations and vendors. You'll have schools, zoos, charities, boy scout troops, churches, colleges, fraternities, fire departments and many others I'm leaving out. Some food carts/trailers you see have contracted out their food to local restaurants, like the local boy scouts usually use a local Asian restaurant.

Now on to the FUN PART !!! You'll see everything from Fried catfish and alligator to a brain sandwich ... Also even things like fried kool-aid to fried Oreos. Anyway, this festival is supposedly the 2nd largest street festival in the USA, second only to Mardi Gras. Making this the third time that I've attended this festival, I can truly appreciate the atmosphere, as there are food trailers as far as the eye can see. If you'd like to see more coverage and or learn more about the festival as a whole, visit http://www.nutclub.org. There you can find a bunch of relevant information as well as a "munchie map" to give you a taste of what I could have tried. There is just so much to see, do, eat, and drink!

Yes, Piggy Toes...

So my first topic I'll get out of the way is the odd, strange, and to most people, unappetizing foods. First up is pictured above, pigs feet... I've never had, and have no intention in eating them. Yes I've seen them many many times on deli counters, but never have actually had a desire to want even a taste. Luckily there are other odd foods I have actually tried. Last year I had a chance to try a deep fried Oreo, not super strange, but probably among the BEST fried concoctions anyone has ever thought up.

Yeah, never going to get me on this one

2 years ago, I had a chance to try a donut sandwich, which was just 'odd.' Mainly due to the sweetness of the donut bun. Again, not that it was bad, it's just that they were all pre-made and wrapped in foil, so they were soggy AND sweet... 2 not so good things, when combined. Also, I still had a nibble of a brain sandwich, pig brain. I will never, ever ever order this again, it's not that it's bad tasting... I'd say it was actually pretty good. However it's more like 'mind over matter'... yes pun intended. Lastly, the brain sandwiches are among the most expensive options, consistently, around $6 per sandwich. Enough about past experiences, let's get down to the foods I ate this year.

Sorry for the dark picture, but these are CHURRO CHIPS

Well, whilst wading through a caravan full of food options, what did I pick first? Yeah dessert first!!! Churro Chips was my first order. I believe I paid around $3 maybe $3.50 for these chips. However, I really think they were a small bit over-priced. As these are just deep fried tortillas coated with cinnamon, sugar, and icing. They were served warm, and cooked up to order. My first bite was good, and admittedly, they tasted a bit 'stale', however, upon further investigation, they weren't. If you've ever deep fried soft tortilla's, they get a sort of 'stale' taste to them, but its crunchy still. Overall, I think they had a bit too much of the icing, and not enough of the dry spices. Again i'd say this is more preference based. As far as a 1-10 point scale, 8 out of 10, i'd recommend these, but not to everyone, since they were really sweet. However I balanced this sweetness with a nice thing of Apple Cider, which was excellent in it's own right.

Menu for My FAVORITE FRIED FOOD ... What is it?? Keep Reading!

For my second item that I tried, I had full intentions of eating another. However, my second item, was subsequently my last of the festival. This isn't such a bad thing, because it's probably one of the, if not THE best confection I've ever had! Ok without further ado, I chose.............. The Fried Klondike Bar! Yep, one of the more infamously sweet, and fattening foods at the whole festival. Let me tell you, on both those points, it did not disappoint. However, I will say in full disclosure my intention was to get the Fried Kool-Aid, but it would have taken 20 minutes to change and heat up the oil, and then cook the balls. Being in the middle of hundreds or thousands of people, I didn't want to wait even that long. So as a second option I went with a much larger, much more fattening food. Well anyway, I waited about 1-2 minutes for this item I paid $4 for... which was a great deal. On to the food, I'll include a picture below, but now many if anybody could tell you what the food was just from the picture. The actual item was served to me in a basket, with a spoon, topped with powdered sugar. Let me tell you, it was not only big looking, it just FELT dense. Hesitant on what is proper protocol in eating one of these, the first 'cut' into the dessert I was sold. Immediately upon sinking my spoon in, the luscious Klondike Ice cream mixed with melted chocolate from the shell poured out. Well let me tell you, it was an explosion of flavor. After the first bite, I was HOOKED, seriously hooked, I found myself eating faster and faster, since you'd get a rush of cool from the melted ice cream, then a warm burst from the crunchy batter. Somewhere around my 6th or 7th bite, I discovered 2 little intricacies about eating something like this. Brace yourself, this is a bit sick, but followed immediately by something yummy. The first thing that happened was I noticed mixed in with all this ice cream and chocolate was a nice ring of oil, at first I just dismissed it, but then I decided to maybe pour some of it out. Turns out, I estimate, there was maybe 4-5 ounces OR more oil I drained into the can. That said, I also noticed near the center, the ice cream was still solid or at least semi-solid. Now the heat was on as I wanted to get to all the little solid pieces before they melted. The semi solid ice cream was a welcome relief to something that was primarily mush, or syrup. Anyway, I would guess I finished this in a matter of minutes, and a few people were spectating even commented, asking if they knew I had eaten it too fast. The caveat to this, or maybe the trade off, is that after I discarded the dish it came in, immediately I felt myself sloooooowwwwwwww down. Literally I immediately became sluggish and I was just ... blah ! Anyway, I knew I was on my way out so I said, that should work I guess, as my last dish of this year. That said, I still give this item a 9.9 out of 10, a near perfect score. So there you have it, my wild card item of the festival. 

Here it is ... the mighty Fried Klondike Bar!

In conclusion, this festival spans over several days, includes music, and a bunch of other little entertainment bits... But you know the real reason why Stocky likes to go? The FOOD! Yeah, I tell you what, I doubt you or anyone could feasibly do or eat everything in one year. Thankfully some of the more popular items come back year over year, but now I think that the 'fried food mold' has been completely broken, if not shattered! If you're anywhere near the Evansville Indiana area, and are a fan of unique and ultimately unhealthy fatty foods, why haven't you been to the festival? Again, you're supporting local charities, schools and the like, so you know it goes to a great place, and you get a bunch of food options! Anyway, my writing hands are a bit sore, and I hope you enjoy all that I put into this one, it's been fun to write! Please COMMENT and let me know how I'm doing. Plus I have a facebook page, search for a group - What's Stocky Eating? -

A typical menu, I liked this one because of the BBQ Pork Parfait ... Next year maybe???

Thanks and happy eats,

Stocky

Big announcement!

I will be doing my LARGEST review EVER... look for it soon. Here's a hint... its a really large street festival. Supposedly the second largest in USA!

Bounty Bar !! *Dark*

Moun... I mean Bounty DARK!

I know this is one of the shorter reviews I've done... but it's not a super complex food! For this review I've got something that is similar to an American Product... Mounds. Today I review Bounty by MARS. To be honest, I was just assuming it was something completely new, but little did I know, I'd be biting into some memories of other bars I've had before.

As I've noticed with numerous candies made from around the world, the chocolate and sugar quality is just... different? I don't know for sure if it's the shipping/importing, but hey it all adds to the experience. So anyway I unwrapped this guy, and yep, it's definitely dark chocolate. However, it's not really bitter like most 'dark' chocolates are. I wouldn't go so far and say it tastes like milk chocolate... rather a weaker yet satisfying compromise of the two... The filling itself was an incredible combination of sugar and a moist coconut! The filling itself tastes similar to that of a mounds or something like that. I did find that there is no bad aftertaste or a weird funk it leaves in your mouth, like most dark chocolate confections do.

I like the creative swirls of chocolate

All in all, as I said, it's something it appears I've had before... but not completely. Again it's not that it doesn't taste better... that's actually the opposite of what I meant. I could see myself getting this again, 9.5 out of 10.Either way, if you CAN somehow find it, let me know how you like it :)

Thanks,
Stocky

AERO by Nestle!

Yummy Bubbles!

Well here I am reviewing ANOTHER UK specialty! This one is also from a recognizable brand, Nestle. So yeah, this is incredible how familiar yet different this product is. As I've noted in numerous previous reviews, foreign chocolate to this Westerner, tastes way different than your typical Hershey's Bar.

Regardless of how different this looks and even tastes, I'm always willing to try something new. Again it's not that this bar is the best I've ever had, but it is unique. Let me preface by saying I refrigerated this bar, which... in hindsight probably wasn't the greatest idea. This made the chocolate a bit more bland and 'flat' as chocolate experts would say.

I Like The Bar 'look'

I enjoyed this bar with a nice cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee. This, to me, was an AMAZING pairing! If I would recommend this to a friend, to maybe try with a sweet coffee. Anyway, on to the differentiation that makes this product stand out... the bubbles!! Well, it's certainly a 'gimmick' but still has a certain fun to it, but didn't really warrant the extra $. 

In summation, I'd say that this is a solid snacker I might try again, but ... nothing I'm going to go out of the way for. Maybe I'll come back and  try the mint chocolate variety! Overall I'd give it an 8.5 out of 10.

Thanks for reading~

STOCKY~

Bawls Energy Drink Review! REGULAR and EXXTRA Flavors!!

So in shopping I come across products that are either interesting and or eye catching. This is one of those products, just not on product name but bottle shape. I have to be honest, I've heard of these from Think Geek, since they specialize in some of the more rare energy drinks. However, the local grocery store had these and I was more than excited to see that so I grabbed one of each. Not really knowing the difference in the two flavors and or caffeine content...I grabbed them both.

Such a cool bottle!

This is the original flavored Bawls drink, and certainly my expectations were high from the moment I picked it up. I didn't really notice what flavor it was supposed to be but suffice to say this is probably tied for the best tasting energy drink I've had, BING energy drink. So when I was trying this for the first time, I'd have to say, my first impression was that there was a ton of carbonation in it. There was definitely a good amount of sweetness and all that, however I believe there wasn't a LOT of caffeine or other energy products in it.

Got to love the warning label!! Read it :)

Last couple thing I'll say is, the label is at least humorous. However, the big appeal for this is the bottle, however they print directly onto the glass, so you can't really re-use it unless you really like the label. My fiancée wanted to keep it for maybe a small flower vase, but yeah, with the name Bawls, not something to keep out in open I suppose, you know with kids and all that...

EXXTRA!!!!!!

On to the second part, since this is a 2 part review :-). I'm unaware if they make any other kinds, however I will say that right on the cap (pictured below), the EXXTRA variety has more caffeine in it, and you can certainly taste it. Again, not really a huge complaint, but this drink has less sugar and more caffeine, a certain recipe for disaster. I'd like to say that Bawls may have missed the boat on this one, however, I think with the extra caffeine, it's certainly admissible, because it actually tasted more like a traditional energy drink. It kind of tastes more like club soda and less like a soft drink. So unless you really are only drinking this one for a caffeine buzz, buy the regular flavor (blue bottle).

Woo hoo! More caffeine!!

In closing, the drink has a funny, and certainly catchy name, but both these flavors have their perks. If you want a buzz, get the EXXTRA. However if you're looking for a fair buzz, that has a much more mellow and smooth taste (by energy drink standards), try the regular. Bottom line, if you're looking to try a new energy drink, definitely try these ones... you might like them both!

Thanks again for taking time to read!

Stocky~

Chicago Eats!! 3 Reviews in one!

So I had the opportunity to take a business trip up to the great city of Chicago! What an amazing city, in short... it's a city of great foods, beautiful sights, and amazing shopping. I will get back to doing more regular reviews here shortly. I actually just got back from a nice trip to the local international market! Anyway... on to the first review!

What a Beautiful SKYLINE!

My first meal and possibly my favorite, was at an authentic Chicago Style Pizzeria name Giordano's. Let me just say, growing up in NY, this was about the most different you could get from NY style pizza. To each their own I suppose, however I think I've found a new love. Chicago style pizza for those who weren't aware, is more like a pie, than a pizza... hence the term "pizza pie." Well lets just say, even the smaller sizes of this pizza were intimidating. We had 3 full grown men in our party, including me, and we didn't even make it half-way through it. We did order appetizers, but hey, still incredibly amazing and tasty. We ordered the garbage or everything pizza, can't exactly remember the name... and yeah, it had everything minus the gross ingredients like anchovies and pineapple. Literally, and for all intents and purposes I STRONGLY recommend you stop by and grab a slice or two (if you can make it past once piece).

Menu 

Just once piece was sufficient

Massive!!!

For my second meal we headed to a Brazilian Steakhouse, Fogo de Chao. This place was incredibly moody with low lighting, soft music and amazing service to boot. If you've never been to a place like this, then you don't know what service is... literally. This place is all about making you feel like a guest in their home. You start off with a fully stocked salad bar, from asparagus to prosciutto, this bar had it all. Speaking of bar's I probably had the best alcoholic drink ... ever... caipirinha is what they call it. Allow me to explain it the best I can, think of a mojito, add a lot of sugar (raw large crystal sugar) and remove the mint. There you pretty much have it, however they, at least at this place, didn't go light on the lime pieces, as I suspect a whole lime went into each drink. Onto the steak itself, to signify you're ready for your main course, you flip a card from red to green. Let's just say, let the meat avalanche begin! From sirloin to top round, to bacon wrapped chicken to spare ribs, they had it all. They carve it right for you on your plate, with your assistance of course, you have to use a pair of tongs. Anyway, not only did the service, drinks, AND atmosphere was correct... they also know how to cook the meat very well. Go visit this place as well, oh and in case you're wondering its a flat cost per head, so eat up!

Another great skyline picture

Lastly but not least, for sure, is Portillos restaurant. They are known all over Chicago as the authentic Chicago  hot dog place, and locals love it. I will be honest, from the outside it looks like a mill, and inside it works quite similarly. Everything in this place is built and customized for speed, and efficiency, if you've ever seen an assembly line, that is exactly how they make the hot dogs and other foods. For those who don't know (including me), what was on a Chicago-dog, basically its a hot dog, celery salt, onion, relish, yellow mustard, white onions, a bun length pickle spear, pickled sport peppers, and tomato slices. Yeah, it's loaded... and to top that, its not even on a normal bun, they use a poppy seed bun. Wow let me say, after being walked through the complicated yet archaic ordering, I was in for a treat. I will say I did order an Italian beef sandwich, which i'm not going to blog about since it really wasn't something I enjoyed all that well. Although the hot dog, was a symphony of flavors, tastes, textures to combine for the PERFECT hot dog... sorry other vendors... this place knows what's going on. Again I'll strongly recommend visiting one of their many locations in Chicago.

BEST fountain EVER!

In summary, all three of these places were quite a treat and highly recommended for their own reason. Again I'm not a Chicago expert by any means, however... I hope you enjoyed reading. Take care and happy eats!

Tablemark Oriental Flavor Noodle Soup Review

Here goes nothing, another product I clearly had to rely on the smaller English print. Well hey, it worked out for me, this dish was actually pretty interesting. This came to me via the local strip mall store, Japanese foods and novelties, a MUCH smaller store than the others. Apparently this is made by Tablemark Co. LTD out of Japan.

Bright and Colorful  ;-)

I decided to make this for lunch, and my expectations were that this would be spicy, however I was way off. Again, this dish had a TON of freeze dried vegetables, and a good amount of soup stock. I really loved this again because the cabbage swelled up many times larger than it came in the package. There were two packets and the noodles had a yellow tint to them.

I stirred it up a bit

The taste again was VERY satisfying, and was pretty salty with a nice side taste of the vegetables. I did notice how UNspicy this was, which really doesn't happen much. Again, I did like it because I really wasn't wanting anything too spicy today. However, this can probably be filed under the "try if you like" category because there isn't anything too special about the taste and flavor.

Traditionally high sodium (of course)

All in all, this bowl was a bit overpriced for what it was ($2.49). I will say however, it was completely worth it, since it was a good change from my normal sandwiches and chips for lunch. Then again, this didn't have anything too interesting about it, and I couldn't put my finger on it. Lastly, I'd have to give this a 7 out of 10, since it was good, but not fantastic, and it was a solid change to my week.

Thanks,

Stocky

Unif Instant Rice Noodles *Chinese Onion* Review

It looks like it's been a little while since I did some noodles. I tend to eat these at lunch and make a perfect quick lunch that fills and warms you. This product is made by UNIF, a Vietnamese company. These are sold in your normal ramen "chunk" of noodles.

Onion Flavor

I didn't know exactly why I chose this one outside of it being pretty cheap and not spicy. I will say I've recently just picked up another pack of this noodle. Again, this is a SOLID good secondary choice for my second favorite ramen, behind my other shrimp bowl. This is a pretty plain tasting soup as far as the overwhelming flavor. However this doesn't mean its bad, actually it's really good, and tasty. To say it again, this isn't really one of those "spicy" dishes and will soothe almost any pallet. Also I liked the fact these had clear-ish noodles, they tasted and looked different than anything I've ever had.

Fully Cooked

I will have to say, this was a surprise that this soup was so tasty. I was anticipating an overwhelmingly strong onion flavor, (which I hate). They actually were more salty than anything, since there are a few packets of spices. Again the spices tended to be in better shape/greater quantity than those here in the States.

All in all, this noodle is pretty good, given their less spicy taste. I would recommend these noodles to anyone who wants to try something a bit "lower risk". That said, I have to give this an 8.5 out of 10, getting high marks for dynamic tastes, textures, and low spice. However gets a few ticks off because of the less spice, since some people really enjoy spiciness. 

Thanks,

Stocky

PS- I may be taking a break here pretty soon, as I'm planning my wedding. Also, the local food store had completely empty shelves in their refrigerated section (probably due to the Japan disaster). Anyway, I thought I'd let my users know ahead of time.

I-MEI Cream Wafers (Strawberry) Review

Ah the illusive wafer treat, no doubt one of the easiest / least expensive treats on the market. These however are WAY different than what I'm used to. Anyway, these are another treat I picked up at K&S again, and I wasn't really expecting much, as they were pretty cheap. According to the label this is a Taiwanese company, a first for me I believe.

Traditional bright packaging

So opening this foil package was extraordinarily difficult, given they were packed in there to the gills. So when pulling these out be careful, because you might break a few. You'll see in the picture below, how much bigger these are than the traditional ones you see over here in the states. If I had to guess they are maybe 2-3x larger than regular brands. This was actually a good thing, since I don't like having to retrieve many of these due to their fragile state. I know it sounds petty, but I try to keep the packaging intact so I can save some for later.

HUUUGE!

As far as the taste, I'd have to say this is probably in a league of its own for cheap eats. I was really thinking the filling would have been a nondescript pink tartness. However I was pleasantly surprised on the first bite, it was so light, fluffy and somewhat natural tasting. The wafers were way more lofty, and the filling a lot more smooth. Speaking of the filling, it was closer to a whitish pink than the turbo pink color us Americans see from the majority of wafer makers. This was not only a refreshing change but probably the most flavorful and light snack I've had since I ate Shrimp Chips. That said, I would also say this does suffer from the same brittle and dry nature as other wafers on the market, that's just the nature of the snack. However, these are a bit more balanced and not as powder dry.

Label time!

Again, if you've not noticed, I'm a pretty big fan of these things. I'd again say that these are also in the "low risk" category for an international cuisine purchaser. I'm not a huge fan of wafer cookies or anything, but it's still refreshing to see it done properly in a larger format, with a somewhat normal taste. I think I bought these for a little over $1. These are an excellent snack option and may purchase these again, if I can get a hold of them, I give these a 9 out of 10. They receive high marks for taste, texture, value and overall quality. The only downside is the tricky packaging, their limited availability, and that's about it; again not too much bad I can say about these. These are a staple for people who like to snack on something a bit lighter, and without chocolate.

Thanks,

Stocky

OKF Coco Coconut Drink *Pineapple* Review

I have to be honest, when I picked this up I almost assumed it was another Aloe drink. I can't exactly say I was disappointed, until I had a chance to try it. This again comes from OKF, a Korean beverage company, of which I've done other reviews for. I am starting to think I'm doing reviews on only a couple companies, but hey, I review what I can get my hands on.

OKF WOO HOO!

The first thing I noticed about this drink was the overwhelming smell. Most of the time, you don't get a good whiff of what you can smell from a beverage. However, this drink is stellar, and has a very sweet; almost nectar type drink with a slice of pineapple and coconut. On the contrary I wish the taste was the same, because it's actually way over the top sweet and not a lot of pineapple flavor. The pineapple flavor that IS present is really fake and only hits you at the end. There's not much to be said about the actual coconut flavor since that's pretty much gone.

Little Floaty Things

I have to say however the tell-tale "chunks" in this drink do NOT correlate to a good overall experience. In contrast the Aloe Vera Drinks, which have the squishy almost jell-o like, pieces. The coco brand has pieces of coconut, which are far more chewier, less tasting, and certainly less enjoyable. This drink is SERIOUSLY curbed by this by also having a horrendous after-taste. I really cannot convey to you in words how much less fun/appealing this drink is now, I will most likely NOT finish it.

Nutrition and Producer Information

All in all, this drink... if you can call it that, is kind of a miss. I will say that the taste isn't all that horrible, just really misses the mark with the texture. I think from here on out, unless I feel adventurous, getting another Coco drink. Overall, I will give this about a 4 out of 10, with disappointing flavor, texture, and aftertaste. Again, I will say you are welcome to try this, just know that it won't be for my recommendations.

Thanks,

Stocky

Aloe Dream Aloe Vera Drink Review

Yeah I know what you're going to say .... "Stocky, why are you doing more beverage reviews?", to that I say, this particular juice is well worth the read. This beverage is from Korea, as a lot of my products that I review come from. Again, there are a TON of companies listed on the back of the bottle, most notably (in bold), Wang Globalnet. However, this is one of those I could actually convince my fiancée to try...

The English Side

To start I will again re-iterate that this is a beverage that has little floating bits of aloe in it. Not a problem for me or my fiancée (sort of). She was the first to taste this, and much to my surprise, she actually liked it! Wow, again that's a shock to even me. If that says anything, mind you. I did manage to get a sip of this and a good amount of it as well, however, I'd say this drink is best served ice cold.

Korean Label

The taste of this drink is not really something you can put your finger on. It tastes kind of like a very low acid citrus drink. Yeah, weird I know, but I think it's because it's so sugary. This is something I'll say is probably the most notable feature, how sweet this is. However it doesn't really taste "fake" sweet, more of a natural cane sugar taste. If you're a fan of aloe type drinks, this is a definite plus.

Label ME!

All that said, this drink doesn't go without its flaws. I will say that there are a couple things working against it, primarily the fact that it's got aloe in it. The aloe in this drink appears to be a bit more "natural" hence the irregular texture, as opposed to the other OKF drinks I've reviewed. Also this drink doesn't hold up well unless it's pretty cold. However all that said this is probably my second favorite aloe vera drink, behind OKF Strawberry. Overall I give this a 8.0 out of 10, giving high marks all around, but getting some dings for texture, and warm weather drink-ability.

Thanks,

Stocky

Ramune Strawberry Soda Review

I have to say I'm a HUGE Ramune fan, ever since I saw it in a store a while back. I will say about 80% of the purchase factor is just around the appeal of the bottle itself. This is distributed via Sangaria over here in the states, with a limited amount of flavors. The bottles have a little marble in them, that is pressed in place by the carbonation. See the video below, if you're concerned on how to open... it is intimidating for first time drinkers.

With all that said, on to the actual review, the soda for some people will not taste/look/market like anything in production over here. However, I have to agree, since there are no tastes like this out on normal food/beverage shelves. The marble glass bottle design is both a source of frustration and fascination. I will say, the first time I did get it open, it's extremely rewarding and just puts a smile on your face. Another thing as well, you'll notice how much SMALLER this is than your traditional can/bottle of soda. This is the PERFECT example of something that is PURPOSE-BUILT. The marble has a unique charm factor to it, however it serves a purpose, to seal the drink. The same can be said about the indentations, they hold the marble from plugging the hole... again purpose-built.

Unique Pink Bottle

As far as how this actually tastes, I really like the strawberry flavor, I also really like the original flavor and melon flavors. There is a really strong strawberry flavor in this drink, however I like the fact that it's not overly carbonated. If you find any flavor of this, you'll notice it has no 'bite' like a coca cola or something like that does. The soda really doesn't suffer from any weird after-tastes, which is REALLY good of course. I will mention that once you get to the bottom, you'll want every last drop of it, but that can be increasingly difficult due to the marble. It's such a light and fruity flavor, you kind of wish it would have been bigger.

Close up of the marble

I can't really say enough about how fun it is to just enjoy one of these, regardless of flavor. However, it's a rare thing to find something that tastes and looks presentable as well. Add in a little bit of fun ... and you've got yourself a Ramune drink. Honestly, I was a bit worried since the bottle was so small, but as I've found so far in my reviews, the portion control appears to be something that these Asian companies do right. Don't get me wrong, there are bulk packs of pretty much any staple food, but you'll notice I'll most likely steer clear of those.

Nutritional Facts... 100 Calories, YAY!

In conclusion, if you CAN find these drinks, don't pass them up. I do have to admit, they are a bit on the pricey side, but you are certainly paying for a bit of the novelty. I think I have payed $1.29-$1.49 for these a piece, no doubt a non-bargain, given the small volume of soda. However, if you're looking for a 'low risk' adventure into different foods, this would certainly be something I'd recommend. Overall, I give this a 9.5 out of 10, due to the fun factor, taste and awesome bottle. However the reason it's not a perfect 10 is because of cost and scarcity of this item at all of the stores I've been in.

Thanks,

Stocky