Junk Food Nation, let’s talk about what’s been in the news recently:

1) So Monday was April Fools, and I must say, web companies LOVE April Fools Day.  I like a good prank and satire, so I was all about it – but until I read this article, I didn’t realize HOW MANY companies got in on the joke.  I mean, really? Richard Branson, spend a little less time writing about glass bottomed planes and a little more time on space travel.  I WANT MY MARS HOME BY 2020!

2) My favorite Yankee, Robinson Cano, ended his relationship with infamous sports agent Scott Boras and has signed with….Jay-Z!  Say whaaaaa?  That’s right people – the rapper and businessman has decided to spread his empire and partner with CAA Sports to launch Roc Nation Sports. I must say, I’m impressed.  look, whether you like Diddy or Jay-Z, their business sense is undeniable. Expanding your brand from music and television into a new entertainment space, sports, is natural and I’m amazed it hasn’t happened sooner.  Of course, the next natural space is junk food (hint hint).

3) TWINKIES ARE BACK!  Well, sort of.  I blogged a while back that Hostess filed for bankruptcy, putting items like Twinkies on extinction-watch.  But have no fear – Twinkies has a new owner, and its Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Company!  Just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?  “MMMM THESE APOLLOGLOBALMANAGEMENTMETROPOULOSCOMPANY RING DINGS ARE SO SWEET AND SUGARY!”

Today’s junk food: Wasabi Pistachios!

Wasabi Pistachios: The Money Shot

M.V. from Wasabi Pistachios reached out to me to try their brand new product that is, unsurprisingly, named Wasabi Pistachios.  Now, I’m reviewed wasabi peas on my blog before, with decent results.  Growing up Asian, I’ve eaten wasabi snacks for a long time – some I’ve liked, some I haven’t.  I must say, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve liked the flavor of wasabi more and more…but it’s been gradual.

HI—YA!!!

Wasabi Pistachios are the Nut with a Kick!  Apparently, they originated when the owner and creator discovered these on a vacation at a Japanese restaurant, and decided to launch the product himself, larger scale, here in the US!  A nice story of entrepreneurialism. Plus, their logo is a karate guy with a pistachio head.  Which is creepy…but somehow, appropriate for an Asian snack.

Decent ingredients, and not a ton of salt.  Good start.

Wasabi Pistachios in a triangular air pod!

Wasabi Pistachios have been reviewed by one other blog so far, so I’m honored to be the second!  Seen hre, packaged four at a time, inside a plastic air pod thing.  The first thing I noticed was these were not pistachios with shell – these nuts were already shelled, and coated with wasabi.  Easy to eat, no fuss.

Open sesame!

When I opened the package of Wasabi Pistachios, I could smell a LITTLE wasabi – not much though.I smelled mainly just a general savoriness.  Couldn’t pinpoint it.

That’s a green pistachio inside!

I popped two Wasabi Pistachios into my mouth, chewed and….POW!  THE WASABI FLAVOR WAS THERE.  But in an entirely delicious way!

Texture – these pistachios were fresh, and coated with a rice cracker, so the overall chewed was really crunchy, yet tender in the center where the nut was.  And with no shell to fuss with, these were a simple open and eat snack.

Flavor – REALLY GOOD, IMO.  I’m not a HUGE fan of wasabi, so I was fearful of being overwhelmed.  But, I must say, the balance was just right for me!  The wasabi flavor was present and strong, but quickly mixed with the taste of the cracker to dull the sting and bring more savoriness, and then the taste of the sweet pistachio came through to give a sort-of buttery finish to the taste.  Really interesting.

I liked these way more than Wasabi Peas, primarily because the flavor of the pistachio is just a better flavor overall than a dried pea.  Dried peas have a nice nutty flavor, but these pistachios…well, tasted like pistachios!  Smooth, tender, and buttery.  REALLY good combo.

If you’re not a fan of wasabi, I’d avoid – the flavor is definitely strong.  But, if you’re a fan, and have an opportunity to snag a taste of these, do it!

PURCHASED AT: you can buy them online here.

COST: online cost is 25 of these little air pods for $9.50…so like $0.38 an air pod? Not bad at all.

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. Also, you can always email me at junkfoodguy@junkfoodguy.com. Let’s do this.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy