Review: Chuao Firecracker Bar & Baseball Check-in: Yanks and Nats
Junk Food Nation, time for a baseball season check in. I am, as I’ve stated before, a Yankees fan. Living in DC, I also root for the Nationals. At the beginning of the season, I predicted the Nats to go to the World Series. I predicted the Yankees to finish in first place. I am currently WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off of my prediction. So how is each team doing?
The Yankees have dealt with injuries this year, with Jeter, Granderson, Teixiera, and Youkilis all spending time on and off the DL. Cervelli and ARod have been dealing with the PEDs issue. The pitching staff has looked shakier than any other staff in recent memory. And Mariano Rivera is retiring. Look, I know there’s no one out there boo hoo-ing about the Yanks’ woes, and I’m fine with it. They are 3 games over .500 with 45 games to go (60-57). 6.5 back from the Wildcard and 9.5 back from 1st place. It’s DOABLE…but gonna be hard. They play divisional opponents 32 times over their last 45…now’s the time, if any, to make a move. Yes, I may be delusional.
The Nats, well, that’s another story. Selected by MANY to lead the NL, they are 57-60. Their batting has been awful. Their pitching has been decent, but when you can’t provide run support, you cannot win. They are 8.5 back from the wild card and 14 back from first place. It seems impossible to win the division, because the Braves can’t stop winning! Even if the Braves went .500 over the last 43 games, finishing 93 -69, the Nats would need to win 37 games out of their last 45 to win the division! That’s…that’s damn near impossible. The goal for the Nats, I think, is ONLY the wildcard at this point.
Well, at least football is soon to be back. EJ Manuel, 16-21 with no sacks, no picks, and a TD! #BillsFan
Today’s junk food: Chuao Firecracker Bar!
Chuao Firecracker Bar: The Money Shot
There’s really not much to say about my love of Chuao. Love Chuao. Love Chuao. Love Chuao. I’ve talked about them a couple times on this blog already. This Chuao Firecracker Bar is something I tried at the Fancy Food Show, and have DREAMED of ever since. The people of Chuao sent me a big bar of it to review, free. Have I mentioned I love Chuao?
Chuao Firecracker Bar: So many good things in one bar
Yes, you’re reading that right; this Chuao Firecracker Bar is chocolate loaded with Pop Rocks. Yup.
Chuao Firecracker Bar: Party in my mouth!
Contains pasilla and chipotle chiles…..oooo baby.
Chuao Firecracker Bar: crackle crackle!
All I have to say, or need to say, about this Chuao Firecracker Bar – as I ate it, MY MOUTH FELT CARBONATED. This is an amazing, amazing chocolate bar.
Chuao Firecracker Bar: Profile shot
This dark chocolate had lots of great dark chocolate flavor, but wasn’t TOO bitter AT ALL…sort of felt like a 60/40 mix of dark and regular chocolate. Still had some nice sweet notes, that were accentuated by the bits of sea salt that littered the bar – gave me lots of savory bursts of salty-sweet goodness, and helped the chocolate taste really shine.
Add to that the spice from the chiles – I tasted a very subtle burn that faded away nicely. Not too peppery in flavor, just added enough kick to the chocolate to be noticeable.
And finally, the POP ROCKS that were insides the chocolate added a new element to the entire experience – as I chewed, the Pop Rocks snap, crackled, popped loudly, like my mouth was full of Rice Krispies!!! It was AWESOME. My mouth felt carbonated! This Firecracker Bar made my mouth feel like it was percolating. SO. COOL.
Definitely one of my favorite chocolate bars EVER. You must must must must try this.
PURCHASED AT: Mailed to me, but you can buy it here.
COST: $6.00 (see here)
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
Discuss - 22 Comments
Let’s go Red Sox! *clap, clap, clap clap clap*
@Shorneys: Ugh – I’m going to owe you $50, aren’t I?
wow the redsox have been a pleasant surprise, couldnt even watch them last year and ive pretty much watched every game this season
@Nate: Sigh, I must admit, the Sox have been playing well (grumble grumble).
Just too add on, how bout them red sox?
@Nick: GRRRR
@junkfoodguy: Excellent recap! Glad we now have a new post for our baseball thoughts, haha.
I’m not willing to give up on the Yanks yet either- and they’ve been on a hot streak lately. Soriano’s been an excellent pickup so far- I don’t know why everybody was complaining about his defense; he looks pretty good in the field to me. Ever since he got his 2000th hit, he’s been on an absolute tear. Hopefully they can keep it going when they head to Boston in a few days.
I am nervous about Mo’s blown saves the past few days though. Of course I’d never doubt The Sandman- but it is a little troublesome. I blame A-Rod! He came back and then the trend started (haha, kidding- although I don’t doubt that there’s somebody out there that’s thoroughly convinced of it).
The Nats sure didn’t live up to their lofty expectations, eh? You see the little bru-ha-ha in the clubhouse the other night?
@John C. – Soriano has been on FIRE.
Question, John C. – are you on Twitter?
I just ordered this bar from Amazon.com–I did get the last single bar in stock, though. Very excited to try it!
@SPierce – YOU WILL LOVE IT
Sadly, this came in my mailbox yesterday. I say sadly, because after a couple of weeks of cool temperatures, it hit 90 degrees in St. Louis yesterday. It was completely liquified. I’m not going to let that stop me, however–I just set it aside to come back to room temp and will happily sample it tonight. Kudos to the manufacturer for packing it in a little plastic tray to protect it from getting smushed.
@SPierce: Put it in the freezer!!!!
@junkfoodguy- Sorry it’s taken so long to respond. Crazy weekend at work. Anyway, as for your Twitter question, I’m gonna take one out of the A-Rod playbook and claim that now’s not the time to answer, offering no clarity as to when the hell the right time will be. Or I could plead the fifth….. Essentially (embarrassingly) no, I’m not. Why? (And I’m seriously contemplating it- just need to come up with a good handle first, haha).
@John C. – no worries about no Twitter. I just tend to communicate on there real-time during football and baseball games with some other Twitter peeps. No pressure here to join.
I love Soriano. It’s interesting; looking at the team breakdowns of runs scored vs runs against, the Yanks really haven’t given up THAT many runs, despite the fact that I think their pitching is constantly imploding. It’s really their bats, obviously, and inability to score runs…but with Soriano here, I have so much hope. Check out this article too:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130821&content_id=57751734&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy
@junkfoodguy- Wrote this a few days ago, but never heard back. Anyway, as for your Twitter question, I’m gonna take one out of the A-Rod playbook and claim that now’s not the time to answer, offering no clarity as to when the hell the right time will be. Or I could plead the fifth….. Essentially (embarrassingly) no, I’m not. Why? (And I’m seriously contemplating it- just need to come up with a good handle first, haha).
Well, despite having to reanimate the Firecracker after it melted, it was incredible! The chocolate was still super silky despite all it had been through, and the crispy texture was unlike anything I’ve had before. Can’t wait to try more varieties!
@SPierce28 – OH GOOD! See, Chuao? I’ve converted someone!
@junkfoodguy- Makes sense about Twitter. Definitely sounds like something I’d enjoy, just still no idea what the hell to use as my handle (just name seems too boring, and with work, not sure I want some of my comments or angry tirades to stick with me negatively, haha). Any thoughts on Twitter names?
Had a fairly packed weekend, but did get to see highlights from yesterday- way to go Soriano! But Yanks are gonna be in all kinds of trouble if they can’t do a better job against this crashing Jay’s team.
I had read that article- thanks for passing it along. I found a great one a few days ago that I meant to share with you, but alas, like an idiot I lost it. Guess it’s another reason I need to join twitter so we can communicate in real-time.
By the way, getting excited for the football season, or still attached to baseball? Out of curiosity, do you join a fantasy league or anything like that??
Talk to you soon!
-John C.
@John C: Why not JFCTiger as your twitter handle? Anyways, the Yanks recent stretch has me forlorn. I’m going to do another sports post soon…
I am stoked for football, but this August stretch is really where my true baseball fandom comes out…I feel like I’m just trying to WILL THESE TEAMS TO WIN. What’s your football team?
@junkfoodguy: Eh, I feel like that’s a little too immature or childish. Actually, have always been hesitant to join, but I want a way to connect with you faster to talk sports and such, so you’ve basically forced me to take the dive, haha.
Yea….after yesterday’s debacle….ugh. Have to beat teams like Toronto if they want a CHANCE at making it into the playoffs. And what the hell is wrong with Kuroda? And you have to do another sports post soon, cause this one is almost off the main page, which makes it a bitch to respond, haha.
Right you are- it just doesn’t feel like football season yet. My team is the Giants, and then I kinda casually root for that other team in town (not gonna mention it cause I know you like the Bills) cause I kinda know a bunch of guys on the team- yet I’m just as satisfied when they have those moments when they’re so awful it’s hilarious (pretty much the whole season, haha). So I guess I’m not really a fan of the whole team, but thoroughly enjoy all of their debacles.
So are you involved with Fantasy Football at all, or no??
Isn’t the test ALWAYS if something haunts you in your dreams or not?! For me it is.
@Abigail – heh heh. I do dream about this bar sometimes