Fasting, does it work for buffets?

First off let me say that not everyone was made for buffets. Some people, despite labeling themselves as "big eaters", are not big eaters. However, this should not deter people from going to buffets and trying to find what techniques work for them. This entry is only to discuss what techniques work for me. In the world of eating Joey Chestnut and Kobayashi are like the Scot Kazmeier and Pudzinowski of strongmen.

How do I prepare myself for a buffet? Before, I would eat rather small meals and then not eat anything at least three hours prior to the event. However, I have found a technique that is quite effective. For the past two or three weeks I've been eating a very calorie-light breakfast OR something that works wonder is drinking a whey protein shake for breakfast and having another one after you workout. Then I fast for the rest of the day until the AYCE dinner comes.

Other people may say that they've read that this method is ineffective. Not for me. Let me tell you, when I do this I feel none of the pain I normally would have from eating too much. I've obliterated through several plates of food with no overly full sensation at all. One night, when the dinner outing that night was canceled, I made myself over 2 lbs. of beef and ripped my way through various cereals, veggies, nuts, etc. and I was still hungry. The only thing that stops me now at buffets is the feeling of food coming up my throat. That is to say, food comes up the same way it went down. As in it hasn't stayed in my body for more than 5 minutes.

Now let's discuss how to attack a buffet. Some people still foolishly decide to pick the things they "like" even if what they like is a plateful of noodles that would cost $3 elesewhere and they're paying $10 - 15 here. Unless you're a heavy eater (like me) you cannot go in with reckless abandon. if the buffet you're at is an Asian buffet, you might consider attacking the sushi first. If they offer sashimi, score, if they offer only rolls and nigiri be careful. Sushi rice can weigh down on your stomach worse than regular fried rice. Meats are relatively heavy compared to everything else; chicken and beef tend sink to the bottom and have an immediate effect. This is why you'll see many people at Asian buffets go for the seafood, especially the Asian people. Crab legs and crawfish require a lot of work to get to the meat. Once you get to the meat, it isn't that heavy. Having to work for a relatively light meat means that you can extend your stay at a buffet for a half hour or more. What I usually find is that A LITTLE BIT of rice or noodles are preferable to meats. Like I said before, meats are heavy and they hit the stomach quickly. Veggies are a good choice, but watch out...the fiber may make you feel fuller than you really are. Fried foods are heavy and leave you feeling dirty afterward, so maybe you should get them on your 3rd or 4th plate. Desserts are easy to nibble on as most places serve either fruit or soft serve. Baked goods are generally not well done, unless you're in Vegas, so I prefer soft serve if it's available.

I may make another post regarding AYCE and buffet joints, I'm not sure. If an idea comes to my mind, I'll make sure to post it.

So this is the new year (18 days later)

I'm going to start the new year off with a downer: Reese's Select Clusters are awful. Unlike Reese's Select Cremes, which I will praise in a future post, Reese's Clusters are undeniably my worst candy surprise of 2010 thus far.


Being under the guise of a fancier Reese's candy, I had great expectations for this candy. I had already had Reese's Cremes, which were delightful, so I decided to try its Cluster counter-part. What I encountered was something terrible. As soon as I bit in I noticed, "There's peanuts in here...whole pieces..." I also noticed that the peanuts were lacking in flavor and dry. I continued to chew and also noted, "The components of this candy seem oddly familiar...and unappetizing." I discovered to my chagrin that these were Baby Ruths. I jest not, these candies are simply a more expensive version of the hated Baby Ruth candy bars that I started with in my opening post. As I looked in disgust, I was glad that the candy was on sale for only $3 as opposed to its usual $4. I can at least go back and purchase two bags of Reese's Select Cremes. Skip this candy if you are like me and not a fan of Baby Ruths.

An evaluation of the seasonal mint candies I've tasted

As stated in an earlier post, there are many seasonal candies being introduced around November to January. During this time, candy manufacturers seem to believe that everyone loves mint and mint related accessories. I decided to go 0ut and taste as many of these candies as I could so that I could see if all mint candies were the same. After many bags of candy and days of tasting, I think I'm ready to give an evaluation of what I feel are the best and the worst mint flavored candies introduced during the holiday season.

1. Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark

This is still the best peppermint bark and best holiday candy in my opinion. It is smoother than other barks and tastes much richer. Maybe it's because it's more of a candy bar than those pieces of peppermint bark that are sold in tins. Whatever the case, I f0und this to be the most pleasing of the mint and peppermint flavored candies I had.


2. Mint Truffle Kisses/Hershey's Bliss MintIn my estimation this is sort of like an Andes chocolate mint in Kiss form. Regardless, it is my favorite variation of the holiday Kisses. It is smooth and the filling isn't too liquid like the fillings in the Cherry Cordial Kisses. The same goes for Hershey's Bliss Mint. I believe that if you like Andes Chocolate Mints, you will like these two candies. However, as a precaution, one student in my class who is particularly fond of Andes Chocolate Mints does not like these candies at all.


4. Candy Cane Kisses

The candy bits found in this variation of Kisses definitely adds an interesting texture to it. It doesn't have a chocolate flavor like the other kinds of Kisses, but that doesn't matter because this is more like peppermint bark than anything else. Those of you who dislike peppermint or peppermint bark should avoid this, but for those of you looking for something interesting, this candy may surprise you.


5. Hershey's Mint Miniatures
I really like Hershey's take on peppermint bark. The White Creme with Candy Bits is my definite favorite of the bunch and I would not mind buying a bag full of these. Unfortunately, there are its ugly siblings that come with it in the package. Mint Dark Chocolate is my next favorite, but there's a huge gap between 1st and 2nd when it comes to these candies. The Mint Dark Chocolate tastes just like a Hershey's Dark Chocolate bar. If you like Hershey's Dark Chocolate than you'll like Mint Dark Chocolate. If you were looking for something more however, you will be disappointed as the Mint Dark Chocolate is virtually indistinguishable from the regular Dark Chocolate. And the worst of the bunch is the Mint Milk Chocolate. Normally I love good milk chocolate. However, I don't like Hershey's take on Mint Milk Chocolate. It's initial flavor is somewhat odd where you're unsure as to what you're eating. However, once you get past that it's somewhat more pleasing as you taste the milk chocolate blend with the mint. Things get worse though, as you approach near the end you're given a bitter aftertaste. White Creme is definitely the best tasting one out of all the other ones in the bag.


6. Lindt Lindor Dark Mint Truffles
Sadly, I enjoy all flavors of Lindt Lindor Truffles, but this one missed the mark for me. There was just something about biting into one of these candies and feeling as if it just tasted wrong. Maybe I'm just not a fan of dark chocolate and mint mixed together, but I felt that for the price and with the expectations I had, this candy wasn't satisfying. However, every other person who tried the candy enjoyed it, so other people like it. It's worth giving a try to see which camp you're in.


7. Dove Peppermint Bark

This was a candy that I didn't enjoy. There's the very sweet peppermint bark element, and then there's the dark, but semi-tasteless, chocolate part to it. Something about Dove chocolates rub me the wrong way. For the way they advertise themselves I expect something more flavorful and rich, but all the Dove candies I have tasted pale in comparison to other candies. This one is no exception.

Mike and Ike, an in-depth report

After writing my post about Mike and Ike, I felt compelled to try the other varieties of Mike & Ike. The varieties besides Original that I tried were Tropical Typhoon, Berry Blast, Lemonade Stand, Zours, and Italian Ice. I will rank the varieties from best (1) to worst (6) and also discuss my favorite and least favorite flavors for each variety.

1. Italian Ice
Italian Ice is my definite number one flavor of Mike and Ike. Unlike Original, Berry Blast, and Tropical Typhoon, Italian Ice flavors start out with a bit of a tangy flavor before settling into a sweet jelly candy flavor. It's a welcome surprise to the countless other candies that give you only one flavor. The flavors are Lemon, Orange, Cherry, Blue Raspberry, and Watermelon. Here's how the flavors rank:

1. Blue Raspberry - My absolute favorite of the Italian Ice flavors. It has a nice sour start and has a very good "blue" flavor if you will. I mean it's hard for me to describe the flavor of blue raspberry, but just know that it is my number one pick for best flavor in the Italian Ice.

2. Orange - Surprise, surprise, not too long ago I was going on and on about how much I despised Orange flavored candies. Well Mike and Ike Italian Ice is the exception I guess. Unlike other Orange candies which are dull, the Orange in Italian Ice is tangy and gives a nice flavor.

3. Cherry - Again, surprise! Cherry falls to number three when it comes to Italian Ice. My issue with the Cherry in Italian Ice is that it was too confusing for me. I wasn't able to pick up on that distinct Cherry flavor right away. I even had to look at the back of the box to make sure that I was eating the correct flavor.

4. Watermelon - Whereas typically Watermelon would fall to the bottom of my list (I don't like any candies that are Watermelon flavored, I only like gum that is Watermelon flavored) it ranks only second to last. The reason here is that like the other flavors it has a nice sour introduction before easing you into that familiar sweet flavor. It's one of the few Watermelon candies that haven't had me trying to avoid them.

5. Lemon - Ah Lemon, poor Lemon has fallen to the bottom of my list. The reason for this is that it doesn't differentiate itself from the Lemon in the Original Flavor of Mike and Ike. When compared to the other flavors, it is dull and not as appealing. Where's the tang? Where's the surprise? It's non-existent in Lemon.

December and the peppermint assault

As the air gets colder and the malls get fuller, supermarkets and candy shops are stocking up their shelves with Christmas themed candies. A sure sign of the Holiday season drawing near is when shops begin putting out peppermint flavored candy. My youth, as I'm sure most of others' youth, was filled with candy canes at this time of year. The candy cane is not just something pleasing to eat, but it is very appropriate for decoration as well. However, now that I'm older, I feel that around this time of year there is a peppermint overload if you will. Every time I go to buy candy, I hope to see something unique and different, more "Egg nog" candy, "Kwanzaa Candy", something, just something new. Unfortunately, I just see mint and more mint candy.

Now by all means, I do not hate mint candy. In fact, I think chocolate and mint are a great combination; Mint Chocolate Chip is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. However, it isn't because I hate peppermint that I'm writing this, it is because I want more variation in my holiday candy. One of the flavors that I think major candy companies such as Hershey's and Ghiradelli miss an opportunity of capitalizing on is Thanksgiving candy. Pumpkin spice is a flavor that rarely shows it head outside of November and December. Why not take a chance? Maybe they have, I don't know, what I do know is that I haven't seen Lindt Pumpkin Milk Chocolate on my store shelves. I recall a delightful "Egg Nog" flavored Ghiradelli bar one year. I suppose they just don't sell as well as Peppermint and Candy Cane flavored candy bars.

As Winter officially approaches, I'll be sure to check my store shelves and try to sample all the holiday flavors that are available. I'll make sure to evaluate them and give my input. So far I have concluded that, much like all season candy, some flavors and brands are better than others. On a completely unrelated note, fund-raiser candy pales in comparison to other candy. It's a wonder that they cost that much more than regular candy.

Is much better than:

Mike and Ike: I hate Strawberry

Take note of the upper left hand corner of that box. Notice how it introduces Strawberry as a new flavor to Mike and Ike. When I purchased a box of Mike and Ike from Wal-Mart to sneak into "2012", I was very confused. It had been ages since I last had a box of Mike and Ike and when I took a second look at the box I was mortified. The last time I had a box, I was probably in elementary school. Mike and Ike was a candy that I enjoyed very much, and to be specific I thoroughly enjoyed the cherry and lime varieties. I'm not sure if Strawberry flavored Mike and Ike was in the Original box, but I sure as hell don't remember it. Maybe I blocked it out of my memory.

Why do I hate Strawberry so much? Because it's "just okay". I mean it's a plain jane flavor that doesn't offend the senses, but does nothing to stimulate them. Eating a Strawberry Mike and Ike is like drinking a bottle of lightly flavored or scented water. You don't mind it, but you could go with or without it. Let me establish that I don't hate all Strawberry flavored candies, I just prefer Cherry or Lime when available. I find that the Strawberry candies are an extra obstacle to the already annoying Orange flavored candies. Lemon is acceptable, even if it is just the less attractive version of Lime. However, what truly offends me is that the colors for Strawberry and Cherry or so close to each other, and even moreso when in a dark theater, that when I think that I have a Cherry piece I am EXTREMELY disappointed.

As terrible as it may seem, here is another candy in which I sift through all the flavors to find my favorite:
Like I've stated before, all other flavors are obstacles to finding Cherry. I detest Orange Starburst. I'm impartial to Lemon Starburst. I'm fine with Strawberry Starburst. I love Cherry Starburst. It's as simple as that. I wouldn't mind if they made Starburst only in Cherry, Strawberry, and Lemon flavors. In-fact, Starburst has recognized this and you can find Starburst bags that have only Cherry and Strawberry flavors. Why can't every stick of Starburst be just Cherry?

Also to conclude, I spent a good time of "2012" sifting through the Mike and Ike when no one else seemed want to any anymore. How was I able to differentiate between Strawberry and Lime you ask? If I saw that it was a tinge of red, I would bite into it and then spit it out if it was Strawberry. Now you know my dark secret.

Reese's Pieces, a superior candy, unless you're allergic

If I were to be asked what my favorite candy was, I'm not sure I could answer that question and be totally sure with my answer. However, I can say with that one of my favorite candies are Reese's Pieces. When I go watch a movie at the theaters, all I need is a large popcorn, large soda, and a big ol' bag of Reese's Pieces. However, if it's going to be a lot of Reese's Pieces I'd much prefer a box. A box is much better because it doesn't tear like a bag.

Much like an M&M, a Reese's Piece has a candy shell. However, the similarities pretty much end there. Unlike M&M's which come in a myriad of colors, Reese's Pieces come in the colors of orange, yellow, and brown. Also, unlike M&M's which are filled with chocolate, Reese's Pieces are filled with what they call peanut butter. I have my doubts about the peanut butter because it is unlike the peanut butter most people are accustomed to. Regular peanut butter often has a salty taste that accompanies the sweet taste. In other candies the peanut butter also has a slightly salty taste. In fact the peanut butter in Peanut Butter M&M's has an overly salty taste in my estimation. The peanut butter found in Reese's Pieces is just all sweet. Regardless of whether they really use real peanut butter or some delicious peanut paste, all I know is it's delicious.

There are also Reese's Pieces with Peanuts for those who really love peanuts. Unfortunately, I haven't seen them in stores lately and I think they've been discontinued. They weren't my favorite candy anyway, but Reese's Pieces have been the same for so long that it's nice to see variety, even if what entails isn't the best. Also blah blah blah something about ET loving Reese's Pieces.