I loved Whatchamacallits when I was a kid but stopped eating them in the late 80s (when I discovered the joys of the vastly superior KitKat). After watching a slew of commercials from the 80s on YouTube a few years ago, I was hit by a wave of nostalgia and picked up a Whatchamacallit the next day. Um, gross. I don't know if it's because of the change of ingredients (Hershey stopped using cocoa butter in Whatchamacallits & replaced it with vegetable oil in 2008) or if I just had really bad taste when I was a kid, but that candy bar has nothing good about it. Ick.
These days, I'm really not much of a candy bar eater (I'm more likely to reach for a cupcake or Sour Patch Kids when I want something sweet). When I do indulge in a candy bar, I'm a lot pickier about the quality of the chocolate than I was when I was younger. I admit that I've become a chocolate snob - I would much rather spend my money and calories on something really delicious, rather than wasting either on some cheap chocolate (although I do still have a slight weakness for Snickers & KitKats). I love just about anything from Vosges (especially the Black Salt Caramel Bar and the Red Fire Bar), or anything from Cocolove (Raspberries in Dark Chocolate and Orange Peel in Dark Chocolate are my favorites). Dagoba's Lavender Blueberry Bar and Chai Bar, and Ghiradelli's Dark & Sea Salt Caramel round out my list.
Today's Lunchtime Poll: What are your favorite candy bars - past/present?
I love Watchamacallits! I think. I haven't had one in 10 years :)
ReplyDelete@Tastefully Julie: I loved them for years, but they're definitely different now. I think the change in ingredients was a bad move. Plus, I don't really see them around much anymore... maybe Hershey tried to phase them out?
ReplyDeleteI used to love Whatchamacallits but haven't had one in a few years. I try to stay away from all of them but if I'm forced (translation: some co-worker has a jar of them) than peanut butter cups, Take 5 and peanut M&M's. I like Reeses Pieces, too, but those are Mr. Hungry Couple's favorites and he usually eats them all before I get to them :) Damn...now I want some candy...
ReplyDeleteKitKats- forever! And, in my opinion, the Canadian KitKat is vastly superior! Gosh- I want one right not!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning on the Watchamacallits! I also used to consider them a favorite, but haven't had one since the 90s. Why in the world would they replace cocoa butter with vegetable oil?! Sounds completely backwards to me. I'm with you -- I don't eat candy-bars very often, and when I do, they've gotta be good. Your list sounds delicious. Chai bars are SOOOOO yummy!
ReplyDelete@Anita: I do love Reeses cups, but I'm always unsure how to categorize them... they're not technically candy bars, although they're sold with the bars. I especially love the dark chocolate ones!
ReplyDelete@Monkey: Oh, yes. The Canadian version is far better! Oooh, and have you tried the dark chocolate mint version? That is my favorite!
@Kelli: I know, right?!? They did the same thing with Mr. Goodbar, which was another favorite. I can't stand either of them now!
ReplyDeleteIt's not technically a candy bar, but I'm always happy come Easter because I can get Cadbury MiniEggs! I'm not huge on chocolate, but there's something about that candy shell that I can't resist!
ReplyDeleteOh man, I love candy bars. I actually had a Watchamacallit a couple of weeks ago for the first time in... over a decade? ... and I thought it was great. Maybe I just didn't remember how they used to taste. My favorite candy bars: Butterfinger, Kit Kat, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups... But the best candy ever is the Cadbury Cream Egg. Easter is the best candy holiday of the year.
ReplyDeleteI liked Watchamacallits too when I was a kid, but now my favorites are Three Musketeers and Galaxy Caramel bars. Luckily I can find the latter in my grocery's "ethnic" aisle!
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I remember mom and dad getting mini mars and snickers bars and freezing them. So good on summer nights. I go back and forth between wanting chocolate or wanting something fruity (Sour Patch, twizzlers, etc.). I rarely crave a candy bar anymore (maybe a KitKat once every few months). I used to love Skor bars as a teen though.
ReplyDeleteI have never had a fondness for Whatchamacallits or KitKats. When I was a kid I went for the sour candies...sweet tarts, cherry sours, lemon heads, lemon drops, etc. I have liked Twix and Milky Ways...but I LOVED Toblerone bars from the first bite, fell in love with Cadbury's when visiting Canada (they didn't have them in Texas way back then)...and I love Ghirardelli mint filled squares and caramel filled square... and Lindt truffles - milk on milk - make me moan. LOL more than you wanted to know.
ReplyDeleteDude, I simply cannot say no to Snickers. I'll eat the originals or the dark chocolate with almonds.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I only eat them if I can't snatch up a bag of Lindt Lindor Truffles. I am partial to the milk or dark chocolate. I find 'white chocolate' to be incredibly nasty. Bleh.
Once in a while I'll eat the Cadbury bars with nuts and raisins because those suckers remind me of being a little kid and hanging with my Dad.
@Jamie & Danielle: Oh, I totally agree about Easter candy. I've been riding a Cabury egg high for the last two weeks! :-)
ReplyDelete@Kendra: Hmmm... I don't think I've ever had a Galaxy Caramel bar! I'm not opposed to Three Musketeers bars, but I would say I only really like the mint ones & the dark chocolate ones.
@Sarah W: While I do love dark chocolate, I've definitely moved more into a fruity stage in my life. Skittle & Sour Patch Kids are the best!
@Debbi: I forgot all about Toblerone bars - they are awesome! I also love the dark chocolate version... heck, even the honey/white chocolate version is delicious (and I'm usually not a big white chocolate eater).
@Mouthy Girl: Mario is the same way about Lindt Lindor Truffles - while I don't dislike them, there's something about them that kinda turns me off. It might be that I'm not a huge fan of their chocolate.