EF 2013 Snack Exchange!
Sep. 15th, 2013 06:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
furtechThis was my second year of the EF Snack Exchange. Outside of the Pawpet Show, this is easily my favorite event. People are encouraged to bring their favorite snacks (or even just weird food) from their country. There is an amazing amount of variety: you get a good idea about how many different countries are represented at the convention!
Fully Annotated Flickr Set Here
This year I brought Skittles, XXX-hot Cheetos, Pop-rocks and Butterfingers. Next year I will be earlier and more organized (instead of just throwing the food out in any available space! Embarrassingly sloppy!).
The Finns win again for having the least-palatable snacks: Pantteri and its nastier brother, Leijona. These are bitter-licorice "treats". When I asked what flavor it was, he simply replied, "Road". And yes- it tasted like what I imagine licking a freshly tarred street would be like. He was kind enough to give me the leftovers so I could show my friends back in the states. He also brought a bottle of the pure element that is one of the main ingredients of these candies: Ammonium Chloride. I dipped a finger and tried it this year (wasn't brave enough last year): it tastes like what I imagine licking a dirty cat box would taste like. The Finns have a good sense of humor about all this and I love them for that.
It was interesting to compare snacks made in different countries. For instance, American Skittles are distinctly different from British Skittles (American skittles are intensely sweet, while the British version is more pleasantly sweet).
There were cookies galore (mostly wonderful) and some new-comers: dates and treats from Saudi Arabia (omg dates) and canned Dolma.
The Italians (or were they Hungarians? I need to take better notes) were my favorite: rich, sharp cheeses and salamis. He served the cheese (kind of like an aged Parmesan) with a dollop of honey. Incredible. He also brought a jar of a home-made cabbage-ish-something. Despite it's Kim-chee appearance, it was mild and almost (but not really) sweet. I really liked this. I think his mother made it...
The photos in the set are annotated or have cards identifying them, so take a closer look!
The Austrians brought a bottle of a beerenauslese wine that was -very- nice. They also pointed me to the grocery store across the street where they bought it. I went over and found the same winery also makes a trockenbeerenauslese that I bought and brought home (can't wait to try it!).
Fully Annotated Flickr Set Here
This year I brought Skittles, XXX-hot Cheetos, Pop-rocks and Butterfingers. Next year I will be earlier and more organized (instead of just throwing the food out in any available space! Embarrassingly sloppy!).
The Finns win again for having the least-palatable snacks: Pantteri and its nastier brother, Leijona. These are bitter-licorice "treats". When I asked what flavor it was, he simply replied, "Road". And yes- it tasted like what I imagine licking a freshly tarred street would be like. He was kind enough to give me the leftovers so I could show my friends back in the states. He also brought a bottle of the pure element that is one of the main ingredients of these candies: Ammonium Chloride. I dipped a finger and tried it this year (wasn't brave enough last year): it tastes like what I imagine licking a dirty cat box would taste like. The Finns have a good sense of humor about all this and I love them for that.
It was interesting to compare snacks made in different countries. For instance, American Skittles are distinctly different from British Skittles (American skittles are intensely sweet, while the British version is more pleasantly sweet).
There were cookies galore (mostly wonderful) and some new-comers: dates and treats from Saudi Arabia (omg dates) and canned Dolma.
The Italians (or were they Hungarians? I need to take better notes) were my favorite: rich, sharp cheeses and salamis. He served the cheese (kind of like an aged Parmesan) with a dollop of honey. Incredible. He also brought a jar of a home-made cabbage-ish-something. Despite it's Kim-chee appearance, it was mild and almost (but not really) sweet. I really liked this. I think his mother made it...
The photos in the set are annotated or have cards identifying them, so take a closer look!
The Austrians brought a bottle of a beerenauslese wine that was -very- nice. They also pointed me to the grocery store across the street where they bought it. I went over and found the same winery also makes a trockenbeerenauslese that I bought and brought home (can't wait to try it!).
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2013-09-16 04:30 pm (UTC)We have a relatively decent Lebanese market so I've gotten dates and candy for holidays before. The dates look virtually nothing like the things we're used to seeing as dates in the US. They're just absolutely beautiful looking. The weirdest candy I got last year were the rose petal candy and the tub'o sesame candy. Yeah, the sesame came in a tub. it has the texture of malted milk, but tastes intensely nutty. Excellent on ice cream.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-16 08:15 pm (UTC)The-Cheese-With-The-Unspellable-Name is just amazing. Not as sharp as regular goat cheese: more buttery. But with a really deep flavor. I could see using this for just about anything you'd use butter or (shivver) Mayo on. I could also see me gaining about 40lbs doing this...
The cool thing about the Snack Exchange is the eye-opening range of what are considered "treats" in other cultures. Plus, how many more things you can make with just sugar as a base.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-17 12:11 pm (UTC)But I actually LIKE Moxie soda so my tastes are somewhat suspect.
no subject
Date: 2013-09-16 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-16 08:16 pm (UTC)My current "weird" favorite is peanut butter mochi (though the chocolate mochi is also pretty good).
no subject
Date: 2013-09-17 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-17 11:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-18 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-09-21 12:11 pm (UTC)I think the grossest thing of this year was the caramel cheese from Norway... and possibly the (artificially flavored) carrot cake M&Ms from Australia O_o
I hope you can come visit some day so I can take you to the cheese shop!