Bollywood Popcorn

I have a new obsession from Trader Joe's; it is BOLLYWOOD POPCORN!!  Sure, at first glance Indian Popcorn might not be the exact thing you expect to quench your hunger, but for my taste buds, it is all that and a bag of chips!!

Sometimes you MUST try the new items

David's take:  "Very nice.  I think this is a successful attempt at finding something new to add to popcorn. It's a little bit CUMIN-Y, so if you don't like cumin you might not go ravenous over this.  I like how FLAVORFUL it is - it's very flavorful and that's good!  I don't think it supplant my love of cheddar flavor on popcorn, but it is very nice and successful for a different take on popcorn!  I give this a 4.25."

I hereby declare my love of Trader Joe's Bollywood Popcorn
 (and I do a little Bollywood move in the middle of Trader Joe's)

I declare - THIS IS GOOD STUFF!  The ingredients say it is flavored with vegan Tikka Masala - I say bring that tikka on!! 

Paprika, turmeric, and garlic powder are also mentioned in the ingredients (but not the cumin that David tastes so strongly, though that may well be a part of the tikka masala or the unnamed "spices").  I really like this product.  I like that it TASTES SAVORY.  Why, it doesn't just taste like a snack, it tastes kind of like a meal!  The bag says one serving is two cups and there are five servings in a bag, which seems about right.  I don't think I could eat an entire bag in one setting (though I might "have to" try, just for scientific research for this blog, of course...)

Go ahead, invest two bucks in a bag

This is definitely different than your run of the mill snack food and it's a great invention!  I was never into flavored popcorn until we first had Garrett's Chicago Style popcorn (later emulated at TJ's - 5 star review here).  I then got up enough nerve to taste TJ's Popcorn in a Pickle and liked it, too (review here).  I am glad my taste buds "matured" enough to accept flavored popcorn, because this Bollywood popcorn is a welcome addition to my snack food! 

The only negative I noticed was that your fingers get SUPER MESSY while you eat it.  I do not recommend chomping on this snack while reading a library book, cuz that can only end in you paying a fine for ruining a book.  At least, that is what I thought the first couple of times I ate Bollywood Popcorn, until I invented my NEW TECHNIQUE for eating it!  Check it out!!

THIS is how you should eat it!  No more messy fingers!!

Yup - all you have to do is put your Bollywood Popcorn in a small bowl and use your tongue to pick it up instead of your fingers!  Voila, problem solved!  (Important note:  it is recommended that each snacker have their own bowl when employing this technique, cuz, well, some people might think your tongue in their bowl is gross.) 

This is a creative product.  We went to India in May and this brings back nice memories of that trip.  Here are a couple of Indian vacation photos, plus one shot of David wearing a fun and rather lovely mask a friend him.

I love this photo of an Indian woman making coir.  We had such an inspiring time watching these women.

This man is a TODDY TOPPER!!  He climbs trees and collects "toddy" to be sold in toddy bars.
Only MEN drink in toddy bars, but I got to go in one!  Color me lucky.  (No, we didn't taste it...)

Beautiful Indian woman in her boat

David with a very famous Indian Kathakali performer

Tuk Tuk Driver in Southern India - he let DAVID try out driving the tuk tuk!!

Back in America with the new BOLLYWOOD POPCORN!

I give this Bollywood Popcorn a 4.75.  If you have an adventurous palate I recommend you grab a bag and try it out.

Price: $1.99
Rating (average of 2 raters):  4.5

Day 100 - Chicago Style Popcorn

I have made it to DAY 100 on this blog!  And for the big 100^th review I have chosen one of our very favorite new products – CHICAGO STYLE POPCORN!!!!

I am going to tell you right off the bat – this product is a solid 5 stars!!!!  We are so excited about it!

Let me explain…  My friend Amy told us once about this “delicious popcorn available in Chicago” that is a combination of caramel and cheese.  Sure, it sounds gross, but it is NOT gross.  Anyway, it is available in O’Hare Airport at a little place called Garrett Popcorn Shop.  Oh suuuuure – you can also get it at “Nuts On Clark” at O’Hare, but if you do that, you are a beginner and do not GET IT.  No – it is worth waiting in line at Garrett’s. 

Let’s just say this – once Amy told us about Chicago style popcorn at Garrett and we had tasted it, our travel changed.  We cannot go thru O’Hare now without going to Garrett and stocking up – even if it means running through a terminal to get there and back to our gate in time.  My partner David has been known to fly strange routes and accept long lay-over times JUST TO GET GARRET POPCORN (he sometimes buys straight caramel instead of the mix, but that is another topic…).  I often travel alone and if I go through Chicago I MUST stop at Garrett and bring back a bag for David.  Last time I was there I snapped a photo to text him while I was in line, and the guy in front of me did the same thing and texted it to his wife – it seems we are not the only addicts!  And I should point out – this popcorn is not cheap at Garrett, not at all.

What the WHAT???  Wheeeee!

ENTER TRADER JOE’S!!!!!  You guys – they now have CHICAGO STYLE POPCORN for only $2.99!!

Does he looked a little bit EXCITED???!!!

We were nervous…  We thought, there was no way it could be as good as Garrett’s…  I mean, when you have had the BEST, isn’t it dangerous to even try a new kind???

But it ROCKS!  It is so, so, so good!  The caramel pieces are amazing and the cheese ones, too!  There are very few “yuckies” at the bottom of the bag.  Even if you think this combination of flavors sounds disgusting I urge you to try it!  You will like it or your money back  (note:  the “money back” is from Trader Joe’s, not me.  Just take the bag back if you think it is not good and they will give you your money back with a smile.)

SO CHEAP!

There is a bit of a mystery with this product -it is exciting!!!  When we first bought it at the La Jolla, CA store, the bag said “Chicago Style Popcorn”.  Then, in New York City, they called it “Caramel and Cheese Popcorn”!!!  Same bag, same great taste, all the other artwork is the same, but the NAME is different…  So I checked at our local Trader Joe’s in Virginia and guess what – they had one bag that was named “Caramel and Cheese” and the rest were called “Chicago Style”!!  Bizarre!  I hope they stick with “Chicago Style” cuz that is a much cooler name.  Even if shoppers don’t know right away what it means, if they read the package they will get it.

The mystery of the names....

Color us happy that we don’t have to pay hundreds of dollars to fly to Chicago to get this anymore (but we will still go to Garrett’s when we are at O’Hare!).

If you would like to see some Yelp reviews of Garrett -  look here:  http://www.yelp.com/biz/garrett-popcorn-shops-chicago-17

You will find things like, “HOLY SCHNIKIES” and “WTF!” and “Have you ever found yourself with the a warped sense of morals in which it is suddenly okay to trample small children to snag the last bag of your favorite treat?”

Price - $2.99

Rating - 5