Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Bars are Sexy, Elegant and Delicious Treats

                                                       

When it comes to simple pleasures, eating dark chocolate ranks pretty high on my list. Mysterious, elegant, sexy and delicious, dark chocolate always improves any dessert it's a part of.

Four or five months ago, I first saw Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bars at the West Hartford Big Y store. Even though I usually prefer to eat coated vanilla or strawberry ice cream bars, I decided to try something different.

Holy cow! After trying the Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bars, I 've become addicted. 

Like Father, like son. My Father, Joe, was a true ice cream afficianado. Like him, I've tasted numerous brands of chocolate ice cream, and I'd have to give Haagen Dazs's version a very high grade.

When combined with the chocolate ice cream, the coating of dark chocolate in these bars totally shines. Not only does it taste fantastic, but its cool crispness contributes a satisfying "snap" when bitten-into.

Size

The only packages of  Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bars that I've seen so far are the nine-ounce boxes that hold three ice cream bars. Just tonight, however, I saw boxes of six mini bars on the icecream.com website. Hopefully, Stop & Shop and/or Big Y will have them in-stock.

Each three-ounce bar is big enough to satisfy an immediate craving, but they're so good, wanting to eat more is a distinct possibility.

                                                           

Price

The retail price of Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bars seems to fluctuate between retailers. By Far, Walmart has offered the lowest price I've seen; $4.48 for one three-pack.

While I've seen them priced higher, the average price for one three-pack of these is about $4.99. That works out to about $1.67 per bar.

Texture/Consistency

The consistency/mouth-feel provided by Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bars is a big part of what makes eating them so enjoyable. The dark chocolate coating is crisp, and the chocolate ice cream is indulgently creamy. The combination of the two chocolates is a definite winning merger.

Nutritional Facts

Each Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bar contains 270 calories, with 12 grams of saturated fat. 45 mg of cholesterol, 22 grams total carbohydrates, 19 grams of sugars and three grams of protein. 

Flavor

Have you ever tried eating something for the first time, then find yourself craving that food frequently? Ever since I tried a Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bar, I've been having daydreams about the dessert.

There are plenty of tasty chocolate ice creams out there, and I've eaten lots of them. The Haagen-Dazs version is a well-balanced, not-too-sweet option that completely shines when combined with the dark chocolate coating.

                                                         

The Sticks

Since I worked as a recycling truck driver for many years, it's only fitting that I still recycle all sorts of items. Ever since I ate the first one, I've saved all of the wooden sticks that the Haagen-Dazs bars have been attached to.

I enclosed a couple of photos of the accumulated sticks. At some point, I hope to assemble the ice cream sticks into some type of little, toy-size cabin. I really want to make a replica of the beach house where Charlie, Alan and Jake Harper live on TV's "Two and a Half Men." ha

Overall Rating

Sometimes, you just have to slow down, and enjoy life a little. Sitting down and eating a Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Dark Chocolate ice cream bar is a pleasure that really should be savored. On a scale of one through ten, I would give this product a rating of 9.85.

Do You Remember Table Talk Pies? They're Still Available at Some Local Stores, and They're as Delicious as Ever

On a regular basis, I stop at the Sam's Food Store at Sherman Street and Farmington Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to purchasing my usual lottery tickets, cigarettes, diet soda, snack cakes, gasoline and other healthy items, I like to buy Table Talk pies there.

 A Long History in New England

Since 1924, Table Talk has been producing high-quality pies at its Worcester, Massachusetts, production facility. Well-known for their snack-sized pies that are packaged in distinctive red and white boxes, Table Talk also makes full-sized pies that are sold at food stores throughout New England.

My personal history with Table Talk pies goes back to junior high school, at Saint Thomas the Apostle School in West Hartford. Back then, if I'm not mistaken, the price of each four-inch pie was less than $0.25c.

Still a Great Bargain

As of last week, the average cost of one small Table Talk pie at Hartford, Connecticut-area food stores remained at $0.99c. With the current inflation and supply chain issues, however, that price could change at any time.

In addition to their familiar red and white window cartons, Table Talk now packages some pies in green and brown, old-fashioned bakery boxes.

When it comes to flavor, texture, appearance and overall quality, Table Talk pies sit near the head of the class, in my pie-loving opinion.

A Wide Range of Tasty Flavors and Mini Aluminum Pans

Among the pie flavors that are now available in the red and white Table Talk window cartons are lemon, apple, cherry, pineapple, chocolate eclair, peach, blueberry, pumpkin, sweet potato and pecan. So far, I've eaten eight of the 10 varieties, and each one has been very good.

Chocolate coconut, mango pineapple, chocolate pecan, strawberry and chocolate chip cookie are just some of the Table Talk pie varieties that are now available in the old-fashioned bakery boxes.

No matter which flavor you prefer, Table Talk pies are always expertly baked, and stuffed with flavorful fillings. Inside their respective boxes, each of the pies is packaged in its own little, aluminum pie tin. 

Besides their regular-style pies, Table Talk is now making no-sugar-added blueberry, apple, and cherry pies.

On the Table Talk website, there is a quote that says "Quality is our most important product." As a longtime, satisfied customer of this Massachusetts company, I completely agree. I just wish the chocolate pecan, mango pineapple, chocolate coconut, sweet potato and no-sugar-added varieties were sold near where I live.

I Used to be an Underground Comic Artist

 For many years, one of the things that I did was produce an underground comic strip titled "Urban Street Guitarist." The strip debuted in a Hartford-based free newspaper named "Bubcus." Through the years, it ran in several other newspapers, including the Hartford Undercurrent and the Willimantic Chronicle.

As the newspaper business began transitioning into the digital format, I began focusing more on writing articles, and USG has taken a long break. "Zap" comics, the "Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers", R.Crumb, Walt Disney, "Little Lulu" and "Archie" comics were big influences.

Here are four Urban Street Guitarist strips, from the early-2000s.

                                       

'The Iguana'..A character that I haven't developed enough. This strip was done more than ten years ago.

Sheb Wooley "The Purple People Eater" (Official Video)

At approximately 3:05 am yesterday, I was getting ready to go to bed. While standing next to a window, my peripheral vision suddenly saw some type of bright light low in the sky.  At first, I thought it was the moon, but when I looked out the window, the light suddenly made a rapid movement, then disappeared.  I wonder what it was. Hmm.

Way back in 1958, singer and actor Sheb Wooley was blowing peoples' minds with his Purple People Eater song. The exploration of outer space was becoming more of a reality every day, and this song looks at the topic with lots of imagination and humor.

       

The theme song for the Hee Haw TV show was written by Sheb Wooley, and Mr.Wooley appeared regularly on the program.

What happened to peoples' sense of imagination? Why can't music like this still be recorded and released?

Yes, Virginia, There Really is a Chain of Missouri Donut Shops Named "Strange Donuts"

Just tonight, I learned that in Missouri there is a chain of donut shops named "Strange Donuts." Strange Donuts operates stores in Maplewood, Edwardsville, Creve Coeur and Kirkwood, Missouri.

The Strange Donuts stores are open daily, and they make their donuts fresh every day. The chain's totally cool slogan is "Be Nice. Stay Strange."

Because this donut chain has such a totally awesome name, I had to learn more about it. Upon going to their Facebook page, I discovered that the chain appears to have donut menus that change monthly. The donut menu also features a selection of "Classics."

The "Classic" donut varieties at Strange Donuts includes cinnamon cake and glazed varieties, as well as "Pony" donuts, vanilla "Steves" and chocolate "Steves."

The monthly "Creations" donuts for July include French apple pie, Gooey Butter, Key lime, maple bacon and coconut cream pie roll.

On their Facebook page, Strange Donuts regularly offers special creations at fair prices. Yesterday, the chain posted a photo of someone holding a "Vegan Husky Boy." This big, creamy treat consists of a Spearhead? pastry stuffed with chocolate custard, then topped with an Oreo cream and Oreo fudge.

The Facebook post describes the Vegan Husky Boy as a vegan peace weapon, and its price is "around $5."

If I lived in Missouri, I would try to make a point of visiting each Strange Donuts shop. At each shop, I would try different types of donuts.

Established in 2013, Strange Donuts has consistently been moving forward, and is accepting inquiries regarding future franchising opportunities. This Missouri donut chain also maintains a nonprofit organization named Strange Care, which is focused on empowering the lives of children. 

Strange Donuts is currently offering takeout service and no contact delivery.

Hartford, Connecticut's New West Side Square Food Trucks and Marketplace is Brightening-Up the City's West End

If you've traveled along Farmington Avenue in Hartford's West End recently, you've probably noticed some changes with the longtime-vacant lot next-door to Burger King. After sitting empty for many years, this parcel of land has recently been the site of extensive activity. 

Creative New Attraction

The lot that I'm referring to sits on Farmington Avenue between Girard Avenue and Kenyon Street. A new facility named West Side Square Food Trucks and Marketplace is slated to open there sometime this summer.

The entire lot is framed with numerous recycled windows and doors, and there are plenty of handmade, wooden tables, where visitors will be able to sit and enjoy foods from a range of food trucks.

A married couple named Quan and Rebeca Quach are the creators of West Side Square Food Trucks and Marketplace. The park is slated to host several different food trucks daily, with a range of cuisines represented.

Being a longtime West End resident, I remember when the lot next to Burger King was the home of a Shell gas station. For years, I bought cigarettes and lottery tickets there, and often utilized their air pumps to fill my different Triumph motorcycle tires.

For many years, a family style Farm Shop restaurant occupied the space next to the lot, where Ichiban restaurant now exists. To this day, Farm Shop restaurants rank in my culinary memory as one of the very best restaurant chains.

Former Neighbor

Farm Shop restaurants used to call hamburgers "Abigails," and cheeseburgers there were named "Blonde Abigails." As I recall, the burgers were served in cellophane-lined plastic baskets that also contained a large amount of French fries. If I'm not mistaken, cole slaw was an optional side with the Abigails.

Farm Shop restaurants were somewhat similar to Friendly's eateries, and in the 1980s, Friendly's purchased the Farm Shop chain. I'm unsure of when the Farm Shop chain stopped operating, but it's definitely missed.

Moving Forward

As for the present, the West Side Square Food Trucks and Marketplace is really coming together. A couple of days ago, I stopped at Burger King, and I walked next-door to survey the progress being made. The area has been cleaned-up, and the surface appears to be graded. A large assortment of wooden outdoor dining tables are scattered throughout, and the venue seems like it would great for hosting community and/or entertainment events. 

It's great to see a positive addition to the Farmington Avenue corridor. I wonder if any of the trucks are going to serve tacos? Or, how about Italian sausage and peppers?

Better yet, how about having a truck that serves plant-based versions of the afore-mentioned items?

No matter what types of foods are being served, it's good to see the spark of excitement that the opening of a new neighborhood attraction in Hartford can bring.

Major Fire at Hartford's Sigourney Market Creates More of a Food Desert in the City

The FOX-61 10:00 pm newscast began a couple of minutes ago, and one of the opening images was that  of last night's fire at Hartford's Sigourney Market. Earlier today, I read the news story about the fire, and I've been thinking quite a bit about it.

Apparently, the fire started at approximately 3:00 a.m., and two firefighters were injured while fighting it. As a small food market in a densely-populated area, Sigourney Market was an important part of the local community.

Sigourney Market was housed in a historic building, and had been in business there for many decades. The Asylum Hill neighborhood where the store is/was located is basically another food desert; with very few retail food options available.

For many years, I drove Class II trucks for a local can and bottle redemption company. Every Wednesday afternoon for years, my route consisted of numerous small liquor and food stores in Hartford.

One of my longtime Wednesday afternoon accounts was Sigourney Market.

An Unusual Connection

The heavy plastic tubs filled with deposit glass bottles at Sigourney Market. were kept in the basement of the store.  Alongside the glass tubs were the plastic bags full of aluminum deposit cans and plastic deposit bottles the store had redeemed since its last pickup.

In order for myself  and my helper to access the empty containers, we had to go through the produce room and board a century-old, wooden elevator that went up and down with cables and a hand lever. Every time I got on board the elevator for the 12-foot ride below, I wondered how long elevators can safely operate. 

Once we got the empty containers upstairs to load on the truck, we had to carry all of the materials through the fresh produce room.

A few minutes ago, I was looking at news footage of the fire, and I saw the produce room door, where I used to park the truck. My thoughts are with family who owned the store, and I hope they'll have the opportunity to reopen.

It is hoped that residents of the Ashley Street area will be able to find the groceries they need without too much difficulty. As for the injured firefighters, the last article I read said their injuries were minor.