Robert Opie Kit Kat Fridge Magnet

I picked this up from eBay a month ago from a seller in England. It's a Robert Opie collection Tin Plate Kit Kat Fridge Magnet. I have no idea who Robert Opie is. So, let me write you what it says on the back of the packaging.

The Robert Opie Collection
The world's largest collection of British advertising images, started by Robert Opie in 1963, provides a fascinating insight into the British way of life over the last 130 years. Featured many times in the media, The Collection now numbers over half a million items, and is continually expanding. A part of The Collection is open for public viewing in Notting Hill, London.

It'll be another neat addition to my collection. Cool, huh?

New Kit Kat Branded Products from Japan...

Here's the lovely Valerie modeling two new products that Jason sent me from Japan. On the left is a Kit Kat Stationery Pack, which includes a regular kitter, a Kit Kat shaped eraser as well as a Kit Kat pencil adorned with the slogan and various flowers. To the right of the Shawn (the sheep) is a Kit Kat Mug. There's nothing really special about the mug except that it's pentagonal and it's from Japan. These two pieces will be great additions to my collection.

On another note, we saw the movie "The Happening". Both of us believed that the movie was miscast, but we were quite excited to see the trailer for the new X-Files movie. Can't wait!

Hersheypark (Part Deux)

During this trip, we found out that Stella (our Mini Cooper S) is capable of 450 miles to a tank of gas. At one point, the onboard computer was telling us that we had a range of 502 miles, but I dunno if I would trust those last 52 miles, especially coming off a little more than a gallon of gas.

Anyways, on to the events of the day. We started the day riding Hersheypark's new rollercoaster, 97 Fahrenheit, which boasts a 97 degree drop (see picture). After roaming the park and making my annual visit to the Play Dome (see picture), we headed over to the Kit Kat Cafe to indulge in some refreshing ice cream. The temperature had climbed to almost 100 degrees and the humidity was almost unbearable.

The Kit Kat Cafe (located in the upper level of Chocolate World) is a place where one can rest and have a sandwich, salad, or bowl of pasta in a quiet, air conditioned environment. One can also create your own sundae of two scoops of ice cream, three chocolate candy toppings and two liquid toppings. For my sundae, I chose two scoops of vanilla, three helpings of Kit Kats (what else?) and caramel and hot fudge toppings. The sundae itself was nothing special, save for the delicious Kitters. What made the sundae was the wonderful bowl it came in. Mind you I had to pay an extra $1.99 to get the bowl, but it will make a great addition to my collection. Okay, it's nearing 1:15am, so I best be off to bed. I'll write more about the trip tomorrow...

Oh, it's on. Hersheypark 2008.

Here's the first of several picture posts that I'll be sending during our stay in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Here you see me posing with my buddy, Mr. Kitter. Today, we saw him scare the hell out of two teenage girls who thought he was fake cause he was acting like he was a statue. I bet they don't see too many girls running for their lives screaming and at the top of their lungs in Chocolate World. Tomorrow, I'm gonna see if I can get him to moonwalk or do the robot or something.

Today we also went to a chocolate tasting where "Erma" demonstrated the proper way to enjoy five different types of chocolate. We also got to break open a cacao bean and try the nibs. I drank half a bottle of water trying to wash out the bitter taste!

As usual during one of our trips to Chocolate World, Valerie and I rode on the factory tour ride just to get free chocolate. Last year they were giving out free Take Five bars. This year we got to sample Hershey Bliss Meltaways (3 times!). Here, you can see Kit Kats on the assembly line.


Until tomorrow, adios.

news from japan!

Red from stippy.com has an interesting article about the Yubari Melon Kit Kat I wrote about some time ago. Here's a link to the article if you're interested!

Click Here...

peach swirl (japan)

Yet another Kit Kat from Japan. I've had a few of these in my possession for more than a month now, and I've been dying to try one of them. I do have to say that there are a couple of the "swirl" flavors going around that I'm quite interested.

The Peach Swirl Kit Kat comes in box which is designed quite differently from other Japanese Kitters. There's a nice gradient mesh fill going on in the background with fuzzy peaches flying around everywhere. Nestle's package design group has sure done its job well, as I'm ready to rip through the package to sink my teeth into the product.

Opening the box reveals the two familiar individual packs each containing it's respective set of "twins". Upon tearing open the inner wrapper, an aroma cloud not unlike that of a bag of sour gummy peaches came rushing out. Oh, the excitement was building! I pulled out the chocolate fingers and to my surprise they looked like a pink and black zebra! (see below) The taste was nothing short of excellent, with just the right amount of peach flavoring mixed into the usual chocolate goodness of the Kit Kat. Collector or not, I have to say that everyone out there should try this flavor if they can get their hands on it.

Nestle Peach Swirl Kit Kat (Japan)
Size: 21.5g Calories: 115 Fat: 6.1g Carbohydrates: 13.8g

exotic hokkaido kit kat (japan)

Mmm... I got a few of these singles from Japan because I didn't want to break open the bulk pack that I have in my collection. I've been dying to try this flavor for quite some time. The Exotic Hokkaido Kit Kat is packaged in an elegant white plastic wrapper adorned with the Le Patissier Takagi logo as well as a screened "Exotic" logo in the background. It's quite a change from the normal and chunky style Kit Kat wrappers.

Upon opening the wrapper that familiar scent of milky white chocolate came rushing out. Being that the Exotic Hokkaido flavor is based on a berry and cheesecake palate, I was expecting something like the blueberry fromage that I had reviewed some months back. This one tasted something like a raspberry cheesecake that had been left out in the warm air for some time. The chocolate was smooth a milky and the wafer was crisp as always. However, I wasn't really sure if I liked the combination all that much. Overall, if you really like kitters, I say go ahead and try it, but this one isn't for the everyday sweet tooth.

Exotic Hokkaido (Japan)
Size: 13.5g Calories: 75 Fat: 4.5g Carbohydrates: 8g

here we go!

So, unfortunately my grandfather died last night. It was a somber time when everyone's eyes were teared and those souls who had dry ones held a weight heavy in their chest. At least he went out with his loved ones surrounding him. God take care of him.

On a positive note, I was able to see my nephew, Luca. He's the cutest thing! He's got huge cheeks and a "muffin top" (new to my vocabulary thanks to Scott at work) and his smile is absolutely adorable. I'll post pictures of him when I get something a bit more recent. I was also able to see my cousin Lee Ann (NaRF!) who I hadn't seen for many years because of her living in California and the Philippines. It turns out that she had been training for a marathon but her training got cut short because of her transfer abroad. There's something about the Philippines that screams "You shouldn't be running for pleasure here."

On yet another note, I should be receiving yet another order of Kitters from Japan. Hopefully they come shortly and I can write them up in this here blog. Man, I'm so behind in reviews. The problem is, everytime I review a chocolate bar, I wind up eating it. Herein lies the problem. All the pounds I lose from running get put back on courtesy of the kit kat palace. Great. Look for another post shortly.

the birth of a new blog...

I realize that I've been a bit lax on posting lately. I've been doing a little thinking and have come to the conclusion that this blog needs to branch out a little bit. Although I will continue to post reviews on Kit Kats and other fine worldly candies, I'm also going to start adding a lot of personal notes, rants, reviews and comments on many other things. This will include (but is not limited to) movies, tech, current events, and even happenings within my own life. This new change will let me share with you a lot about me and what goes on in my mind. Look for the new post soon. Cheers!

new shipment has arrived!

My latest shipment of international treats has arrived. From Japan, I received two Pineapple Kit Kats. From Mexico arrived a Bubu Lubu bar, which (assuming I've translated the Spanish correctly) is jelly and marshmallow cubes with chocolate flavor... I'll have to see about that one. From Canada, I got Cinnamon and Peanut Butter Kitters. Finally, from the US came a pack of Kona Creme coffee flavored gum. I'm quite interested in that after my wonderful experience with the Ritter Sport bar the other day. Consequently, I'm still working on that bar. I've been eating a little bit each day because of the massive calories and amount of fat that it has. I'll be reporting on the Bubu Lubu bar first. I'm not usually a fan of jellied candies, so I don't know how this is going to fair with me. Until then...

a funny commercial...

Check out this video I found on iFilm...

mild bitter kit kat (Japan)

I've had this one in my collection for a while and figured that it was time I gave it a try. The packaging is sure promising. Bitter chocolate. Mmm. I'm not sure if it was implying that the contents were of the dark chocolate variety or it the chocolate itself was made bitter. I was intrigued. The package design itself was pretty decent looking. Clean and simple, one of my mottos when designing.

Anyways, I tore open the box to reveal the two, two-finger packages inside. My first bite into it was one of surprise... It wasn't that the chocolate was milky or dark or used more or less cacao; it's that there was a lack of flavor for the first few seconds. Then after chewing the wafer and chocolate, the flavor of the high cacao content became very apparent.

Now, one might ask what the difference between this and a dark chocolate Kit Kat is. The regular dark chocolate Kitter is still sweet. This one is more indicative of baking chocolate. The normal sweetness seems to have been replaced by the natural sugars of cacao bean. The Mild Bitter Kit Kat, while quite good, is definitely not for everybody.

Mild Bitter Kit Kat (Japan)
Size: 21.5g Calories: 118 Fat: 6.6g Carbohydrates: 13.2g

a kit kat ebay find...

This is just ridiculous. After doing my usual eBay surfing, I stumbled upon THIS listing... Now, if you read carefully, the items for bid are 12 coupons for $0.25 off a Kit Kat purchase. The shipping on the item is $0.70. So, basically upon buying this you are effective saving a whole nickel. Great.

mango crispy monogotari (Japan)

If you look closely at the cover of the box on the left, it appears as if there are huge wafers stuffed in the middle of a regular Kit Kat. This however, is not the case. Boy was I surprised when I ripped open one of those brightly colored orange packets and found... No chocolate? Did I get a defective one? What was the deal with this Kit Kat? Something was amiss here.

Actually, nothing was wrong with this Kit Kat. Through a little bit of Googling, I was able to find out that this particular kitter is also known as the "naked" Kit Kat. Ahh... Now it all made sense. But then, what was this kitter going to taste like? After all, without the chocolate, it was just a regular wafer cookie that you could buy from Target. In fact, I just bought a whole 30 pack of passionfruit ones from the Goya section for a whole ninety-nine cents.

So... I bit into the Crispy Monogatari. You know what? I wasn't very impressed. In defense of the Crispy Monogarari, the wafers were extremely light and the mango creme that was sandwiched between was quite tasty. However, when it came down to it, they were still just a glorified version of those Goya wafers. If you're a collector, go ahead and add this one. However, if you're just a casual kitter chomper (that's my new one), save your self a few bucks and head down to Target. It's a shame that something so simple as a creme wafer could have the Kit Kat named tacked on to it and more than sextuple its price. Although it was decent tasting, I'm giving this a mere 6 Goodness Points for lack of originality and deceptive packaging.

Mango Crispy Monogatari
Size: 10.5g Calories: 56 Fat: 0.85g Carbohydrates: 6.5g

nestle honeycomb kit kat chunky (Australia)

Ooohh... A yellow wrapper. For the uninformed, yellow is my favorite color. This layout sports a screen printed flood design on a foil wrapper with little pieces honeycomb spread around the logo. Simple, but impressive. I bought this one (and several others for that matter) from an eBay seller in Australia. I've been holding on to this one for the right time to try it out...

So I'm here holding this honeycomb kitter in my hands, pondering how this will affect my glucose levels when I run my 10 miler in about an hour. Ehh... Who really cares? I'm more interested in the kitter.

I break open the wrapper, half expecting it to taste like a mixture of breakfast cereal and chocolate. The outside of the bar looks like a standard Chunky, but there's something different about this. There's the sweet aroma of something other than honey leaking out from the chocolate. My first bite into the Kit Kat was one of surprise. The wafer inside is encased with chocolate speckled with tiny crystalline pieces of honey. Together they made a loud "crisp" noise when I bit into it! Chewing the kitter only added to the wonderful flavors that were swimming in my mouth. At this point, the honey flavor began to really emerge and linger. What a treat this was! I'm recommending this one to all of you out there, Kit Kat fans or not. It definitely needs to be tried.

Nestle Honeycomb Kit Kat Chunky (Australia)
Size: 60g Calories: 330 Fat: 16.4g Carbohydrates: 36.6g

le patissier takagi brandy & orange kit kat (Japan)

I bought this box from Jason over in Japan. It's a special edition Kit Kat made with flavors and ingredients hand selected by Le Patissier Takagi aka Iron Chef Takagi. This package of Kit Kats was unlike any I have ever seen before. As you can see from the picture at the above left, the box comes in a spectacular rice paper wrapper and is sealed with a Le Patissier Takagi emblem. The wrapper is patterned with Kit Kat logos and stripes made of the words "Le Patissier Takagi". However, the beautiful packaging doesn't stop there. Peeling off the outer wrapper reveals a glossy embossed boxed, sparkling with gold foil letters and a somewhat holographic heart-shaped sticker. For all the Kit Kats I have seen in my life, never before have I witnessed such beauty.
Taking my first bite into the this marvel was something out of a dream. What was I eating? This didn't taste like a standard Kit Kat! The chocolate was extremely creamy, like a Lindt truffle. And there was something else... The wafer was extremely delicate and light. The finger itself was about three quarters of the normal height of a regular kitter, but about one and a half times wider. Looking inside the chocolate covered finger, I could see the wafer and a thin layer of white, brandy and orange flavored cream directly above it. The brandy flavor never really came out, but it didn't hurt the overall taste at all. The orange was not overwhelming and complimented the smooth chocolate well.

I was very impressed with this chocolate and understand very well why this box of chocolates cost me almost $30.00. Perhaps if I liked the orange-chocolate combination better to begin with, I would have given this a perfect 10. My advice for those who like these flavors... Go buy a box!

Le Patissier Takagi Brandy & Orange Kit Kat (Japan)
Size: 18g Calories: 100 Fat: 6g Carbohydrates: 10.5g

new kit kats and aero bars from Japan!

I got home from the mall today and look what was waiting outside my door! Jason's package from Japan had arrived. As you can see above, there are two of the "Exotic" series - The Tokyo and the Kansai. These ultra-premium Kit Kat editions fetch for about $25.00 each. Also included in the shipment were two Mango flavored Kit Kat Monogataris, two Cantaloupe Flavored Aero packs, Patissier Takagi's Chocolatier Kit Kat featuring a mixture of strawberry, pistachio, almond, and thyme flavors, and finally, a few singles so I could taste the exotic flavors without opening up the larger boxes. Keep reading, I'll definitely be reviewing some of these in the next few days.

kit kat websites around the world...

Last night I sat through Frank Miller's "300", an ultraviolent death fest - and I loved it. My brother Jono, my cousin Miah and I went to see a soldout screening last night. It's been a while since I've come out of a movie in complete awe.

So tell me... When you go to the Kit Kat Denmark website, does something look odd? Before you click the link and think you're on the wrong page, Nestle has set up several "Kit Kat Freestyle Web Games" sites around Europe. Unfortunately I'm not familiar with any Nordic languanges and can't really read anything on the pages, save for the few English words. http://www.kitkat.dk/ If you want to give the page a go yourself, click on the picture.

nestle kit kat thimble

Call me a freak, but look what I found on eBay. It's a Kit Kat thimble and oh yes, it will be mine. I also found a whole bunch of promotional and advertising material that's not entirely too overpriced. I'm still looking out for that Nestle Kit Kat toy truck that I had seen from England, though I don't want to pay a fortune for it. I'll keep you posted.

cookie dough kit kat (Australia)

Our latest Kit Kat review involves an Australian treat I happened upon on eBay. True to Nestle form, the packaging of the Cookie Dough Kit Kat was extremely clean and well layed out with pictures of chocolate chip cookies surrounding the all too familiar logo.

My brother has been egging me on to try this flavor for a while. Unfortunately for him, Val and her sisters ate this one with me. I have to say that this Kit Kat surprised me. I guess it wasn't be cause it didn't taste good. Actually, the Kit Kat was very good. It just wasn't cookie dough. I was surprised to find the inside filled with gooey caramel (ala Milky Way) and a general lack of cookie dough "paste". Instead, after swallowing the chocolate and its contents, we all agreed that a slight amount of cookie "grain" was left in our mouths, thus creating a cookie aftertaste. All-in-all it wasn't a bad experience, just not what I expected. Had it tasted more like cookie dough, this Kit Kat would have gotten higher marks.

Cookie Dough Kit Kat (Australia)
Size: 65g Calories: 338 Fat: 18.3g Carbohydrates: 39.5g