Chocolates with whole fruit
Mr. Tidbit recently discussed Brach's and Brookside chocolate candies with açai-blueberry-flavored centers. There isn't a whole lot of açai in either one, but blueberry purists may be pleased to learn that Dove, which is part of the Mars chocolate enterprise, now offers candy consisting of nothing but actual whole blueberries covered in dark chocolate (and glaze). Cranberry and cherry purists may similarly rejoice to learn of Dove's dark-chocolate-covered whole cranberries and whole cherries.
All three varieties are available in 6-ounce pouches said to be four servings. And early next year, Mr. Tidbit is reliably informed, there will be "sharing size" 2.83-ounce bags of the blueberries and cranberries. Assuming that the serving size is the same 1.5 ounces, these smaller bags should be shared by 1.89 people.
Soup's on — and on
When Mr. Tidbit recently noted the debut of Campbell's newest line of soup, brick-packed Soups for Easy Cooking, he mentioned but did not list the many other separate lines of soup now offered by Campbell's. There are at least six other lines: the classic red-and-white label condensed, Chunky, Slow Kettle Style, Go Soup, Gourmet Bisque and Homestyle. The Campbell's website shows an eighth line — Reserve (frozen soups in bags or pouches) — but Mr. Tidbit has never seen those.
At the time, Mr. Tidbit briefly thought of including, as an amusement, a list of the flavors of just the first line — the familiar red-and-white label condensed soups — but he decided it would be tedious.
He just looked at the website again, and for the first time he counted up the flavors in those classic red-and-white-label cans. There are 79. A few of them are just low-fat or low-sodium versions of others, but you get the idea: Seventy-nine flavors. In that one line. Is this a great country, or what?
While savoring that information, Mr. Tidbit remembered that he has a 1929 magazine ad that lists all the Campbell's soups. He dug it out and saw, to his surprise, that 85 years ago there were already 21 varieties. (Some that were available in 1929 aren't on the current roster. The chefs who now offer us the likes of Fiesta nacho cheese soup seem to have forgotten mock turtle, mutton and oxtail.)
Al Sicherman
