Full Spirited Flavours

Schwenksville, PA 19473
(610) 933-6411
Website

I recently received a package in the mail from a company run by some sisters who make booze-infused cakes. While I was skeptical, because this seemed like a gimmick (and it admittedly is), I wanted to give them a fair shot.

Each box contains four individually wrapped cakes.

From twelve o'clock: Amaretto, chocolate razz, mango coconut and limoncello.

The cakes were very moist, and had a nice shine. Yes, sheen, shimmer, glisten. They looked mouthwatering.

The real shock was the consistency. These were surprisingly delicious cakes, and had a texture that many cakes lack. I assume that an ample use of oil didn't hurt.

The limencello was probably my favorite of the group. They had a nice lemon flavor, with a bit of zip from the sweetly bitter liquor, some extra sugary sweetness from the white chocolate pieces, and the glaze of more limencello helped balance the acidity.

Coconut rum and sweet mango was another favorite. Not cloyingly sweet, and like the rest of the cakes, had a great texture.

Chocolate razz was another crowd pleaser. It's not to say the amaretto wasn't well received, but these three were the definite favorites. I can see this product catering to a niche like work gifts, bridal showers, baby showers etc. I am still shocked at how well the cake turned out given my initial skepticism. Hopefully these sisters continue to do well.

If you're involved with any of the aforementioned events/groups, I suggest you give them a try. Build a gift basket around them!

Snyder of Berlin

PA's Laurel Highlands
(near Pittsburgh)
Website

I am often asked to review products, and I usually forget to respond to those requests (sorry PR people!). However I DO love some chips, and Berlin, Pennsylvania holds a special place in my heart (I ate a sandwich there once), so Snyder of Berlin was too good to pass up. I received a large box, with three bags of chips inside.

Rippled, BBQ, and "Vlasic" dill flavored chips were my fodder for this post. They've recently revamped their packaging to more accurately reflect their love of all things Americana. Pretty cool.

Unfortunately they got a bit crushed in transit (not Snyder's fault).

Initial results were as to be expected – I liked the "Sweet and Sassy" BBQ best, followed by dill, and finally the ruffled. Nothing wrong with ruffled, but I like the flavor to punch me in the gullet. And I didn't have any time to whip up my famous French onion dip, so they were sort of at a loss.

I decided to eat the dill pickle version on their own, while pairing the ruffled and BBQ with a sandwich. The dill had a tart and salty flavor, much like the fermented cukes they were based off of. The ruffled were good for an over-the-top sandwich, and took the place of potatoes with my breakfast club riff. Fried egg, arugula, bacon, and hot pepper relish, with some salty crisp chips to sop up the yolk. Pretty delicious.

The BBQ were put to task complementing my corned beef sandwich another afternoon. They're not kettle cooked, but they have good texture and really addictive flavoring. Sweet, tangy with pops of fresh parsley flavor, these were definitely the best.

Next time you're in the west-central PA area, grab a bag and see for yourself.

Harrisburg Road Trip | Chevy Cruze Diesel

So, when Chevy offered up a free Cruze diesel for a week, I couldn't say no. Turns out it was the very same car that Gizmo Guy over at Philly.com took for a test weeks before.

Fueled with a sense of patriotism, I took the diesel on a road trip to this fine state's capital city.

If you've never been to Harrisburg, maybe you should take a Saturday to make the 1.75 hour trip. There's some amazing architecture and probably one of the best state capitol buildings in the country. (I welcome challengers.)

I will say it runs smoothly, has plenty of interior space and is great on gas mileage. Too bad gasoline prices took a recent dip and diesel holds steady at close to $4...

If you make it to the 'burg, check out the Atomic Warehouse for retro housewares & furniture and vintage clothing and vinyl. It's got three levels stocked with merchandise - I heard the second floor is wholly dedicated to lampshades and is accessible by request only, apparently the floor manager/owner is very peculiar about granting access, so you better look the part.

Lots of clocks and ashtrays too...

If you're in the mood for a cheap draught and college ball or some pool, head over to the G-Man downtown. The Gingerbread Man is a local establishment (there are 3 in the Central PA area: add Carlisle and State College) whose aesthetic takes you to a different time.

Like the 80s. With interesting decor, it reminds you that smoking is still allowed in restaurants outside of Philadelphia.

Look for a couple more Harrisburg destinations in the coming days - I've got your lunch and dinner covered.