It’s marshmallow day. Or maybe “Original Creme Center” day, since the Old Faithful doesn’t even say it has marshmallow in it. I bought this bar on the same day as the other limited edition Hershey items, so I figured I should review them at the same time. I got them at a store called Duck Soup, which focuses on retro items, like coffee mugs that look like paper cups and old pinball machines. But they also had a very nice selection of classic candy bars. What was even better was that they were only $.99 each ... that Idaho Spud I bought recently was $1.55!
This long lump has a latexy, ultrasmooth creme (ala marshmallow) center cloaked in whole peanuts and milk chocolate.
The center was not at all what I expected. I expected something like a fondant or fudge, like the Bun. But instead it’s a rather strange viscous filling that doesn’t flow completely, but is super smooth. Not foamy enough for me to consider it marshmallow, but the ingredients include egg whites, so maybe it is.
In fact, I really loved the filling, with it’s slightly bouncy texture (yes, rather similar to the detested Idaho Spud) what I had particular trouble with was the peanuts in the cluster. There were bad peanuts. Once you have one bad peanut, it makes you skittish. And there were more than a few peanuts that were darker than normal and tasted like burnt plastic.
I don’t know if this was a bad bar, but it was bad enough that I was so fearful of another bad nut that I didn’t even want to finish it. So, I took the last third of the bar apart, just eating the marshmallow. Which I really liked on its own. However, that does not redeem this bar. I can’t not eat a major portion of it.
I’m sorry, I just can’t get past something called Old Faithful would have such bad quality control. It broke its promise of peanuts that I could eat. The milk chocolate was passable and it made me wonder why they didn’t use this coating for the Idaho Spud instead of the artery clogging mess o’ trans fats they had on there.
Note: there are no hydrogenated oils in this bar.
Name: |
Old Faithful |
RATING:
- SUPERB
- YUMMY
- TASTY
- WORTH IT
- TEMPTING
- PLEASANT
- BENIGN
- UNAPPEALING
- APPALLING
- INEDIBLE
|
Brand: |
Idaho Candy Co. |
Place Purchased: |
Duck Soup (The Grove, Los Angeles) |
Price: |
$.99 |
Size: |
1.5 ounces |
Calories per ounce: |
147 |
Categories: |
Chocolate, PeanutsMarshmallowUnited States, Idaho Candy Co.> |
Sometimes just being a “cute” candy is enough for me to purchase it. Too bad about the bum peanuts - that stinks It reminds me, in packaging, of this: http://farrcandy.com/ - something I’ve never tasted or even seen in person, but with which I’m really intrigued. Specifically the Black Walnut and Mallow Nut (which you would hate, of course) but maybe the Peaunut Cluster or Cherry Cordial? Have you had these? Where are they?? I think I might need to order directly from the company.
Idaho native here.
The above reader mentioned Farr Candy. I think it’s really good. I’m not a huge fan of the Old Faithful bar, it’s cloyingly sweet to me. But, I’ll walk a mile for a Spud Bar. Part of that is just the fact that it’s from Idaho, and I miss Idaho. But, I really do like it too. I can’t think of one candy at Farr that I don’t like.
“Latexy” is not a word applied to food that would normally draw me to it. I’ll admit that I would’ve bought that one just based on the wrapper alone, only to be disappointed by the toxic, nuclear peanuts.
Joanna - I was going to suggest that we go halfsies on a box, but they cram walnuts in just about every bar!
Margi - thanks for the heads up on Farr - they do sound pretty good!
Dave - I think Steve Almond in Candy Freak described Tangy Taffy as “fruit-flavored caulk.” Not appetizing sounding, but accurate and still tasty!
It wasn’t out of date or anything was it?
I don’t know if it’s just me, but the bar doesn’t look particularly appetising. Kind of looks like it’s been melted and trodden on!
Born in Boise, raised in Ewa Beach, HI and now in California. I miss the Old Faithful bar of the past. Round, choclate covered peanuts on the perimiter with a white nougat/marshmallow center and covered with a brown wrapper. These could not be beat and remain part of my grandest memories!
Those candies are very hard to find in most areas…I’d love to get my mouth (and teeth) on a good Idaho Spud!
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