Quest for the Best Podcast

Welcome to Quest for the Best! Today we have another random selection from the grocery store! I am always on the lookout for some new products. If you see any you want us to try, let us know! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which snacks are we trying today? * Twix Bits * Chips Ahoy Chewy Cookies & Creme * Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets - Cinnamon Sugar Who is on this quest? * Kris - Haaaeeey. * Nate - Will cry if he wants to. * Matt - Accurate. * Amy - Subscribe! And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Smoky flavoring can be quite good when done well. Can Pringles do smoky? Let’s find out! Which Pringles are we trying today? * Smoky Cheddar * Smoky Mesquite BBQ * Smoky Bacon Who is on this Newfangled Pringle Quest? * Nate, picking down. * Randi, good Lord. * Matt, putting up. * Amy, subscribe! And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Quest for the Best! Every time I head to the grocery store, I always have my eyes peeled for something new. And usually I find something. Those new items go to the cupboard and the next time we get together, I usually have quite the collection. Well, today’s episode is a random sampling of cookies and snacks that nicely fit into a junk food category. Let’s see if any of them are good! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which snacks are we trying today? * Pepperidge Farm Holiday Nog Cookies * Honey Roasted Peanut M&M’s * Cookie Dough Flavor Oreos * Chips Ahoy Chewy Cinnamon Bun * Cinnabon Bakery Inspired Cinnamon Roll Frosted Pretzels Who is on this quest? * Randi - Get outta here! * Nate - Chugga Chugga! * Matt - Talking about some noggin’. * Amy - North Dakotan with a hint of anime. And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

If you have a maturity level higher than a 5th grader, I apologize ahead of time. Which sodas are we trying today? * Twigs * Bawls Who is on this quest? * Randi, too mature for this episode. * Matt, ribbed for her pleasure. * Nate, getting kicked out. * Amy, not mature enough for this episode. And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Join us at Bit Brewery in Central City, Iowa for a Chili Cook Off! And then go to Bit Brewery and try some of their amazing beer and pizza, and stay around for the events they have all year long. Check out their website here! https://www.bitbrew3.com/ Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Frozen pizza is a staple in most freezers across the US. But today we are trying out some strange strange pizza that popped up in the grocery store. If you have it in your heart, consider becoming a producer of our wonderful Quest for the Best podcast! By becoming a producer, you are helping us with the production costs of our show (this doesn’t happen with nothing!). We really appreciate your support! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which Frozen Pizzas are we trying today? * Tombstone Chili Cheese French Fry Crust Pizza * Tombstone Loaded Bacon Cheddar French Fry Crust Pizza * DiGiorno Thanksgiving Pizza Who is on this seasonal quest? * Randi, did not consent to cannibalism. * Nate, did someone say beans? * Matt, hold me! * Amy, in a fugue state. And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The History of Frozen Pizza The simple act of turning on the oven, grabbing a frozen pizza out of the freezer, and baking it until the cheese melts, the toppings are hot, and the crust has a nice crunch, is actually something that has not been around very long. Sure, pizza made it’s way to the United States in the early 1900s thanks to Italian immigrants, but there wasn’t even the ability to preserve a pizza until freezers were made and home freezers became a regular thing, which wasn’t until the 40s and 50s. But with the popularity of pizza taking off after World War II, pizza restaurant owners in the U.S. started offering take-and-bake pizzas, and soon after, frozen pizzas were common in the grocery store. In the 50s, frozen pizza started taking off, with many regional companies raking in the dough. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that a brand rose to national fame. Rose and Jim Totino began mass-producing frozen pizzas in St. Louis Park, Minnesota in 1962 and by the 1970s, Totino’s became the country’s top-selling frozen pizza, with sales reaching $50 million by 1974. Totino’s was not a the only company reaching great pizza heights, however. In the 1960’s, Mama Celeste came onto the scene. Also, in 1966, the Simek brothers went from selling pizza in their bar, called The Tombstone Tap, to selling their frozen pizzas to other taverns. And by 1984, Tombstone Pizza was one of the top frozen pizza distributors. Who rolls on the scene next? Schwan’s of course, with the purchase of Kansas-based pizza manufacturer Tony’s. And in 1976, Schwan’s expanded their pizza business further by launching Red Baron, which is now one of the country’s leading pizza brands. By the 1980s, the market was worth $1 billion Today the top frozen pizza brands in the U.S. are… * Di Giorno - $319.28 million in annual sales * Red Baron - $255.73 million in annual sales * Totino’s Party Pizza - 104.22 million in annual sales * Jack’s - 91.48 million in annual sales * Tombstone - 57.43 million in annual sales The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Tombstone Loaded Bacon Cheddar French Fry Crust Pizza * Randi - It tastes like a loaded baked potato. - 7 * Nate - I was expecting to be underwhelmed. I’m slightly whelmed. - 7 * Matt - It’s not bad - it’s just really salty. - 5 * Amy - It’s giving me a Casey’s pizza breakfast pizza sauce vibe. - 5 Tombstone Chili Cheese French Fry Crust Pizza * Randi - Reminds me of chili cheese Fritos. - 5 * Nate - I’m not getting too much of the potato element. - 6 * Matt - It was okay. - 5 * Amy - This reminds me of a frozen burrito. - 6 DiGiorno Thanksgiving Pizza * Randi - I hate it so much. - 3 * Nate - There is too much gravy. - 4 * Matt - The turkey is somehow moist. - 5 * Amy - This is a very good crust. - 5 There you have it. Tombstone Pizza receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best....

On a vacation this past fall, Matt and I visited Silver Dollar City. Today we are trying Taffy made at the park! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which Taffy are we trying today? * Ghirardelli Jack-o-lanterns * Mike-n-Ike Sour Spooky Treats * Albanese Apple Harvest Gummies * Sour Patch Kids Apple Harvest * Nerds Gummy Clusters Spooky Who is on this quest? * Kris, aka Marshmallow Butterfinger * Matt, aka Snickerdoodle Kit Kat * Amy, fire in the hole! And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Mystic River Splash (Fruit Punch) * Amy - “Not getting the fruit punch.” - 4 * Matt - “It has a detergent aftertaste.” - 4 * Kris - “If you are doing fruit punch, you have to go for it.” - 4 Caramel Apple * Amy - “This tastes like it’s supposed to.” - 5 * Matt - “Pretty darn good apple flavor.” - 6 * Kris - “I want the apple to be really sour.” - 7 Cookie Dough * Amy - “I’d rather have my taffy taste fruity.” - 4 * Matt - “I’d rather eat cookie crisp.” - 4 * Kris - “This smell is weird.” - 5 Fire in the Hole (Lemonade and Cinnamon) * Amy - “I’d rather just have lemonade.” - 4 * Matt - “It’s interesting.” - 4 * Kris - “The lemonade really stands out.” - 4 Grape * Amy - “It’s like if you chewed grape bubble gum for 3 days too long.” - 3 * Matt - “I was thinking it was some nasty ass sweet potato.” - * Kris - “It does not taste like grape.” - 3 Root Beer * Amy - “It hits okay for a minute.” - 3 * Matt - “No.” - 4 * Kris - “Black licorice… oh hellllll no.” - 2 Cherry Cola * Amy - “It smells like the Bubbalicious cherry cola.” - 4 * Matt - “It takes a nasty turn.” - 2 * Kris - “Is that cleaning products?!” - 3 There you have it. Caramel Apple receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite? We would love to hear your rating! Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

200 Episodes!?!?! CRAZY!In honor of this amazing milestone, we have decided to do a battle between two local BBQ joints, Starbeck’s vs. Cindy Lou’s. Because who doesn’t love some good good BBQ? Which menu items will we be trying? * Brisket * Pulled Pork * Smoked Turkey * Corn Bread * Cole Slaw * Mashed Potatoes * Baked Beans Who is joining this battle? * Nate, surprise meat. * Kris, is a saucy guy. * Matt, tater guy. * Amy, too earthy. And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Sorry Folks, Totally missed this edit. So let’s turn back time to… Halloween! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which candies are we trying today? * Ghirardelli Jack-o-lanterns * Mike-n-Ike Sour Spooky Treats * Albanese Apple Harvest Gummies * Sour Patch Kids Apple Harvest * Nerds Gummy Clusters Spooky Who is on this quest? * Randi, the sane one. * Nate, can’t follow that up. * Matt, making his own gravy. * Amy, tickle tickle. And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Albanese Apple Harvest Gummies * Amy - “They are very juicy.” - 5 * Matt - “They were soft and squishy.” - 6 * Nate - “What an unpleasant thing to chew on.” - 3 * Randi - “The Granny Smith is the best.” - 7 Sour Patch Kids Apple Harvest * Amy - “The flavors were not great.” - 4 * Matt - “They would have gotten a 6 if they were shaped like children.” - 5 * Nate - “Obnoxiously sweet.” - 2 * Randi - “I generally like Sour Patch Kids but I didn’t love the flavors.” - 5 Mike and Ike Sour Spooky Treats * Amy - “That is super sour.” - 7 * Matt - “I didn’t expect grape to be sour like that.” - 5 * Nate - “These just hurt my teeth.” - 2 * Randi - “Not a big fan of the sour or texture.” - 5 Ghirardelli Jack-o-lanterns * Amy - “It’s too sweet for me.” - 5 * Matt - “I’m not a big fruit and chocolate guy.” - 4 * Nate - “It has a gooey center.” - 4 * Randi - “That wasn’t well executed.” - 4 Nerds Gummy Clusters Spooky * Amy - “These are good but not my favorite gummy cluster.” - 6 * Matt - “They are alright.” - 5 * Nate - “This makes sense as I chew it.” - 3 * Randi - “I really like Nerd Gummy Clusters.” - 7 There you have it. Nerds Gummy Clusters and Albanese Gummies receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite? We would love to hear your rating! Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

We travel, we explore, we buy food, we go back home, we podcast about it.Let’s do it. Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which popped corns are we trying today? * Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joe’s * Silver Dollar City Peanut Brittle Premium Goo Goo Who is on this quest? * Kris - kris kris kris kris kris kris * Nate - nate nate nate nate nate nate * Matt - matt matt matt matt matt matt * Amy - amy amy amy amy amy amy And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Silver Dollar City Peanut Brittle Premium Goo Goo * Amy - “It needs less vanilla.” - 4 * Matt - “I’d rather have a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup.” - 3 * Kris - “Nothing is sticking out.” - 3 * Nate - “More like premium poo poo.” - 2 Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joe’s * Amy - “Sometimes the flavor isn’t quite right, it’s almost earthy.” - 6 * Matt - “It’s over pepperminted.” - 6 * Kris - “It is slightly like dirt at times. But it’s a decent cookie.” - 7 * Nate - “Im disappointed but not really disappointed.” - 7 There you have it. Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peppermint Joe Joe’s receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Thanksgiving was just yesterday, and today you are probably out shopping. And in your shopping adventure, you may see some Thanksgiving seasoned popcorn. Should you buy it? Listed and find out. Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which popped corns are we trying today? * Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn * Casey’s Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn Who is on this quest? * Kris - Three best friends that anyone can have. * Nate - Three best friends that anyone can have. * Matt - Three best friends that anyone can have. * Amy - Subscribe! And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Casey’s Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn * Amy - “It tastes like Stovetop Stuffing smells.” - 3 * Matt - “Oooh no!!!” - 3 * Kris - “Why not just buy stuffing.” - 3 * Nate - “Who needs to be fired for making this?” - 1 Trader Joe’s Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Popcorn * Amy - “This is much better than the Casey’s.” - 4 * Matt - “There is a bit of a Funyun flavor in it.” - 4 * Kris - “Whoa! What’s that there at the end?!” - 4 * Nate - “Audible sigh?” - 2 There you have it. Neither of these receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Every time I go to the grocery store, it is just new chip after new chip. Weird chips, crazy chips, hopefully tasty chips… Let’s find out! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which chips are we trying today? * Beanito’s Black Bean Tortilla Chip * Funyun Hot and Spicy Chicken Ramen * Lay’s Hot Sauce * Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos * Lay’s Kettle Cooked Cheesy Buffalo Dip Who is on this quest? * Kris - Never go full retard. * Matt - Earl of Chip. * Amy - Subscribe! And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Beanito’s Black Bean Tortilla Chip * Amy - “Nope! Nope! That’s horrible!” - 2 * Matt - “They don’t get better.” - 3 * Kris - “That tastes like baby vomit.” - 2 Funyun Hot and Spicy Chicken Ramen * Amy - “That heat hits right in the back of the throat.” - 5 * Matt - “Quite a bit too spicy for me.” - 4 * Kris - “It’s exactly what I thought it was going to be.” - 6 Lay’s Hot Sauce * Amy - “Tastes like hot sauce.” - 4 * Matt - “I like the flavor a bit better but too hot for me to mess with.” - 4 * Kris - “It does have a decent little kick to it.” - 5 Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos * Amy - “It’s the cheddary part that I don’t like.” - 5 * Matt - “This is one of those flavor adventures.” - 5 * Kris - “You get hamburger queso, then some chive, then bean.” - 6 Lay’s Kettle Cooked Cheesy Buffalo Dip * Amy - “Nope, not for me.” - 3 * Matt - “It was eh.” - 4 * Kris - “The burp is not any better.” - 3 There you have it. Lay’s Wavy Loaded Nachos receives the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Which is your favorite chip? We would love to hear your rating! Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. And of course, remember to subscribe to hear the latest episodes. And chip in on the podcast! Whatever value you get out of this entertainment, send it back our way. We thank you for the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

We randomly found some crazy new candy bar flavors in the store recently. Let’s see if these are any good! Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks! Who are our Questers today? * Kris, stop it. * Matt, aka Carl. * Amy, changing it up. Which candy bars are we trying today? * Oreo Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups * Snickerdoodle Twix * Marshmallow Butterfinger The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Oreo Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups * Amy: “I wish there was less shitty chocolate.” 3/10 * Kris: “This is terrible, peanut butter is good though.” 4/10 * Matt: “People were raving about this?” 4/10 TOTAL: 11/30 Twix Snickerdoodle * Amy: “This is really horrible.” 3/10 * Kris: “Why?” 3/10 * Matt: “That was not good.” 4/10 TOTAL: 12/30 Butterfinger Marshmallow * Amy: “I do not mind this, I’d eat this again.” 5/10 * Kris: “I’d coat this in chocolate instead.” 5/10 * Matt: “It’s just alright.” 5/10 TOTAL: 15/30 There you have it. We give the Butterfinger Marshmallow the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some. https://www.butterfinger.com/find-in-store Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Today we are trying out the new Pizza Hut Flatzz. Let’s see if these are worthy of ordering again! Which Flats are we trying? * Nashville Hot Chicken * Ultimate * Chicken Bacon Ranch Who is brave enough to battle it out? * Kris, can’t out pizza the hut. * Matt, wants to argue. * Amy, subscribe! And of course, thanks to our subscribers who are helping us build this small but excellent podcast! We appreciate the support! The History of Pizza Hut The history of Pizza Hut dates back to 1958 when two brothers, Frank and Dan Carney of Wichita Kansas, started a small pizza joint with $600 they borrowed from their mom. They named the restaurant Pizza Hut for one simple reason. Their sign only had room for eight letters. The restaurant, which was located by the Wichita State University’s campus, was pretty much an instant hit. Within a year and a half two more locations would open up. One thing that was key to their success was letting customers sample the pizza, since it was new. As soon as the people would try the pizza, they became instant customers. With the success of these first three locations, franchisees flocked to the brothers, wanting to open their own locations. And the brothers kept the fees low so people could easily start them up and rapidly grow the business. By 1966 there were 145 locations. At this time, the brothers were beginning to worry about growing competition as they looked to keep expanding. They partnered with Richard Burke , an artist and architect, and came up with the red roof design to help set them apart from all the other pizza joints. In 1969, the familiar red roof was adopted for all the Pizza Hut restaurants. By 1971, Pizza Hut was the number one pizza restaurant chain in the world in both sales and number of restaurants. And by 1972 the 1,000th location opened. Some other notable dates include… * 1980: The Pan Pizza was introduced * 1984: Book It reading incentive program was launched with 200,000 elementary students enrolled. And who can forget their book it pin and those wonderful personal pan pizza rewards? * 1986: Pizza Hut celebrated the opening of its 5,000th restaurant, located in Dallas, Texas. * 1988: Hand-Tossed Traditional Pizza is introduced throughout all Pizza Hut restaurants. * 1989: First Lady Barbara Bush throws a pizza party for 200 Washington D.C. children during a “Reading is Fundamental” reception, ordering all the pizza from the Hut. * 1994: Pizza Hut becomes the first national chain to offer pizza delivery ordering on the internet. * 1995: Pizza Hut launches Original Stuffed Crust, which immediately set company sales records. * 2016: Pizza Hut sets a world record by making a pizza delivery to Mt. Kilimanjaro to celebrate opening in its 100th country. Today Pizza Hut has over 18,000 locations worldwide. The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Ultimate * Kris: “It’s a wet churched up frozen pizza.” 4/10 * Amy: “I expected it to be more flat bready.” 4/10 * Matt: “It does have a moisture issue.” 5/10 Total: 13/30 Nashville Hot Chicken * Kris: “I wish it was grilled chicken on it instead of the nuggy.” 5/10 * Amy: “The dill ranch is my favorite part of it.” 5/10 * Matt: “My mouth’s a burnin’.” 5/10 Total: 15/30 Chicken Bacon Ranch * Kris: “I don’t like how the bacon is the small pieces.” 4/10 * Amy: “I don’t like that each slice just has a chicken nugget in it.” 4/10 * Matt: “The corner pieces are better.” 6/10 Total: 14/30 There you have it. After trying 3 different menu items from Pizza Hut, Nashville Hot Chicken gets the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Check out their website to find a location near you. https://www.pizzahut.com/c/content/crafted-flatzz Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these menu items? Which one was your favorite? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the...

Time for mOreo Cookies! Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks! Who are our Questers today? * Kris, getting double stuffed. * Matt, crazy scientist. * Amy, on the fence. Which cookies are we trying today? * Blueberry Pie Oreos * Apple Pie A La Mode Oreos * Reese’s Oreos A History of Oreos So the first Oreo cookie was produced in 1912 at the Chelsea Market in Manhattan. As everyone knows, an Oreo is basically a sandwich cookie made from two chocolate cookies sandwiching a disc of vanilla frosting. Oreos are actually sort of a knock off. Hydrox cookies were already on the market. These kosher cookies were introduced in 1908 as two chocolate shortbread cookies with a vanilla fondant center. These cookies had a scalloped edge and a design on the top of the cookie. Oreos and Hydrox are supposed to be very similar and Hydrox cookies are still sold today. So the original Oreo was introduced in 1912. It wouldn’t be until 1974 that the Double Stuf was introduced. In 1992 the Oreo Minis came to stores. In 2013 minds were blown by the Oreo Mega Stuf. And if Mega Stuf was not enough, the Most Stuf was introduced in 2019 which has 4x the amount of frosting as the original. The 2010s is when Oreo started releasing limited edition runs on their flavors, which is why we have the pleasure of trying out these Neapolitan cookies today. Oreo is the best-selling cookie of the 20th century. Approximately 34 billion Oreo cookies are sold each year, 92 million cookies per day - with 10 billion of those cookies sold in the US annually. An estimated 500 billion Oreo cookies have been sold since the Oreo biscuit was introduced. The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Blueberry Pie * Amy: “Tastes like most blueberry things I have had.” 6/10 * Kris: “You get the blueberry right away.” 6/10 * Matt: “Mmmm Mmmm.” 6/10 TOTAL: 18/30 Apple Pie A la Mode * Amy: “Tastes like a caramel apple sucker minus the caramel.” 4/10 * Kris: “There is something I’m not liking.” 3/10 * Matt: “It’s a super sugary Apple Jack.” 5/10 TOTAL: 12/30 Reese’s Oreos * Amy: “It tastes like a Nutter Butter.” 5/10 * Kris: “It has a roasted nut flavor that Reese’s doesn’t really have.” 7/10 * Matt: “It is very nutty.” 7/10 TOTAL: 19/30 There you have it. We give the Blueberry Pie and Reese’s Oreo Sandwich Cookies the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some. https://www.oreo.com/ Thank you for joining us on this mini episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Oreos? What were your thoughts? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! Show Notes: https://www.rd.com/article/dunking-cookies-in-milk/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Coke, Mt. Dew, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper… These are all sodas that have a huge collection of soda flavors. Some good, and some are complete abominations. So, let’s see if A&W can show these other soda brands a run for their money. Help us sustain our podcast with a donation. Please and thanks! Who are our Questers today? * Kris, patching up his swearing. * Matt, chocolate soda kid. * Amy, I’ll take two root beers please. The History of Root Beer Well the first thing you should know is that the drink we know today is quite different from the original root beers. Root teas and medicines were very common in America’s past. Indigenous people of North America brewed medicinal teas out of roots, barks, berries, and flowers. Sassafras, wintergreen and sarsaparilla were plants that were thought to boost immune function, reduce inflammation, combat allergies, and more. Therefore, they were not used for everyday consumption, but for medicinal purposes. When European colonists brought “small beer” to the Americas, they saw what the indigenous people were doing with roots and decided to add it to these beverages. You see, “small beers” were low-alcoholic beverages that colonists made by shortening the fermentation time of the brew or by re-using grain from stronger beers. In the 1870s everything changed however, thanks to pharmacist Charles E. Hires. Philadelphia pharmacist Charles Elmer Hires discovered a recipe for an herbal tea while in New Jersey. Not long after, he began selling a dry version of the tea blend but it had to be mixed with water, sugar, and yeast and left to ferment for the carbonation process to take place. Hires began working on a liquid formulation for a carbonated root beer beverage shortly after, with the goal to be more appealing to the masses. His concoction contained more than 25 herbs, berries, and roots that Hires used to flavor carbonated soda water. Hires introduced his root beer to the public at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial exhibition where it was a huge hit. In 1893, the Hires family sold and distributed their first bottled root beer. The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! A&W Root beer Ice Cream Sundae * Amy: “It fits the bill for Ice Cream Sundae.” 4/10 * Kris: “I wish it had more root beer flavor.” 5/10 * Matt: “It’s a Tootsie Pop kind of chocolate.” 4/10 TOTAL: 13/30 There you have it. We do not give A&W Ice Cream Sundae Rooter the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried this? What were your thoughts? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! SHOW NOTES: https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-root-beer-1992386 https://sprecherbrewery.com/blogs/blog/the-history-of-root-beer This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

You can pretty much never go wrong with popcorn! Let’s see if AMC can keep the popcorn party train going with their microwave popcorn! Help us sustain our podcast and keep us trying foods like these! Which flavors are we trying today? * AMC Classic Butter * AMC Extra Butter * AMC Cinnamon Butter Who is on this seasonal quest? * Randi, the only normal one. * Nate, savory boy. * Matt, pegged. * Amy, damn straight. And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE! The History of Popcorn While you may automatically think of movie theaters, air poppers, or stove tops, popcorn dates back thousands of years. Corn was probably cultivated as a domesticated crop around 9,000 years ago, but it wasn’t until 2012 that archaeologists unearthed the first evidence of popcorn in Peru; 6,700-year-old cobs studded with puffed kernels. While maize was grown throughout Mesoamerica, South America, and North America, it was also a very important cultural staple for some tribes. Popcorn was integral to early 16th century Aztec tradition. Aztec Indians used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces, and ornaments on statues of their gods, including Tlaloc, the god of rain and fertility. Early popcorn likely resembled parched corn, which is made by cooking dried kernels in a frying pan. It would be thousands of years of careful cultivation of a few different strains of corn before we would be chowing down on the fluffy kernels we love today. One invention that would ensure the survival of popcorn was the steel plow in the mid-1800s. Soon after this invention, corn became such an important cash crop in Nebraska, Iowa, and Indiana, that it was dubbed “prairie gold.” With all this “prairie gold” came innovation on how to pop the corn. Inventions such as corn-popping devices that had a stay-cool handle burst onto the popcorn scene. And in 1885, Charles Crestors invented a lightweight electric machine that popped corn in oil, allowing vendors to travel and to make bank. Popcorn has been a cheap snack for a long time, but to these vendors, it was an excellent source of income. And nothing boosted that income more than movie theaters. When the first wave of theaters opened in the 1920s and 30s, popcorn wasn’t allowed however. Actually, no foods or drinks were allowed in an effort to keep the theaters clean and pristine. As the industry grew, and technology advanced, going from silent movies to audible movies, movie theaters shifted their stances to help bring in more patrons and money. Movie theaters started renting portions of their lobbies to popcorn and snack vendors. There are depression-era stories of farmers and vendors who made thousands of dollars during the great depression, which is quite a feat. Some other fun facts about this delicious snack… * Iowa actually is an important place when it comes to popcorn. The first commercial popcorn brand started here. Iowa’s Albert Dickinson Co. sold popcorn under the names of Big Buster and Little Buster in the 1880s. * Popcorn was once a popular breakfast food. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, popcorn was eaten just as we eat cereal today. You may remember the history of John Harvey Kellogg and his Battle Creek Sanitorium health spa… Well Kellog praised popcorn as being “easily digestible and to the highest degree wholesome, presenting the grain in its entirety and hence superior to many denatured breakfast foods which are found in the market.” * During World War II, sugar was sent overseas for U.S. Troops which meant American’s ate three times as much popcorn as usual. * The first microwave popcorn was released in 1981. It contained perishable butter and required refrigeration. In 1984 shelf-stable versions hit stores and in 1986 Americans bought $250 million worth of popcorn. * And the final tidbit of information I will give you...

Some random candy bars! YAY! Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! Who are our Questers today? * Randi, prematurely optimistic. * Nate, producing a smell quite fowl. * Matt, will do anything for love. * Amy, covering my s**t. The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Butterfinger Salted Caramel * Randi: “Not everything has to be salted caramel.” 5/10 * Amy: “I don’t mind it.” 5/10 * Nate: “It’s better as a chocolate treat.” 4/10 * Matt: “It’s a terrible scotcharoo.” 5/10 TOTAL: 19/40 Hostess Twinkies Candy Bar * Randi: “I can’t each much of that.” 4/10 * Amy: “Not bad, but cannot eat more.” 4/10 * Nate: “It’s pure sugar.” 3/10 * Matt: “That’s too sweet.” 4/10 TOTAL: 15/40 There you have it. We do not give either of these the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

There are a ton of different Reeces bars out there. But it seemed like it had been a while since a new flavor has come out and suddenly, they can’t stop. So today we are trying the PB&J cups! Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! Who are our Questers today? * Casaundra, getting the side eye. * Kris, bring me all your quarters. * Matt, under pressure. * Amy, kickin’ out BTUs. The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Grape * Casaundra: “I’m not instantly repulsed.” 3/10 * Amy: “This is like the worst grape soda flavor.” 3/10 * Kris: “What is this??” 2/10 * Matt: “Who knew peanut butter and Robitussin went well together.” 4/10 TOTAL: 12/40 Strawberry * Casaundra: “It’s musty!” 1/10 * Amy: “It reminds me of something….” 3/10 * Kris: “Some of us are puking.” 2/10 * Matt: “What is this flavor… PB&Balls?.” 3/10 TOTAL: 9/40 There you have it. We do not give the Reese’s PB&J Big Cups the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some. shop.hersheys.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these? What were your thoughts? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. Help us sustain our podcast by donating! We appreciate the support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

What should I have for breakfast this morning? If I was smart, I’d go with a banana or some other piece of fruit. But no. I think a PopTart sounds good. And to really sell it on the balanced breakfast idea - I’ll make them Girl Scout cookie PopTarts. Thanks for joining us today. As always, let us know in the comments if there is a new food you really want us to try out. Also, be a pal of the show and donate! Who are our Questers today? * Randi, can’t even. * Nate, not yet pregnant. * Matt, as always. * Amy, who is in charge of this circus?! A Mini History Pop Tarts In 1963 Post Cereals adapted a process for enclosing food in foil to keep it fresh without spoiling. And with this process, they made a new toaster-prepared breakfast food. These fruit-filled pastries could be shipped and stored without having to be refrigerated. In 1964, Post unveiled this product, called Country Squares. But unfortunately, Post was slow to release the product to stores and six months later, in September of 1964, Kellogg’s swooped in, stealing the market with a new product called Fruit Scones. The first toaster pastries that were produced were all unfrosted. They came in four flavors. Apple Currant Jelly, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Brown Sugar-Cinnamon. In 1967 the first frosted Pop-Tarts hit the shelves with four flavors as well. (Any guesses on the flavors?) Dutch Apple, Concord Grape, Raspberry, and Brown Sugar Cinnamon. Today, around 2 billion Pop Tarts are sold each year in the United States. The best selling Pop Tart? Strawberry, followed by Brown Sugar Cinnamon and S’mores. The Results **SPOILER ALERT!** Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet! Thin Mint * Nate: “I get a little tinge of mint in there.” 4/10 * Randi: “This would not be one I would ever have again.” 4/10 * Amy: “I would never buy this again.” 4/10 * Matt: “Not great texture.” 4/10 TOTAL: 16/40 Coconut Caramel * Nate: “I don’t get caramel or coconut, definitely not good coconut.” 3/10 * Randi: “I did not like this.” 4/10 * Amy: “It smells like the back room of a candle store.” 2/10 * Matt: “It smells really maply.” 4/10 TOTAL: 13/40 There you have it. We do NOT give either of these Pop Tarts the Quest for the Best seal of approval. Maybe you still want to give it a try? Check out their website for more information on where to find some. https://www.poptarts.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried these Pop Tarts? What were your thoughts? Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next. Thanks again for the support. Until next time, stay sane out there. Show Notes: https://medium.com/@tonylow/the-pop-tart-story-6a5269062bb9 https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-selling-poptarts-flavors_n_5836520 https://www.mashed.com/117295/untold-truth-pop-tarts/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit questforthebestpodcast.substack.com/subscribe