Okay, so, first I'd like to thank pne

[conuly]

He introduced me to we_swap_snacks and I'm so in my first snack swap.

I got matched with somebody in Saskatchewan. Which I apparently can't spell. Hold on. Spellcheck, I choose you!

Huh, there's an a in that word. Got it.

So, as I was saying, I got matched with a Canadian. I was hoping for somebody overseas, but I've never been to Canada, so that's all right.

Having never been to Our Neighbor to the North, I have no idea what sort of snacks are common there, so I'd love it if my Canadian friends can post about snacks they miss after visiting here, or things they've seen in the media but have never personally had. Also, I'm going to keep a running list once I get it started of things I'm buying to swap, so any critiques of "Man, that's ALL OVER THE PLACE" would be useful. I'd hate to embarrass myself sending something she can pick up down the block for a buck!

I'd also like to send some NYC-specific treats, and here I have the opposite problem. Having lived in this city pretty much my whole life, I have no idea what's NYC-specific! If it doesn't say I ♥ NY on it, how can I tell? (And I really am reluctant to buy tourist crap.) I may post in newyorkers for help picking NYC-specific snacks and convenience foods.

Any advice?

I hopped over to the corner store to get some coffee for my mom, and so far I picked up:

1 bag hot cheese popcorn (Wise)
1 bag white cheddar popcorn (Wise)
1 bag onion garlic potato chips (Wise)
1 bag fried plantains
1 bag American smarties
1 package of yodels
1 package of apple pies
1 peanutty bars
1 hostess orange cupcakes
1 twinkies (ew)
1 snowballs (actually, no, they were out, but I intend to!)

Comments

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Hm...if she's somewhere other than Regina or Saskatoon, getting some international-type treats might be good if it fits in the spirit of the exchage. I have to admit, I haven't been a fan of most of the American chocolate I've tasted (though to be fair, I've heard many Americans say they cant stand Canadian chocolate) but to the best of my knowledge, some of the chocolate bars we don't get up here include Milky Way, Mounds, Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, and Heath bars.

Oh, and we don't have Trader Joe's here! I've really enjoyed getting snacks from there via an American friend.

[conuly]

God, Trader Joe's is soooooo crowded and cramped, though, and the only time I can really make it out is the Fourth of July. Which is already booked for me buying NYC Kettle Corn. (TELL me you guys don't have chili-lime popcorn up there!)

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

I've had it, but only in Toronto - Saskatchewan, I think you're safe. Unfortunately, most of the stuff I've seen advertised that we don't get here tends to be of the fast food/ice cream/beverage variety rather than packaged snacks.

Oh! I don't think we get those Starburst jelly beans here, and it might possibly be that Saskatchewan doesn't have regular Starburst at all.

[conuly]

Check the list. THE LIST!

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

The list looks good! We do have white cheddar popcorn here (Smart Food brand), smartie-like candies (under a different brand), and twinkies, but the rest are wonderful American mysteries.

[conuly]

You should join the comm if you haven't :) They have a surplus of Americans at the moment.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

I was actually planning to once I line up a permanent job and move - I enjoy hooking people on Coffee Crisps and Crunchies. :-)

[conuly]

Okay, good, good. I'll probably pick up some candy (as opposed to chips or pastries) tomorrow, as the swapper has specifically requested it, but in addition how about (since I'll be at the store anyway):

Pecan twirls?
Mango kool-aid (ICK! MANGO!)
Weird Korean jelly candies (if I can get 'em)
Some of the weirder flavors of poptarts
Cool Ranch Doritoes
Cheez Doodles (either crunchy or puffy)
Veggie Booty (because I can pick that up at the boat, rock!)
Kettle Chips - I'm a fan of Spicy Thai myself.
Multicolored (ick, I know) goldfish crackers

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

We do get Kettle Chips here, but the rest is all suitably unfamiliar.

*pictures multicoloured goldfish crackers - boggles*

[conuly]

You get Kettle Chips, Spicy Thai and all? Great, more for me! *huggles* Thank you so much, btw :)

[conuly]

I'm sorry to be picking your brain, but nobody else has commented :(

If I were to get something Specifically NYC... how about some Specifically NYC pickles like Rick's Picks? I'm thinking garlic dill, because that's always yummy and it's a very NYC type of pickle, but if it's popular up in Saskatchewan, again, I don't see the point.

Could always send some marshmallow fluff up... you have that? (Gosh, I feel so ignorant.)

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

I've actually not been to Saskatchewan, but I think pickles would be a great idea. There's a big Eastern/Central European population, but not really a deli scene like you get in Toronto or Montreal.

I have seen marshmallow fluff in the grocery stores out west here, but I don't think it's as well-known as it is down your way (if children's literature has correctly informed me).

[siderea]

I doubt they are replete in traditional Jewish delis. It's the wrong time of year, but if you can find Maneschewits chocolate macaroons (kosher for passover!) they're likely to be a hit.

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I think Canadian snacks would be pretty much the same as American snacks. We're not particularly "foreign."

[conuly]

I know, but we get what we get and, as Ana says, we "don't go killing people".

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

Well, if it helps, I know that we don't have Mounds or Almond Joy chocolate bars here in my part of the country.

And I have no idea what fluffernutters are, other than "an American treat."

[conuly]

Bread, peanut butter, and marshmallow fluff.

Which doesn't help if you know what PB and MF are but have never seen bread before in your life :P

[elfster.livejournal.com]

Drat now I'm distracted looking at all the swaps people have done ;).

Looks like just about everyone has more chip flavours than us. Mind you we do have vegemite and cheese flavoured potato chips (ick).

[amygooglegirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for recommending we_swap_snacks! It looks like a great community and I've requested to join :)

[pne.livejournal.com]

Whee!

I wish I had the money for another swap right now. International shipping is expensive, let me tell you.