YOUR WEEKLY DIGESTION OF FOOD NEWS TO CONSUME...IS BACK YA'LL! WITH POP-TARTS!

After all that "fine dining" while on vacation I figured I would get back to eating the trashy American way with that ubiquitous of childhood breakfast foods, pop-tarts. Seems every time I run through the grocery store these days they are rolling out a new flavor with varying degrees of success. A few I have no interest in, but sometimes they catch my eye. This time around it was a peanut butter and jelly pop-tart, one I'm surprised they had never tried before. It seems so simple considering the filling on their tarts is jelly like so why not add some peanut butter. This iteration is a basic pastry with strawberry filling on the inside topped with a peanut butter flavored frosting on top (and those red sprinkles I remember from their red velvet version). For me, heated was the only way to go with these. It seemed to make the peanut flavor come through more than just right out of the back. It also heightened the smell of peanuts too which can add more sensory flavor. I do think they could have added more peanut butter flavor or whatever to this by putting more inside the tart and also kicking up the strawberry flavor more, they were not in even balance here. Better yet, I remember they used to make a grape flavored one and I think that may have been a better choice of jelly flavors to go with instead of strawberry here. Plus, as I think for most folks, our PB&J's were usually of the grape jelly variety growing up. And yes, before you ask, I did try these with the addition of butter in both hot and room temp versions. And as much as it pains me to say, the butter did not add to the flavor profile. Peanut butter itself is already a little salty and the butter just added more of that. I also tried adding a little smear of Jif to it also, but it just masked the strawberry flavor even more. I'll just chalk this up as a good attempt but ultimately a miss to me. That's not to say that with some tweaks or the aforementioned grape addition I could be totally on board with this flavor combo. Otherwise, I'll just take a pass on these and wait to see what they have coming....wait, what? Hmmm....looks like they are having a contest for some new flavors--strawberry chocolate (no), blue raspberry (why) and cinnamon roll! Now that I could be interested in, and can you imagine how that would taste with some butter?! Guess it's time to put on the stretchy pants and hit the grocery store. I'll get back to you after I come out of my buttered sugar coma. 

• The Crafty Fox, a new alehouse is now open at Mission and Duboce because who doesn't want a beer garden right next to a freeway overpass!
• ChefsFeed has gotten a new look. Now Chefs can critique their own stuff and make recommendations for you instead of that pesky Yelp! thing. 
• It's the return of Richie Nakano's pop-up--just don't call it Hapa Ramen. Though ramen will be served. 
• Another Castro restaurant was shut for vermin infestation. Not to worry though, it's been quickly taken care of and they are reopen. Crunchy hamburgers not included. 
• Celebrate your upcoming Bastille Day at these fine local French haunts. Vive le France! (or stay home and watch Le Miz the movie and order in)
• Here's a wrap up of all the food business going on in the Richmond District, in case it's tough to get there for you.
• The new Belga seems to be the best reason to go to the Marina District. You know, if you are not into ponytails and yoga pants and bros. 
• And yet another local brewery has opened. This time in Lower Haight called Black Sands.
• Seems Seattle may not have worked out, thus Wes Shaw has returned to Presidio Social Club to work his magic.
• Yes, Chipotle raised prices to cover the wage hike, it's still a bargain though compared to other places in town. 
• Creme Brulee brick and mortar location now closed permanently. Future of the carts also up in the air. Not so vive le France.
• Weird Fish now Urban Fish instead of the French bistro previously announced. Again, not so vive le France, seems like a trend.