Thursday, May 15, 2008

Popcornopolis--The Prada of Popcorn

PopcornopolisSince I had a list of Anchorage activities for you today and most of you don't live in Anchorage (poor souls) here's something for you in a wider geographical range.

I haven't ever explained how I do product reviews, but if someone writes me with a product they want me to review I'm rather particular. I don't like writing posts that blast a product out of the water--seems a rather cheap shot. So if I can tell that I won't like something I'll turn them down. I'm fine pointing out a product's shortcomings or drawbacks but I'm only going to promote stuff I think has legitimate value--it's only fair to people reading to get honest feedback.

So. . . a couple weeks ago I got an email asking me if I'd like to try some samples of gourmet popcorn. I guess I'm a complete hick because I pictured vaguely in the back of my mind a box with packages of wrapped, unpopped, microwave-type popcorn but I was busy that day and said "sure" without much thought then promptly forgot about it.

Until the Fedex guy rang my bell. I love the Fedex guy.

He handed me a HUGE box from Popcornopolis, which the kids ripped open with wild abandon, to find GOURMET POPCORN. Yes, it deserves caps because this wasn't your everyday popcorn it was a giant tin filled with eight kinds of honest-to-goodness fancy-schmancey popcorn. The Prada of popcorn.

Almond-caramel, white chocolate and caramel, cheddar cheese, kettle corn, dark chocolate and caramel, zebra (white and dark chocolate together), cinnamon toast--it was some serious popcorn. There was even a bow and a nice note saying: Michelle, I hope you like the popcorn. Jean-Pierre.

Funny thing was, I left it on the counter while I prepared dinner. Andrew came home and wandered in to find our kitchen counter overflowing with the beautifully wrapped basket of sweet treats and the note directed personally to his wife signed by Jean-Pierre. I loved it--it's good to keep the husband on his toes, you know?

"What's this?" he wanted to know, suspicious that maybe the blogging thing had officially gotten out of control and that strange French men sending his wife gift baskets was an unexpected downside. I explained where it had come from and suddenly he was definitely okay with being the guinea pig for popcorn experimentation.

Anyway, the story is growing long but I'll just say that we were going out that night with friends and brought out the popcorn for after-dinner treats and sampling and I can report without reservation that all six of us thought the stuff was amazing. As in, "If I eat all this popcorn at one sitting and it kills me then I'm fully prepared to go out in such a glorious finish."

You wouldn't think there was that much popcorn in the basket but we ended up leaving a couple bags with our friends because we couldn't finish it all and I feared my utter lack of self-control when it came to that tasty stuff (but not the white chocolate-caramel kind--oh no, that stuff was good and I was keeping that for myself--I sigh just thinking of it). The next day I even had the thought that I should maybe take a bag out to my grandfather whom I hadn't seen in a couple weeks.

When I gave him the bag he got completely nostalgic and mushy, talking about how much he loves popcorn, especially caramel popcorn, because when he was a boy back in Washington they grew popcorn on his family farm during the Depression. He talked about eating popcorn all the time and suddenly we were waltzing down memory lane--all over a bag of popcorn.

Who knows what this stuff is capable of. Maybe they should consider a new slogan.

Popcornopolis: bringing families together, establishing world peace and aligning the planets.

So take my honest opinion for what it's worth. I will say that Popcornopolis is just a little expensive--the tub I received runs nearly $50--but you get a lot of popcorn. I thought the kettle corn was good but not remarkable (I've never been much of a fan of plain old kettle corn though). The cheddar was good compared to typical cheddar varieties but again, it's not naturally my favorite kind. My favorites were the cinnamon toast and chocolate varieties which were wonderful--all I need is a bathtub full of that stuff and life would be complete.

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25 comments:

John said...

" ... most of you don't live in Anchorage (poor souls) ... "

That's true, but only now do I feel the keen pain of deprivation.

But seriously, isn't that where you get mosquitoes the size of vultures??

Erica Douglas said...

Wow, that looks soooo tasty.

Suburban Correspondent said...

Too bad the note didn't read "Thanks for giving me a chance - Jean-Pierre"

It's killing me - he would have to have a French name, too, wouldn't he? My husband would have been assuming all sorts of awful things.

I'd love the FedEx man if he brought me stuff like that, too.

Anonymous said...

Gourmet popcorn is a beautiful thing indeed!

Anonymous said...

We've tried a different variety of gourmet popcorn and some of it is sooo good! Will have to keep an eye for this brand :))

Love the card from Jean-Pierre! I wish the Fed Ex guy would bring me some goodies... I'd be forever greatful ! ( I know that's spelled wrong, but every time I try to correct it, I keep typing GREAT !) yum! :)

Anonymous said...

My son has found a great way to use up old popcorn (is there such a thing? Doesn't all popcorn get scoffed the minute it touches the table?). He uses it for his junk modelling "it makes brilliant scabs and sores on trolls" he tells me!

Flea said...

Now see, I discovered kettle corn at a fair a few years ago and I can't get enough of it.

So this popcorn - not microwavable?

Anonymous said...

I have never coveted another blogger's freebies more than this one... I LOVE POPCORN! Those flavors sound so decadent!

And the Jean-Pierre note... that's awesome!

Anonymous said...

Yummm....that was good popcorn. My favorite was the cheddar and it didn't even last 24 hours after you left it! Great dessert!

Sheila said...

Chocolate popcorn...

You've got to be kidding!

That sounds heavenly. And dangerous. Right now the kids are eating ice cream and I'm trying to avoid the temptation by getting on the internet, and then I see chocolate popcorn. But popcorn is low fat, right?

Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!

luckyzmom said...

Sounds fabulous.

Annie said...

I love the FedEx man too. Just today he brought me a bouquet of flowers (from my sister and brother in law...how nice) I loved your post about things to do in Anchorage. I have been to the Seward Mountain Marathon...it is a blast! Thanks for sharing...and making me soooo jealous!

Anonymous said...

does this pop corn company deliver to Alaska??? sometimes I want to have a nice gourmet goody delivered to my sister (in Anchorage) and the company only ships to continental U.S.A.....

or they have ridiculously outrageous shipping fees to Alaska...

Scribbit said...

Jen--it appears that they ship either Fedex ground (also to Alaska), 2-day or overnight. I'm afraid I didn't give that much thought as I didn't order it myself.

Jennifer said...

I guess I have lived a sheltered life. I had no idea they could do amazing things with popcorn but of course with chocolate involved who could go wrong?

Thanks for the review. It is nice to have information about things like that for the people in your life that just might have everything....sigh someday maybe I will be one of those people and get to eat decadent popcorn:)

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love the part about your grandpa growing popcorn on his family farm during the depression. I'm have beautiful visions of popcorn popping on popcorn trees! Too cute!

Daisy said...

Mmmmm. Kind of like Dale and what's his name -- Thomas? Is that it? But they don't sound as exciting as Jean-Pierre.

Melissa said...

oh my gosh michelle... curtis and I have been going through a popcorn withdrawl ever since we had some of that popcorn! Sooooooo goooood! Seriously, pop corn now just doesn't taste as good now:(

Ter said...

Yum! I love popcorn. I wish your FedEx man was in my area... hehe

How do you even get random emails to try products? I probably would think it's a scam and delete the email!

Shalee said...

That's the kind of reviews that I love to do! You got a good one, it would appear.

My mom used to work at a store called "The Popcorn Factory" for a short time. Oh My Lands did we discover the love of candied or flavored popcorn! I particularly remember liking the watermelon and the cinnamon ones...

Magpie said...

Cinnamon toast! Man, that sounds good.

Stephanie said...

It was great to hear about your "policy" regarding reviews. I feel the exact same way. I only agree to review products that I think I will like and, if I don't like them, I always let the company know and don't write the review. I want my reviews to be completely honest so that my readers can make an informed decision if they decide to go out and purchase the product...

P.S. The popcorn sounds really tasty - and the company's customer service sounds pretty amazing too. That alone would make me take a "second look."

Enzie Shahmiri said...

The Prada of Popcorn - that's a good one and made me chuckle! Better taste awfully good!

Ice Cream said...

I knew I should have stayed away from this post. Now I'm craving carmel-chocolate popcorn.

Damselfly said...

What? You mean not all mom bloggers get gift baskets from French men?

What I like is just just plain ol' butter on mine....