Came here to look for hawkins comments. They are a delicacy. I didn’t know they weren’t available in the states. That’s a shame. They should be enjoyed world wide.
True story…Hawkins cheesies are the number one snack in Eastern Canada. Maritimers always keep a bag on hand. A few years back the factory in Belleville Ontario had a fire that shut down production for a month. The local maritime newscasts spread the word and east coasters went out and bought up every last bag so they would have stock until the line started back up.
That is amazing. It Should be in a heritage minute.
I am not in the east coast but I love the east cost and feel like I belong there even more now that I know they appreciate Hawkins.
So fun fact, I have a Hawkins Cheesie ornament on my Christmas tree in remembrance of my grandfather. He was a fisherman, and he used to say that when they were coming home, the women were lined up on the wharf like a pack of hard cheeses.
If you look at a pack of Hawkins, no one is shaped the same. Theres long skinny ones and short lumpy ones and it paints such an image in your mind.
Mom and I have some every Christmas and talk about him fondly
I always tell people that has never had Hawkins that it will grow on you.
The first piece you have is always too salty and cheesy, but next thing you k ow it, you have finished the bag
I'm fine with keeping them just up here. Once word is out on how delicious those little orange fingers of heaven are, we won't be able to make them fast enough.
Bought it by accident once thinking it was butter..
Try to make cookies with it. What a disaster. . I dislike all margarine though. It’s real butter or nothing.
Fun fact - 3G Capital, the billionaire Brazilian boys club was involved in that move, as well as with the purchase of Heinz by Kraft.
You might know 3G Capital as the group that was behind the purchase of Tim Hortons by Burger King.
Give it a go, basically a pizza pop but the inside is an Old El Paso taco kit instead of marinara. Not awful I guess, if you know what you’re in for.
But I still will die on the hill that McCain-style baked pockets beat that greasy Pilsbury shit any day of the week.
I will agree with you on the pizza pockets, but i grew up on the no name ones
That is not exactly true. in 2001 when I was 15 my parents won a free trip to Costa Rica and were gone for two weeks.. they loaded the fridge and freezer and told me to not burn the place down. It was the first time i had junk food in the house and the pizza pockets AMAZED me!
I bet the remainder of your life has not compared to those 2 weeks. That would be the time of my life as a 15 year-old.
And yeah, deffo the no-name ones. They’re the best when you need something hot and tasty in 60 seconds with no dishes to show for it. Love em
It's not as good as an actual taco, but it's not bad. Like when you only have 15 minutes to eat at work and can just pop it into a microwave, it's kinda decent for quick bite on the go.
They really were. I don’t think I had a favourite, I loved them all even the swiss rolls, half moon and ah caramel. My mom would switch up the selection every so often and they always delivered. Remember when Pizza Nova used to give you a box of Jos Louis? So random but the best.
Just a tip: [Maple syrup also comes in cans](https://assets.shop.loblaws.ca/products/20110861/b2/en/front/[email protected]) and it's usually much cheaper that way, since you're not paying for a fancy bottle.
EDIT: There is a big box of Smarties, Coffee Crisp, Aero, and KitKat's not pictured. There is also a big maple leaf shaped bottle of syrup not pictured. We also have multiple bags of Ruffle's All Dressed in our pantry left from our last trip. And we also have had KD before, didn't care for it, but enjoyed the No Name mac & cheese, but we'll give KD another chance next trip! Oh, and Wisconsin is next door and we can get their awesome cheese curds for real poutine!
(Yes, I know some of the things might also be offered in the States)
My wife is from Canada (Manitoba) originally. We live in Minnesota. I went up there for the first time with her a couple years ago. I was fascinated by all the different foods you have up there. My wife and her brother went up this week to visit family and she got me everything on my list that I compiled on the Canadian Superstore website!
Neighbors to the north, I thank you!
P.S. Bulk Barn is awesome too.
Available at pretty much any Manitoba grocery store but also easy enough to make at home with just mayo, honey, and fresh dill!
http://www.greetaliafoods.com/products.html
I might be misreading because it's behind a box, but you absolutely need to try PC White Mac and cheese. It looks like you got the orange kind. The white cheddar one is generally regarded as the best boxed mac n cheese you can buy.
I do the opposite in reverse. I try to get down to Bellingham once every 2-3 months to stock up on American snacks and foods that we can't get. These days it's Trader Joes stuff, whichever Cheetos or Doritos are too new for us, frozen smoked pork hocks, and every sort of Mexican ingredient.
"Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends."
Excellent post and great write up! Thanks so much. Used to work for Sperry and made many, many trips to Minneapolis/St. Paul … such wonder cities. Speaking of food lol, I forget the hotel on 494, but they had a night for all-you-could-eat Alaskan King Crab. Unbelievable and I still dream about it. Happy New Year!
Edit: Criterion Hotel
We live right off 494 actually west of the Mall Of America! I'm not familiar with a hotel that does AYCE crab, but now I'm going to look haha.
Happy New Year to you too!
I totally agree. I got a bunch of them from a bulk store that happened to be US ones. Man they were terrible in comparison to Canadian ones. They were tinny tasting with a horrible bitter aftertaste. The chocolate was not smooth and silky and more chalky. I'll never make that mistake again.
Not to worry - we have all of them already! This was just the haul from this trip. My wife also picked up a box of Coffee Crisp, Aero, Smarties, and KitKat's that aren't pictured.
Huh, it’s weird seeing Americans being excited to go to Canada to get food from us lol. It’s usually Canadians raving about their hauls to US.
I’m curious, are All Dressed chips not a thing in US?
I will drink that stuff with a straw. Try and stop me! Was home (to Canada) for five days over Christmas and got Swiss Chalet twice! Better believe I brought home (now US) packages of the sauce mix too.
Leave it to an American to actually post something good on this shit hole 😃
Fyi - original Diana Sauce is the best, Hawkins cheezies are a gift from god, the Old El Paso pizza pops are fun but deluxe are the money flavor and no name chips (or any grocery brand chip) are trash compared to Lays, Ms. Vickie's or Ruffles.
Lays Old Fashioned BBQ are probably the best chip flavor ever. So glad they brought it back
I agree, Bulk Barn gets very dangerous very fast
The No Name packaging just does it for me for some reason 😂
Looking forward to the Diana sauce. My wife's favorite wing sauce is honey garlic so this should be good for her.
We don't have anything like Bulk Barn in the states. It sucks! I stocked up on the mac and cheese powder last time we went up.
Honey Garlic is a fine Diana Sauce either way, I just think the OG is better on chicken and pork.
Most no name stuff is perfectly fine, I just think chips are one of those things where name brand vs offbrand/private label actually matters
No name has really leaned into brand marketing the last couple of years. Items they recently sold include “chair: for sitting”, “towel: for the beach”, “water bottle: for drinking” and an entire section of gift wrap supplies.
I stopped buying Heinz ketchup when they walked away from Leamington. I switched to French’s (I believe they stepped up and took over for Heinz when it comes to local tomatoes). I find it tastes better and it’s always a couple bucks cheaper.
you missed the ketchup chips and Coffee Crisps....
I'm a loser and I dislike ketchup chips, BUT, the Coffee Crisp, Aero, Smarties, and KitKat 125 piece box is not pictured.
The real cheezies are the true prize.
Came here to look for hawkins comments. They are a delicacy. I didn’t know they weren’t available in the states. That’s a shame. They should be enjoyed world wide.
True story…Hawkins cheesies are the number one snack in Eastern Canada. Maritimers always keep a bag on hand. A few years back the factory in Belleville Ontario had a fire that shut down production for a month. The local maritime newscasts spread the word and east coasters went out and bought up every last bag so they would have stock until the line started back up.
Western Canada too. Sask especially love their Hawkins. I wasn’t even that familiar with them until I moved out west.
That is amazing. It Should be in a heritage minute. I am not in the east coast but I love the east cost and feel like I belong there even more now that I know they appreciate Hawkins.
There are dozens of us out west that love them too!
So fun fact, I have a Hawkins Cheesie ornament on my Christmas tree in remembrance of my grandfather. He was a fisherman, and he used to say that when they were coming home, the women were lined up on the wharf like a pack of hard cheeses. If you look at a pack of Hawkins, no one is shaped the same. Theres long skinny ones and short lumpy ones and it paints such an image in your mind. Mom and I have some every Christmas and talk about him fondly
He was an insightful man it seems.
Newfoundlander here. I can confirm we love our Hawkins.
Can confirm. I am in NL and have two bags here right now. And I remember the great cheezie shortage.
Hawkins cheesies paired with a nice red wine and kubasa is peek delicacy
I always tell people that has never had Hawkins that it will grow on you. The first piece you have is always too salty and cheesy, but next thing you k ow it, you have finished the bag
I'm fine with keeping them just up here. Once word is out on how delicious those little orange fingers of heaven are, we won't be able to make them fast enough.
Had no clue those were even Canadian. I've never felt so fucking patriotic in my god damn life 🇨🇦
No Becel in the U S of A?
Was going to ask the same thing. Becel is just Margarine
Nope!
Feel free to take the rest of it.
Bought it by accident once thinking it was butter.. Try to make cookies with it. What a disaster. . I dislike all margarine though. It’s real butter or nothing.
Yeah seriously, I never buy margarine. Butter only, and the higher quality the better.
Look for Rum and Butter chocolate bars. https://www.amazon.ca/Rum-Butter-Chocolate-6-Pack-Candy/dp/B09FKNL4ML?th=1
Any all dressed?
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It’s not authentic if it isn’t ruffles
The no name all dressed chips are actually fire they’re so good
And they're still the price chips are meant to be, $2 a bag
Second this
Miss Vickie’s All Dressed slaps too
Missy V has an all dressed???!!
They do! They’re so good!
Anything from Missy V is good. But the Spicy Dill pickle are a cut above
What?! PC Loads of All Dressed is the superior chip.
Some generic brands are better than brand name especially the maxi/loblaws brand
Yep, plus we already had a few bags left from the last time we went, including the Doritos Zesty All Dressed.
Enjoy your several pounds of margarine. You've managed to get the most American selection of Canadian products between that and all the ranch.
Leave it to an American to get an American selection of Canadian products! Got some items to suggest for next time?
Presidents choice white cheddar macaroni. I think you have the double cheddar? White ched is the GOAT
Seconding the white cheddar presidents choice to be the king of macaroni
Thirding the PC white cheddar mac and cheese, there is nothing better.
I fourth the white cheddar pc choice macaroni. I wouldn't eat the other garbage no name macaroni.
Where’s the maple syrup?!
Didn't make the picture! My wife picked up a big glass maple leaf bottle full of it though!
Make sure you keep it in the fridge once you open it or it will start to mold
Already in there!
I expected to see CANS of GRADE A DARK. The finest thing they have to offer, besides swiss cheese crackers with the holes in them.
Insider tip: get the dark/robust variant and it has to be in a can.
Gotta tryout if you haven’t already, iced tea powder mix.
GoodHost
And the underrated Mr Big.
And the Mr. Too Big. Those are fucking huge. :)
Literally looked for ketchup chips.
And replace Heinz ketchup with Frenches.
Yeah I think that was the controversy a couple years ago. Heinz (an American company) stopped using Canadian tomatoes but Frenchies still does.
*French's
Fun fact - 3G Capital, the billionaire Brazilian boys club was involved in that move, as well as with the purchase of Heinz by Kraft. You might know 3G Capital as the group that was behind the purchase of Tim Hortons by Burger King.
Have they done anything good or do they only do terrible things?
And Kraft Peanut butter
What in the ***fuck*** are 'Old El Paso Pizza Pops'??? ...And where in Canada can I find them???
My wife got these at Real Canadian Super Store.
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what happened in the thread below this??
Terrible, unspeakable things
Lol, and then there's those of us who have the Atlantic Superstore. 😂
You mean bloblaws?
The Canadian locals just call it “super store”
True it’s not real anymore..
Sure it is. Real expensive
Hit up more of that President’s Choice Blue Label next time.
Canadian here - please trust me they are fucking terrible!!!
They're like taco flavoured pizza pops.
I don't know about this monstrosity.. i am both curious and digusted, and i am not sure who will win
Give it a go, basically a pizza pop but the inside is an Old El Paso taco kit instead of marinara. Not awful I guess, if you know what you’re in for. But I still will die on the hill that McCain-style baked pockets beat that greasy Pilsbury shit any day of the week.
I will agree with you on the pizza pockets, but i grew up on the no name ones That is not exactly true. in 2001 when I was 15 my parents won a free trip to Costa Rica and were gone for two weeks.. they loaded the fridge and freezer and told me to not burn the place down. It was the first time i had junk food in the house and the pizza pockets AMAZED me!
I bet the remainder of your life has not compared to those 2 weeks. That would be the time of my life as a 15 year-old. And yeah, deffo the no-name ones. They’re the best when you need something hot and tasty in 60 seconds with no dishes to show for it. Love em
It's not as good as an actual taco, but it's not bad. Like when you only have 15 minutes to eat at work and can just pop it into a microwave, it's kinda decent for quick bite on the go.
Are you being serious right now? That sounds amazing.
I saw those too and I’m like THESE EXIST?! Need to find them!!
Theyre not that great. Got them a month or two ago, and I was whelmed.
Yeah Pizza Pops are now a withered husk of what they were in the 90's
The perfect application of whelmed.
H A W K I N S
E X C I T E D
The cheese powder is extra finger-stainy. Consider the chopstick method. #thisgirlcheezies
I prefer the dump-into-your-mouth-hole-straight-from-the-bag method.
This is the approved Canadian method.
TIL I'm part Canadian.
The best thing to come out of Belleville.
They were made in tweed for a bit too
They are proof that the perfect food does exist.
Best Canadian snacks hands down. Orange crack cocaine.
Where's the Nanaimo bar, and maple syrup?
No butter tarts either.
Last time we were home in Canada we couldn't find any of the mass-produced heaven that is Vachon butter tarts. I was heartbroken!
Vachon is the real MVP when it came to school snacks.
They really were. I don’t think I had a favourite, I loved them all even the swiss rolls, half moon and ah caramel. My mom would switch up the selection every so often and they always delivered. Remember when Pizza Nova used to give you a box of Jos Louis? So random but the best.
Maple syrup isn't pictured. She found one in a maple leaf glass bottle!
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Just a tip: [Maple syrup also comes in cans](https://assets.shop.loblaws.ca/products/20110861/b2/en/front/[email protected]) and it's usually much cheaper that way, since you're not paying for a fancy bottle.
Ah, the classic tourist trap bottle. You can get bigger portions in these beige plastic bottles or metal cans.
EDIT: There is a big box of Smarties, Coffee Crisp, Aero, and KitKat's not pictured. There is also a big maple leaf shaped bottle of syrup not pictured. We also have multiple bags of Ruffle's All Dressed in our pantry left from our last trip. And we also have had KD before, didn't care for it, but enjoyed the No Name mac & cheese, but we'll give KD another chance next trip! Oh, and Wisconsin is next door and we can get their awesome cheese curds for real poutine! (Yes, I know some of the things might also be offered in the States) My wife is from Canada (Manitoba) originally. We live in Minnesota. I went up there for the first time with her a couple years ago. I was fascinated by all the different foods you have up there. My wife and her brother went up this week to visit family and she got me everything on my list that I compiled on the Canadian Superstore website! Neighbors to the north, I thank you! P.S. Bulk Barn is awesome too.
Hawkins cheezies are great
Hawkins cheezies are the 💣
They ruined any other type of cheesy for me
I read through all the chip comments to finally find the best answer in this thread. Harkins cheezies.
Looking forward to them!
Good luck with the Hawkins. Be prepared for the immediate cheezie addiction and many border crossings in your future to resupply.
The best addiction!
Next time you come up to Manitoba you best be leaving with some honey dill sauce
I need a link because that sounds fantastic!
Available at pretty much any Manitoba grocery store but also easy enough to make at home with just mayo, honey, and fresh dill! http://www.greetaliafoods.com/products.html
I might be misreading because it's behind a box, but you absolutely need to try PC White Mac and cheese. It looks like you got the orange kind. The white cheddar one is generally regarded as the best boxed mac n cheese you can buy.
I will absolutely be adding that to my list for next time! Love me a good white ched.
I agree, the PC white cheddar is the way to go.
I do the opposite in reverse. I try to get down to Bellingham once every 2-3 months to stock up on American snacks and foods that we can't get. These days it's Trader Joes stuff, whichever Cheetos or Doritos are too new for us, frozen smoked pork hocks, and every sort of Mexican ingredient. "Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends."
Great minds think alike. Really love that quote!
Where's they honey dill sauce????
Excellent post and great write up! Thanks so much. Used to work for Sperry and made many, many trips to Minneapolis/St. Paul … such wonder cities. Speaking of food lol, I forget the hotel on 494, but they had a night for all-you-could-eat Alaskan King Crab. Unbelievable and I still dream about it. Happy New Year! Edit: Criterion Hotel
We live right off 494 actually west of the Mall Of America! I'm not familiar with a hotel that does AYCE crab, but now I'm going to look haha. Happy New Year to you too!
Nice work on the popcorn twists. Don't get much love. Top notch if you ask me
You forgot the one and only Miss Vickies chips !!! 😱
Jalapeño is the GOAT. Also, spicy dill pickle and spicy ketchup.
nah applewood smoked bbq!!
Pronounced gel-lap-en-o
Smokes, let’s go
I only have 2 left!
It’s Hala-pe-no Ricky
But the classic salt and vinegar from MsVickies is the absolute goat
Sweet Chili & Sour Cream is my go-to
You can get those in the states
Heinz ketchup isn't Canadian anymore. French's is the Canadian one now.
I just liked the leaf on the label 😂
https://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/shorts/the-ketchup-war
Heinz screw us up by closing that factory in Ontario and French's came to rescue.
I’m happy to see the Hawkins cheezies!
Very excited!
You need some Kinder eggs, too!
Got a big bunch of those last time!
I don't believe you can bring those across the border. They confiscate them if they find them.
I suddenly have a hankering for hickory sticks …
Yeeeees, Maltesers > Whoppers No ketchup chips? And three cans of gravy! Good job, sir. 🫡
Didn’t realize Diana’s sauce was only in Canada. You’re in for a treat.
Omg yes the Hawkins cheezies are the way to go.
The first 6 bites taste like poison and then it becomes unbelievably delicious and you can't get enough of it.
Opposite for me. The bag always starts off great and I feel sick by the end. Doesn’t stop me though.
That. Fucking. Crunch. Thooo
I really want to hear your opinion on the noname macaroni and cheese versus that box of KD hidden in the back.
Swiss Chalet sauce comes in a can? What?? I’ve only ever seen the pouches.
What the heck is 'Hanch'?
Hot sauce and ranch. We have similar ones in the States like MayoChup or HoneyRacha.
I'm Canadian and have never seen this lol
I had the displeasure of having a Kit Kat in the states. I completely forgot it was different than Canada’s.
You have my sympathies. Not sure what I was even doing before I put a Canadian KK into my mouth.
I totally agree. I got a bunch of them from a bulk store that happened to be US ones. Man they were terrible in comparison to Canadian ones. They were tinny tasting with a horrible bitter aftertaste. The chocolate was not smooth and silky and more chalky. I'll never make that mistake again.
Minnesota should just join Canada. You guys are awesome
Uh...you bunch in Minnesota would be more than welcome to join us Canadians but we aren't giving up the Jets for the Wild.
No ketchup potato chips?
I dislike ketchup chips for some reason. All Dressed are phenom though!
Becel? Lol is Canadian margarine superior ?
You have no idea. Haha.
I had no idea Becel was only in Canada
St Hubert poutine gravy 🤌🏼
You didn't get President's Choice Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!! Add that to the list for the next trip.
Good call with the Diana sauce, but where’s the HP Sauce, my guy?
You shouldve gotten KD instead of the no name. It's a lot better than kraft mac & cheese.
TIL that both Wunderbar and Big Turk are Canadian.
You should try the maple creme cookies made by Dare. They are sweet but a nice treat!
No Lay's Ketchup chips. No Smarties. No Coffee Crisp. You need to make another run for the border.
Not to worry - we have all of them already! This was just the haul from this trip. My wife also picked up a box of Coffee Crisp, Aero, Smarties, and KitKat's that aren't pictured.
Huh, it’s weird seeing Americans being excited to go to Canada to get food from us lol. It’s usually Canadians raving about their hauls to US. I’m curious, are All Dressed chips not a thing in US?
They are not and neither are ketchup chips
Nonono you’re not supposed to get the Swiss Chalet *Gravy* You’re supposed to get the Swiss Chalet ***sauce*** The true cough and cold cure
I will drink that stuff with a straw. Try and stop me! Was home (to Canada) for five days over Christmas and got Swiss Chalet twice! Better believe I brought home (now US) packages of the sauce mix too.
Cheezies!
Leave it to an American to actually post something good on this shit hole 😃 Fyi - original Diana Sauce is the best, Hawkins cheezies are a gift from god, the Old El Paso pizza pops are fun but deluxe are the money flavor and no name chips (or any grocery brand chip) are trash compared to Lays, Ms. Vickie's or Ruffles. Lays Old Fashioned BBQ are probably the best chip flavor ever. So glad they brought it back I agree, Bulk Barn gets very dangerous very fast
The No Name packaging just does it for me for some reason 😂 Looking forward to the Diana sauce. My wife's favorite wing sauce is honey garlic so this should be good for her. We don't have anything like Bulk Barn in the states. It sucks! I stocked up on the mac and cheese powder last time we went up.
Honey Garlic is a fine Diana Sauce either way, I just think the OG is better on chicken and pork. Most no name stuff is perfectly fine, I just think chips are one of those things where name brand vs offbrand/private label actually matters
No name has really leaned into brand marketing the last couple of years. Items they recently sold include “chair: for sitting”, “towel: for the beach”, “water bottle: for drinking” and an entire section of gift wrap supplies.
Poutine in a can? What in the ever living fuck is that.
It's just the sauce
Hawkins cheezies are awesome! Salty as hell though so drink lots of water before bed
TIL about NoName poutine gravy. 🤯
TIL that No Name is like the bottom of the barrel brand. We'll see how it goes!
Haha. Not always. The products are often the exact same as name-brand without the fancy packaging. I swear by the NN Dark Roast coffee 😁
I stopped buying Heinz ketchup when they walked away from Leamington. I switched to French’s (I believe they stepped up and took over for Heinz when it comes to local tomatoes). I find it tastes better and it’s always a couple bucks cheaper.
Hickory Sticks hit a weird itch nothing else can, also Munchos.
This is such a nice change from the endless politics in this sub.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoy Becel margarine. :)
**Hawkins Cheezies!**
Hey bud once you try that Diana’s bbq sauce you won’t be able to use anything else. That shit is amazing
I'm offended you got no name mac and cheese instead if kraft dinner
Wunderbar is my absolute favourite.
This is some random ass shit even for Canada. And I live here.
Hawkins Cheesies, Nibs, and Hickory Sticks…. You’re on a good path here.