Sunday, June 26, 2011

Crunchy Bars, or, The Expats

Next week my cousin, who lives near Dublin, is coming to visit the States. I know what this means - he'll be bringing me a supply of Crunchie bars from Ireland. For those of you who have never tasted a Crunchie, find a way to get your hands on one. They are a literary treat - Crunchies are described in National Velvet.




My cousin deserves to be showered with praise for bringing me my Crunchies, and so he shall be. I wish he could bring me some other stuff, though, that's impossible to put in a suitcase: a loaf of Brennan's bread, a barm brack, a cup of Bewley's coffee with foamed milk, but above all - a dish of Irish potatoes, served with Kerry Gold butter. 


Kerry Gold really is gold. The butter that I buy here is white in color, but Kerry Gold is a deep yellow with a unique flavor. When it's melting on top of boiled Irish potatoes, there's nothing better in the world. Heaven is going to plates of those spuds, and no calories to worry about. I have it all planned out.


Of course, there are things here that my cousin misses just as much in Dublin. When he comes to the US, we all have to go out for a root beer and potato skins (what is it about potatoes?) And I send him back with packs of Mint Milano cookies.


I just thought of something else I'd like him to bring me - the smell inside an Irish chemist's, or in the hallway of an Irish house. I don't know what it is - some combination of Fairy Liquid Soap and Kerry Gold, perhaps?






I don't suppose he can bring me those, either, nor the wind that blasts down the Dun Laoghoire pier, nor a Teddy's 99 ice cream at the end of the walk down that pier.  I will enjoy those Crunchies, though.

9 comments:

Kara said...

You just made me very hungry! Now I am craving Crunchies and that butter though I've never tasted them, lol! (I've been to Dublin, though)

Krista McLaughlin said...

I'm now craving a Crunchie and I've never had one either. :)

Jen Conroy said...

Mmm- crunchies... My favourite! I have a multipack of them along with an army of other choccies to deliver to my sis (author and all round badass gal) in Boston.
Hey, and tell your cousin to repack!!! It's amazing how many brennans bread slice pans one can fit into one suitcase (my last record was 7, and that was in with all of my clothes etc!) ooh- one more thing... For a REAL treat, get your cousin to bring you some Leonadais chocolates- to DIE for!

LW said...

Crunchies are great. Luckily, there's a store in a not too distant town here where I can get some when needed. They're not cheap (being imported in small quantities) but well worth it when that's all that will do. Lucky you to be getting some!

Kate Larkindale said...

Mmmmm. Crunchies used to be my favorite treats when I was a kid. My sister always got a Pinkie (pink marshmallow coated in chocolate) and I got a Crunchie. Nowadays though, I prefer my chocolate dark and bitter. The last time I had a Crunchie it was way too sweet for me.

Sigh... I hate the way your tastebuds change as you get older.

Christine Murray said...

Woah, you really know your Dublin. My husband grew up in Dun Laoighaire, so we've been to Teddy's lots of times. Crunchies are fantastic.

Mind you, there's things I miss about the States too. But, I found a couple of shops here that do pop tarts and Reese's peanut butter cups. Good times!

Claire Chilton said...

Crunchies are the best - honeycomb little bundles of joy that they are - I'm so happy you've found them too! :D I think you should nip over here and visit Bourneville - it's the Cadbury's vilage, oh yes we have a town made of chocolate!

My fiance misses all the US food, but we found an expat site last week that sells, Twinkies, tootsie rolls and lots of other things (mannwiches?) I've never had and he's ordered in a lifetime supply for his birthday next week - so I might do a comparison blog on US food once I've tried some of the things :D

P.S. I Can send you Crunchies in the post - but I can't guarantee what condition they'll arrive in.

Rachel Tsoumbakos said...

MMmmm...Crunchies.....{drools}....

Ronald Robbins said...

Is there a Dublin in Ireland? Or is your cousin coming from Africa? Either way, those crunches look delicious! nom nom nom nom