This week’s idea courtesy of Bob, who originated the Whatever on Bob-Net.
Tell me about five things you liked to eat or drink but can’t because they don’t make them anymore.
1. The McDLT. This was, for quite some time, my flagship fast-food burger. It came in that double polystyrene package with the burger and bottom bun on one side and the top bun with the lettuce and tomatoes and condiments on the other, to keep “the hot side hot and the cool side cool.” This was, of course, environmentally devastating, but we didn’t know everything then that we know now. It was such a good burger. And maybe it was all in my head, but the experience of putting it together yourself really did make it taste better. McDonald’s later tried to replace it with the McLean Deluxe and the Arch Deluxe, but nothing ever matched the McDLT’s greatness. They do have the Big N’ Tasty now, which is good, but it’s just not the same. Not quite. And nothing ever will be.
2. Kroger used to have their generic Big K Cola … with Lime. And it was so good. Now they only have the Lime-flavored cola in Diet. I liked it. I miss it.
3. I know they still exist elsewhere, but I miss having a Boston Market nearby. Good chicken. Good sides. Ooh-la-la.
4. Duffy’s! Duffy’s was a burger joint in downtown New Albany, Indiana. Their burgers were like big White Castles — steamy with lots of onions. Put a little ketchup on there and it was heaven. It’s been closed for a long time.
5. The Royal Burger, from the late, great Druther’s in Corydon, Indiana. My parents got me lots of those on our way home from visiting my grandparents in Ramsey.
You don’t have to do this one if it’s going to make you as sad as it’s made me.
I need a McDLT and a Big K Cola with Lime to wash down my grief.
Oh, wait …
1. O’Gradys potato chips. CRAZY thick. And nobody bought the plain ones. Anyone going for the O’Gradys was all about the Au Gratin.
2. Fruit Islands cereal. A-yumma-yumma. “You can say it too!”
3. Cappio. The first bottled cappuccino intended to be enjoyed cold. Paved the way for Starbucks’ Frappuccinos. I drank this like water in high school. Almost everyone else hated it.
4. Jell-o Pudding Pops. They started making these again recently, but the shape is different. And it’s just not the same.
5. DinaSour Eggs.
Most of these are still around, I just don’t have access to them….
1. Eegee’s. It is a local sub and slushie shop in Tucson, AZ that makes the ABSOLUTE best hot ham & cheese subs and a killer Pina Colada slushie. I haven’t had either in almost 15 years. And I really, REALLY miss it.
2. Astro Belts. A sweet & sour candy I used to get from the ice cream man in England.
3. Big Red. I’ve only ever seen it in Texas and I don’t know if they still make it, but it was a summer staple for me when I visited my grandparents. It’s one of those sodas where you can literally feel your teeth rotting right out of your head. So good.
4. Cheesy Beefy Melt. Taco Bell. I don’t know why but I was majorly bummed when this promotion went away. I loved it.
5. The #21 special at Arriba’s mexican restaurant. If there’s anything I really miss about Arizona it’s Arriba’s. Pretty much anything on that menu, but my favorite was the #21. A super cheesy enchilda, beef taco and tostada.
Dang, now I’m hungry.
Bob: It’s good to see the originator of the Whatever appearing on these pages; I hope everyone else will check out Bob-Net and witness the brilliance of the friend who got me interested in blogging in the first place. I never had O’Gradys chips. Au grautin?! It hurts my heart to know I missed out on these. Actually, it’s good for my heart. Physically. Not emotionally.
Kerstin: I am a million years behind on responding to blog comments, Kerstin, but thanks as always for yours and please know that every one of them is very much appreciated. Eegee’s sounds like it’s egads levels of awesome. I’m going to make a hot ham & cheese for myself for dinner thanks to your mentioning of it. And Big Red is still alive and well in these parts. It was also a staple of my childhood but I’ve kind of lost my taste for it now that I’m addicted to Mountain Dew. And anything from Taco Bell that’s cheesy and beefy is fine by me. And that platter from Arriba’s sounds even better. Maybe I’ll try to turn my hot ham & cheese into a burrito. I’ll let you know how that turns out.
Does anybody still sell Choco Tacos?
Burger Chef had the awesome Super Chef Burger which was the best of all fast food burgers. Also, Roy Rodgers in Covington, Kentucky was an awesome stop on the way to see the Big Red Machine in Cincinnati. It was the Double R burger and then peanuts for the game on the walk across the blue bridge.