The Outside In

What will the people at Pocky come up with next? Fans of this cultish Japanese snack are familiar with its never ending parade of innovation. While at Sanko (730 Queen St. W., Toronto, 416-703-4550) this afternoon, I perused the ever changing selection of Pocky. The last time I was there, I bought black sesame Pocky (A+). Today, what should meet my gaze but Reverse Pocky. A cookie tube filled with a candy centre (chocolate filled with strawberry as pictured here). Sanko is like my experimental Pocky distribution centre. Not only do they have a giant Pocky sticker shellacked to their van, but they also have the Pocky logo on their shopping bags.

Despite all of this, I have not forgotten about ye olde days of Pocky. Growing up near Hamilton, Ontario, Pocky was an exotic snack for me and my closest chums. The flavours were limited to chocolate or strawberry. Now I have ascended the Pocky ladder of distinguished tastes to bolder, more sophisticated flavours like Pocky Mousse, Marble Pocky and of course, Pocky 'G' Hard & Rich (come on, everyone has to love that one). Original chocolate is still my old standby if I'm in a, ahem, crunch.

Up next for me? Soy Pocky for the health conscious Pocky consumer. Darnnit, Pocky is for lovers.

What kind of Pocky are you? http://sugardew.com/bloggalicious/quizzies/pocky/pockyquiz.htm
http://www.blogthings.com/pockyquiz.html (my favourite on this test is No. 6's response to what people you know you for: an indie approach to life. What the fuck?)