The Nostalgia Trip
Moved back to the Midwest last summer. Left NYC behind. It’s been quiet, peaceful, nice even. But the food? I miss it. Hard. So when Goldbelly launched their Taste of America snack boxes to celebrate America 250, I didn’t hesitate. I wanted New York.
Limited-time only. You gotta catch it now or don’t. There are ten regional options out there, including picks from New Orleans, Rhode Island, Kentucky. I grabbed the Big Apple box.
Does it hold up? Surprisingly yes.
What’s Inside
Open the box and it smells like home. Or at least, my version of it. The contents are specific. Not just generic junk food. Real brand names you know if you’ve lived there.
- Black and white cookies from Green’s Bakery.
- Zucker’s Sourdough Bagel Chips.
- Spicy brown mustard from Sabrett’s.
- Frrrozen hot chocolate mix from Serendipity 3.
- Coffee and Bagel Chips chocolate bar by Jacques Torres.
- Toasted everything spice mix, also from Zucker.
- A ceramic mug. “We Are Happy to Serve You” it reads. Adorable. Nostalgic.
It costs about eighty dollars. Was it worth it? I ate through the whole thing and nodded. Yes.
I used to get international snack boxes. Universal Yums. For years. This hit different.
The first thing I ate? The black and white cookie. Hadn’t tried Green’s in years, maybe never. The base is cakey, not crisp. The vanilla frosting is sweet. The chocolate side is fudgy. I love that. It was, frankly, the best thing in the box. No contest.
The Salty Counterpart
Then the bagel chips. Salt and pepper flavor. Crunchy. Savory. Delicious. I’m fighting myself not to rip the whole bag open right now. They’d pair well with something creamy, like a spinach dip. Imagine that on a couch while watching something terrible. Perfect.
I haven’t touched the mustard or the spices yet. But the thought of putting that toasted everything seasoning on a loaf of homemade sourdough makes my hands twitch.
The mug is the real souvenir though. I saw people holding those exact paper cups while walking to work back in the day. It’s cheap ceramic but it triggers the memory. The gray streets. The noise.
You don’t need a plane ticket to get that feeling. You just need $80 and a shipping address.
Verdict
The Taste of New York City box hits the spot. It’s not perfect, obviously. But for eighty bucks, you get a little slice of the chaos I miss. The cookie stands out. The chips are great. The mug stays on my counter.
Will you grab one? Maybe. Or maybe you’ll just remember what it’s like to eat on a subway grate.
Buy: Taste of America Taste of New York City, $79.95 via Goldbelly.
Think it’s a good deal? Let’s hear it below. 🍩
