Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, December 30, 2008
Breaking News This Cannot Stand
Posted by David Schmader on Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 12:31 PM
The Associated Press reports:
A state lawmaker from Wenatchee says he'll introduce legislation to name Aplets & Cotlets the official candy of Washington. Rep. Mike Armstrong says the powdered sugar covered cubes of nuts and apple and apricot gelatin have been made by Liberty Orchards in Cashmere since 1920. He says they are made from Washington fruit and identify the state to confection lovers worldwide. The bill is likely to revive the battle with backers of Almond Roca. In 2001 a state candy bill was introduced to crown the crunchy chocolate almond treat made by Brown & Haley in Tacoma since 1912. It failed to pass.
This is fucking bullshit. Despite looking like the contents of a cat box, Almond Roca kicks Aplets & Cotlets' grody punishment-candy ass. Register your fury with Rep. Mike Armstrong here.
1
It seems like there ought to be a counterproposal. How about those chocolate-covered coffee beans some people eat? They seem fairly Washington-y.
3
Oh man . . . Aplets & Cotlets make my stomache roil. How can something that seems so innocuous be so disgusting in reality? Does anybody who still has their own teeth and doesn't have grandchildren even eat these things?
4
A hilarious old-school throwdown. I haven't even seen a box of either one since 1992. Aplets and Cotlets are weird, and my grandma's friend who was VP of Brown & Haley was really nice to me when I was a kid. Almond Roca for the win!
No, wait, we have to ask Clark Humphrey. And the Museum of History and Industry.
No, wait, we have to ask Clark Humphrey. And the Museum of History and Industry.
5
Too bad Cowgirl Chocolates are just over the state border in Moscow. Their spicy truffles and habanero caramels rule!
8
I'm convinced that Aplets and Cotlets are somehow connected to the Animated Mucus the Stranger is enemies with...
11
Aplets and Cotlets are terrific. It's just Turkish Delight, people. You should get out more. Try the rose-flavored ones (turkish delight, not A&C) if you ever get a chance. I love Almond Roca too, though. My vote for State Candy is Round-Up Candy Cigarettes (not made here, but who the fuck cares?)
12
I love Aplets and Cotlets, tho it's an acquired taste. And they do use locally sourced ingredients, apples right there from Cashmere and surrounds.
But holy cow, try the new Cashew Roca. Killer. Oof.
But holy cow, try the new Cashew Roca. Killer. Oof.
15
Apples and Apricots are however a WA product unlike Almonds and Rocas. Also it has to be consistent with our other rather humdrum state symbols, including petrified wood as the state gem.
17
Aplets and Cotlets is the quintessential Washington candy. Sugary sweet on the outside but completely bland and flavorless on the inside, and full of nuts.
18
Aplets & Cotlets are not so yummy, I agree, but the "new" "appealing to kids" sour versions are pretty good. It's true that A&C are basically just Turkish Delight, though, so you can make them more exciting by imagining that they were given to you by an evil witch and will basically turn you into a villain.
19
Whilst I love the Almond Roca over the Aplets & Cotlets, I agree with 13 -- Frangos are the state candy.
26
@16, let's start small by first recognizing the grey sea salt caramel as the official candy of the fin-de-siecle Pike-Pine Promenade. Though someday its appeal may broaden to encompass all of our fair state, I'm not going to hold my (oddly-scented) breath.
29
This Christmas someone gave my parents a box of special edition candy-cane Frangos and they effectively CHANGED MY LIFE with their delicious creamy minty chocolate wonder. Frango FTW!
And yall are correct that A&Cs are horrible...so thank the devil that at least you didn't have to go on a fucking factory tour as a kid in Eastern WA like my brothers and I. It was even more boring than you'd imagine and with no fun candy at the end.
Also, fuck that stupid colonial village shit in Ephrata or Soap Lake or wherever.
And yall are correct that A&Cs are horrible...so thank the devil that at least you didn't have to go on a fucking factory tour as a kid in Eastern WA like my brothers and I. It was even more boring than you'd imagine and with no fun candy at the end.
Also, fuck that stupid colonial village shit in Ephrata or Soap Lake or wherever.
30
Yes. Fran's Grey Salt Caramels for State Candy. And Fran's Smoked Salt Caramels for Vice-Candy (second-best but not by much, only because the chocolate is milk).
32
Fran's smoked grey paprika extra lavender virgin salt whatever caramels are like $3 each, right? A&C were just $3 a box at Bartells. $3 for a WHOLE BOX, people! That's change I can believe in. Though Fnarf's right, the Turks do make it better.
Actually, you all can keep all of it if I get dibs on the crunchy sesame things that Joyva makes. In Brooklyn.
Actually, you all can keep all of it if I get dibs on the crunchy sesame things that Joyva makes. In Brooklyn.
34
Everyone knows that Washington's snack food is Beefalo Jerky.
It's lean, it's mean, it's green.
And at one-twentieth the methane, it's part of a well-bio-oiled fighting machine!
It's lean, it's mean, it's green.
And at one-twentieth the methane, it's part of a well-bio-oiled fighting machine!
36
And it is not as good as real Turkish Delight, Fnarf ...
God, next you'll be telling me that spam is as good as tri-tip ...
God, next you'll be telling me that spam is as good as tri-tip ...
37
almond roca looks like a cat box special, but they aren't the nastiest or tastiest brown & haley concoction, that has to go to the turd lookin mountain bars, which are nummy as hell and get my vote
38
Aplets and Cotlets is "Washington, My Home" to Almond Roca's "Loui, Loiu". This time, let's hope the deserving party wins.
Also, since when are either of those things CANDY? 1915? Those are both FOOD, and I will eat them for dinner given the chance.
Also, since when are either of those things CANDY? 1915? Those are both FOOD, and I will eat them for dinner given the chance.
40
I would have said Frangos, but they haven't been a "true" Washington product since the late 1920s.
41
Theo Chocolates all the way. They're even fair trade and organic and yadda yadda. Doesn't that represent WA well?
46
Regardless of how you feel about Aplets & Cotlets (I happen to love them), I don't understand why you would get all up in Armstrong's grill about this. The man is a rep from WENATCHEE; of course he's happy to sponsor a bill that promotes apples and apricots. Doing anything less would be a tremendous disservice to his constituency. Sheesh.
47
I don't think any state should have an official state candy.
That said, I grew up in Seattle, and haven't lived there for 18 years and I absolutely adore Aplets & Cotlets. I like them better than other versions of Turkish Delight (a.k.a. locum). I had some shipped to myself fairly recently, and, unfortunately, my spouse (who didn't like them the first time he tried them), has developed a taste for them and has not developed self control. They are much better fresh, so, as much as I dislike extra packaging, the 2 applets and 2 cotlets packaged together is my new favorite thing to buy for myself.
That said, I grew up in Seattle, and haven't lived there for 18 years and I absolutely adore Aplets & Cotlets. I like them better than other versions of Turkish Delight (a.k.a. locum). I had some shipped to myself fairly recently, and, unfortunately, my spouse (who didn't like them the first time he tried them), has developed a taste for them and has not developed self control. They are much better fresh, so, as much as I dislike extra packaging, the 2 applets and 2 cotlets packaged together is my new favorite thing to buy for myself.
48
As a mental-fantasy state representative from Issaquah, I nominate Boehm's Chocolates for State Candy. That duke HIKED out of Nazi Germany ACROSS the Alps into SWITZERLAND, motherfuckers!
49
@47, no, no, Will In Seattle has already spoken on the subject of Aplets and Cotlets vs. Turkish Delight, and pronounced them inferior -- as inferior as Spam is to tri-tip steak in fact. That settles it.
Although I should point out that Will In Seattle's head is completely full of rancid fart gas -- methyl mercaptan -- and everything he says is either irrelevant, wrong, or both, so, you know, use your own judgement.
Although I should point out that Will In Seattle's head is completely full of rancid fart gas -- methyl mercaptan -- and everything he says is either irrelevant, wrong, or both, so, you know, use your own judgement.
50
This douchebag Republican is so happy with Gregoire's budget that he thinks the budget debate will be over in a snap.
Fucking asshat douchebag!
Fucking asshat douchebag!
53
@44 - for once I actually agree with you, Fnarf. Although I prefer those wax bottle things (the ones with REAL cane sugar liquid in them).
Luckily, I ignored @47, since you're such a douche.
Luckily, I ignored @47, since you're such a douche.
55
I don't eat a lot of candy anymore, but, while I love Frango, Almond Roca and Aplets and Cotlets equally, I have never considered Aplets and Cotlets to be candy. They are taxonomically different in my head for some reason. Maybe because they're made of fruit and filled with nuts? But I don't know what I'd categorize them as. How about "things my late aunt used to get me for Christmas."
56
While I have a deep love of the frango -the recipe originally came from Marshall Fields of Chicago. So it isn't quite ours all the way. But I still buy plenty of the boxes and find that they help me get through long visits to my in laws at Christmas time.
57
Applets and Cotlets > Almond Roca.
Jujyfruits and Hot Tamales are however, better, by far, period.
The other Mike Armstrong, Bothell Wa.
Jujyfruits and Hot Tamales are however, better, by far, period.
The other Mike Armstrong, Bothell Wa.
58
don't mess with the 509! aplets & cotlets are old school washington state deliciousness. almond roca looks like something from a catbox.
i grew up near cashmere, and everytime we had guests from out of area, the big deal was to take them on the aplets & cotlets factory tour (along with lunch in leavenworth). you got free samples and a paper aplets & cotlets hat. when i was a kid i thought working there would be about the coolest thing ever.
i grew up near cashmere, and everytime we had guests from out of area, the big deal was to take them on the aplets & cotlets factory tour (along with lunch in leavenworth). you got free samples and a paper aplets & cotlets hat. when i was a kid i thought working there would be about the coolest thing ever.
59
@54 - I was using it before you were online, Fnarf. Me and Gore used to swap music files ... (grin) ... (not seriously, that was a joke)
60
@37, I agree. Mountain Bars are the best, particularly the peanut butter. They used to be 2 for a quarter, which was delightful when I was a kid.
61
Have you had Liberty Orchard's "Fruit Chocolates"? Got a box at Uwajimaya to go with my weekly fix of Kona Macs and Maui Caramacs. They're aplets and cotlets but covered in chocolate. Duh! Why did it take them 89 YEARS to get that on the market. Frickin' awesome with a lovely glass of wine. LONG LIVE SUGAR!
62
Applets & Cotlets are the closest existing food to, and I quote Homer Simpson, "nuts 'n gum."
@27, so funny. I also love platelets. I have some every day!
@27, so funny. I also love platelets. I have some every day!
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