This is what I did at work the other day:
It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it…
I came into work, attended our daily afternoon meeting, went and borrowed a manager’s corporate card and went grocery shopping. I do this every month or so, stocking up on new products for our weekly Taste Tests!
Many times, I bring a photographer with me, and shoot a taste test right then and there in the store with one of the products. This works well because I can kill two birds with one stone. However, I sometimes feel rushed because our photogs have many duties, and are often needed for other assignments later in the day. So this time I went by myself. I spent a lovely hour waltzing around the grocery store, looking for “NEW PRODUCT!” labels on shelves, and using my iPhone to Google products displaying “NEW!” banners on their boxes. I do some research before I go, but I don’t like to get tied down to certain products. The whole point is to test new foods found in local stores. Testing a super awesome brand spanking new fruit juice does viewers no good if they can’t get it around here.
This trip was nothing like my personal grocery shopping trips, either. No running down the aisles, darting in between people, usually in my sweaty workout clothes. (The gym is very close to the market… I’m sorry if I’ve ever sweat on you in the cereal aisle.) I’m a creature of habit, and usually buy the same stuff. Taste Test grocery shopping forces me out of my culinary comfort zone, allowing me to search for new and interesting foods!
Here are a few of the products I found on my trip that I’m really looking forward to testing!
Pillsbury Cake Pop Kits: I can’t wait to make these with a tech school or home ec class! They seem like a lot of fun, and they don’t require ANY special baking equipment!
Land O Lakes Cinnamon Sugar Butter: I’m not a butter user, unless it’s for baking. But the idea of this stuff on some toast reminds me of Mama Dish making me some cinnamon sugar toast on a cold morning way back when. I had to snag it.
Wheat Thins in Zesty Salsa and Spicy Buffalo: I LOVE me some Wheat Thins, and these zesty flavors sound right up my alley!
I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting foods. If you see something in the grocery aisle that makes you do a double take, please let me know!
