You are right about soda. In the states, I rarely drink soda, but here in Mexico I find myself indulging a little more and even craving it more. My husband pretty much never drinks soda either, but he drinks it more here than in the states. I think they must not be using corn syrup.
Tracey Reece Jennings wrote: > > MMMM..squirrel nuts, Mary Janes...They used to be a penny when I was > young...WATCH it! > LOLLOL! > > > _____ > > From: [email protected] <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > [mailto:[email protected] > <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com>] On > Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 10:29 AM > To: [email protected] <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] epic cost of cinema snacks > > Yeah, I wonder about that sometimes. Nothing quite so disappointing as > eating candy, cookies, or even ice cream (my fav) that I enjoyed as a kid, > and thinking "This isn't how it used to taste!" Imma buy a pack of my old > fav grape Kool-Aid and compare it to those memories again, just to > see. Some > stuff still tastes the same: Now or Laters --that chewy candy--taste > as good > to me at 43 as they did at 13. Ditto for Lemonheads, Snickers, Baby Ruth > bars, and Jolly Ranchers. Those candies are so simple in makeup I bet the > formulae haven't changed much, if at all. Haven't tried a Milk Dud > recently, > though i've been jonesin' for one. But now that i messed up and got > braces, > that kind of treat is verboten for the next two years. > > But I don't think it's always just my memories being off. One thing I'm > positive has changed in flavor over the years is soda in America. Whether > it's Crush, Pepsi, Coke, Welch's, Fanta, or RC Cola, no soda made in > America > tastes as good as it did when I was a kid. Why? The major reason is that > American companies replaced cane sugar with corn syrup as the main > sweetener > in sodas. Corn syrup is sweet, but it also has a faint-but-detectable > bitter > taste that can't be disguised. It makes the soda's less "smooth" tasting. > That's why, in addition to watching my intact of all sugars, I've pretty > much abandoned drinking regular sodas. Why waste the calories on corn > syrup? > I drink diet sodas instead. When I want the real deal, I'll buy something > like Jarritos, the delicious sodas made in Mexico, sweetened with real > cane > sugar. Typically I'll go to a farmer's market or specialty gourmet > store and > buy sodas from other countries that still use sugar--the Caribbean, > Mexico, > Germany--or pay > extra for the few American countries that still do so. Costs extra, > but it's > worth it! For example, I go to Whole Foods and buy this awesome root beer > called "Virgil's". It's "only" soda water, but it's brewed in small > batches > like real beer, and flavored with vanilla from Madagascar. Costs a > lot, but > it's so sinfully delicious in a float that I have no trouble treating > myself. Their cream soda is amazing too. All their ingredients are > gathered > from all over the world, and you can taset the difference. Since I don't > really drink much, I can use the cash other guys spend on beer and > wine for > my high-end sodas and gallons of ice cream! I'd rather pay extra for > something that truly is gourmet. > > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:tdlists%40multiculturaladvantage.com> aladvantage.com> > > > I think a fond filter is influencing your food review. > > > > Tracey > > > > KeithBJohnson@ <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> comcast.net wrote: > > > > > > ha-ha! I haven't had Kool-Aid in years! I think they changed the > > > formula a few years back. It never tasted quite as smooth as I > > > remember it tasting as a kid. More acidic and even bitter now. Of > > > course, maybe I'm remembering the taste of the past with a fond > filter... > > > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > > From: Astromancer > > > > What? No Kool-Aid??? > > > > > > Martin > > > wrote: Uhhhh...where and when's > > > dinner? > > > > > > KeithBJohnson@ <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> comcast.net > wrote: > > > You're right about that! We'll probably go this weekend. I'm thinking > > > a tried-and-true fav: barbecued bologna sandwiches, Chee-tos, and > > > pound cake! Um-ummm! > > > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > > From: "Reece Jennings" > > > > > > Uhhh...yeah! Persuasion! LOLLOOL! > > > Your movie trips sound like an episode from the Food Channel! > > > Maybe they could do a special on what you can sneak into the theater! > > > > > > _____ > > > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > ups.com > > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> > ups.com > > > ] On > > > Behalf Of KeithBJohnson@ <mailto:KeithBJohnson%40comcast.net> > comcast.net > > > Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 10:56 AM > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:scifinoir2%40yahoogroups.com> ups.com > > > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] epic cost of cinema snacks > > > > > > Not only is the food at the theatre overpriced, but it's stale and > boring. > > > If they sold hot dogs and popcorn that was younger than me, or > even good > > > > pizza or somethign, maybe they'd get my money. There's no variety of > > > choices, and you could kill a man with one of those dessicated giant > > > pretzels. > > > > > > When my wife and I started dating, I took her to the movies, and was > > > surprised when she pulled out a big purse--actually, more like a > small > > > tote > > > bag. She insisted I stop at K-Mart, where she proceeded to buy cheap > > > candy, > > > snacks, and drinks. I was moritified as she sat in the theatre > popping > > > cans > > > of soda and wrinkling plastic from food clearly not from the theatre. > > > Fast-forward about--oh, a month--and I'm asking "hey, where's your > movie > > > > purse?!" Now when we hit the theatre we always pack food. When the > > > first two > > > Lord of the Rings movies were re-released leading up to Return of the > > > King, > > > we went three weekends in a row to see them. And every time we > went, her > > > > "purse" and my coat pockets were stuffed. For "Fellowship of the Ring" > we > > > feasted on fried bologna sandwiches, chips, and pound cake. For > "The Two > > > > Towers" we dined on fried chicken and biscuits, with fresh baked > chocolate > > > chip cookies; and for "The Return of the King", our repast was > chicken > > > eggrolls and a four pack of Reese's > > > peanut butter cups (only 1$ at the store). Of course all was > washed down > > > > with cans of soda. I think I sneaked in a bottle of orange Jarrito's > that > > > time. I later went back to see "Return of the King" by myself, and > entered > > > the theatre hiding an Arby's sandwich, fries, and shake in my coat > > > pockets! > > > You should see the looks on people's faces as they look around trying > > > to see > > > where those delicious aromas are originating! > > > > > > Of course, a certain, ah, persuasion of moviegoers has been doing this > for > > > decades. > > > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > > From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" > > > aladvantage.com> > > > > > > > Now showing: epic cost of cinema snacks > > > > > > > > By Bruce Mohl, Globe Staff | March 2, 2007 > > > > http://www.boston. > > > > > > > > _cine> com/business/articles/2007/03/02/now_showing_epic_cost_of_cine > > > > ma_snacks?mode=PF > > > > Buying a small popcorn and a soda at a movie theater is becoming > a big > > > > > investment. > > > > > > > > At the 13-screen theater owned by Regal Entertainment Group in the > > > > Fenway, the price of a small popcorn and a small soft drink will > set > > > you > > > > back $10, the same as an adult ticket. > > > > > > > > Granted, the small popcorn is 85 ounces, nearly twice as big as the > > > > small at other theaters, and a small soft drink is 32 ounces, the > > > > equivalent of roughly half of a 2-liter bottle, but it's still a lot > to > > > > pay for modest fare. > > > > > > > > Susan McWhinney-Morse of Boston recently went to the movies at the > > > > Fenway Regal, where tickets for herself, her grandson, and > friend set > > > > them back $25. A small popcorn and two drinks added $16.50 to the > bill. > > > > > > > > "That's $40," she said. "It's appalling. It's absolutely > appalling." > > > > > > > > All food vendors take hefty profits on the products they sell, but > > > > analysts say no one does it quite like movie theaters, which push > > > > popcorn, soda, and a host of other items that cost little to > make or > > > > buy, and generate very high profit margins. > > > > > > > > "There's probably 85 percent profit just on the cost of goods," > said > > > > Dennis Lombardi , executive vice president of food service > > > strategies at > > > > WD Partners in Dublin, Ohio. He said the typical restaurant makes > about > > > > a 65 to 70 percent profit on food. > > > > > > > > John Fithian , president of the National Association of Theatre > Owners, > > > > said concession sales at a typical movie theater account for a fifth > of > > > > total revenues but as much as 46 percent of profits. > > > > > > > > "Concessions are very important," Fithian said. "Without > concessions, > > > > our patrons would be paying significantly more for their movie > > > tickets." > > > > > > > > No one tracks concession pricing trends, but industry officials say > > > > prices keep edging upward. Globe surveys of area theaters over the > > > years > > > > indicate that prices for a 46-ounce popcorn have risen at most of > those > > > > theaters by a third since 2000. > > > > > > > > Theaters are under pressure to increase profits in a saturated > > > > marketplace that has been plagued by bankruptcies and > consolidation. > > > > Theaters are also feeling the pinch because of film schedules. > While > > > > they earn the bulk of their money from ticket sales, theaters split > > > that > > > > revenue with the studio that produced the movie. Industry officials > say > > > > as much as 90 percent of the ticket revenue goes to the studio > in the > > > > opening weeks of a movie's release, with the theater pocketing more > > > cash > > > > the longer the film runs. But as films remain in theaters for > shorter > > > > periods, the theaters can't earn as much from tickets. > > > > > > > > In a Globe survey of various theaters, Regal's Fenway theater > had the > > > > highest prices for a small soda and small popcorn but also the > largest > > > > > portions. Regal's 85-ounce small popcorn breaks down to 6.5 > cents an > > > > ounce, which is actually lower on a per-ounce basis than many of > its > > > > competitors. > > > > > > > > Regal, the nation's largest movie theater chain, said its > concession > > > > prices vary from theater to theater, but refused to discuss how > much > > > > they have risen in recent years. > > > > > > > > The two other big chains in the Boston area, National Amusements' > > > > Showcase Cinemas and AMC, said their prices are uniform in each > market. > > > > > > > > Showcase said it charges $4.15 for its 46-ounce small popcorn, or 9 > > > > cents an ounce. AMC and Landmark's Kendall Square theater both > > > charge $4 > > > > for their small popcorns, but Landmark's small is 46 ounces while > AMC's > > > > is 53 ounces. > > > > > > > > Entertainment Cinemas, which runs theaters in Cambridge, > Springfield, > > > > and South Dennis, charges $4.25 for a 46-ounce small. F.E.I. > Theaters, > > > > > which operates the Somerville Theatre and the Capitol Theatre in > > > > Arlington, charges $2.50 for a 32-ounce small, while the Brattle > > > Theatre > > > > in Cambridge charges $3 for a 36-ounce small. > > > > > > > > Ian M. Judge , director of operations for F.E.I. Theatres, said > > > > concession prices are high because that's where theaters make their > > > > money. While he says the focus at F.E.I is movies, he said > that's not > > > > always the case at other places. > > > > > > > > "I worked for Loews for five years and I can tell you that I was > told > > > > many times that we were not a theater but a restaurant that > happens to > > > > > show movies," Judge said. > > > > > > > > AMC Entertainment Inc., which bought Loews Cineplex > Entertainment Inc. > > > > > last year, could not be reached for comment. > > > > > > > > Regal, based in Knoxville, Tenn., reported an $86.3 million profit > last > > > > year. > > > > > > > > Its financial reports don't break out what concessions > contributed to > > > > the bottom line, but the documents indicate concessions were the > > > > second-biggest source of revenue after ticket sales. > > > > > > > > The chain generated $697 million in revenue on concessions that > cost > > > > $105 million . By contrast, ticket revenues were $1.7 billion, > nearly > > > > twice as much as film rental and advertising costs of $907 million. > > > > > > > > The company reported that concession revenue increased 5.6 > percent in > > > > 2006. It attributed the bulk of that rise to a 4.4 percent > increase in > > > > > the average concession purchase per customer, unspecified snack > price > > > > increases, and the success of "concession-friendly films" like > "Pirates > > > > of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "X-Men 3," and "Cars." > > > > > > > > Bob Goldin , executive vice president of Technomics Inc., a Chicago > > > > consulting firm that works with the food service industry, said the > > > high > > > > prices for popcorn and soda don't deter most moviegoers. > > > > > > > > "Concession prices don't keep people home. Bad movies do," Goldin > said. > > > > "Theaters have found there's not much price sensitivity to their > stuff. > > > > It's part of the experience." > > > > > > > > Most moviegoers interviewed grudgingly agreed, yet there may be a > quiet > > > > backlash. As she waited for her movie to start at the Regal > Fenway 13, > > > > > Lakeisha Belcher of Dorchester said she sometimes bring her own > > > > "goodies" from home. "They don't look in a woman's purse," she > said. > > > > > > > > Bruce Mohl can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > <mailto:mohl%40globe.com> <mailto:mohl%40globe.com> > > > > . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > "There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will > > > get organized along the lines of the Mafia." -Kurt Vonnegut, "A Man > > > Without A Country" > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Have a burning question? Go to Yahoo! Answers and get answers from > > > real people who know. > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > "Such music flow on the Fringe...and no one can resist singing to > > > Scarlet." - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > > Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! 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