Food tidbits

By Al Sicherman

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

Curiously semisweet

Fans of Altoids, the tins of “curiously strong” mints (and, for that matter, people who previously had no interest in Altoids) might be pleased to learn that Altoids now offers three of its candies – peppermint, cinnamon and ginger – dipped in dark chocolate. At one store they’re $2.49 (plain are $1.79).

A stirring suggestion

Mr. Tidbit usually restricts his practice to foods, not food gizmos, but he was oddly taken by “Grandpa Witmer’s Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Mixer.”

Students of ambiguous phrasing please note: This device is not an old-fashioned mixer for peanut butter; it’s a mixer for old-fashioned peanut butter (the kind that separates in the jar). It consists of a hook-shaped rod that goes into the peanut butter, the other end of which is a crank. The whole thing passes through a lid that screws onto a standard 16-ounce jar.

It’s cheapest ($7.95) at www.lehmans.com (1-877-438-5346 ), but shipping is $5.95. At www.witmerproducts.com (or P.O. Box 444, Orrville, OH 44667) it’s $11.50, but that includes shipping. No phone number is available (they must hate crank calls).

The chips are up

If you’ve been on the edge of your seat wondering which of the five potential new flavors won Kettle brand potato chips’ third annual People’s Choice campaign, Mr. Tidbit is told it was a close three-way race between Dragon Five Spice, Twisted Chili Lime and Island Jerk. And the winner is … Island Jerk. Expect to see it in stores in May or June.

Dry and stop them

Welch’s has turned up on the dried-fruit shelf, with four offerings at once: three mixtures – blueberries, cherries, cranberries and golden raisins; pineapple, apricots, cherries, apples and raisins; pineapple, mango and papaya – and just cherries.