Debbie does the Galaxy

I decided to change the subject slightly. Today is porn.
Well, food porn anyway.

I would like to tell you that I have been in the restaurant business for 30+ years. Food cost for the stores that I worked in were in the 22% range up to 28% for casual dining. Today, with the cost of food as we see in the grocery stores, we run a food cost in the general vicinity of 23%. How is that even possible?
Debbie does the Galaxy is how it is possible.
I honestly don't remember how much Hostess Ho Hos cost when I was a kid but they were a favorite.
Chocolate covered devils food cake rolls filled with an amazing creme. I would save my allowance for them and the berry filled pies that they made. Heaven for a 10 year old. Soon we discovered Little Debbie's. You could find them in vending machines and in the discount markets. The first time I tried them, expecting the flavor of a Ho Ho, I begged my mom to never buy them again. I knew, at 10, what quality was and Debbie's Swiss cake rolls was not it. Sadly, Hostess could not compete with the economic demands of the public. The last time I actually saw them was in a 7-11, priced more than one dollar for 2 while Debbie had a box of 12 (6 packs of 2) for 99 cents. My taste buds finally learned to accept a flavor I wasn't fond of and eventually looked forward to during the midnight run to the kitchen with a glass of milk and a quick snack.
Fast forward 20 years
2 weeks ago, my wife brought home a box of Swiss cake rolls. Instantly I knew something was different. They were longer. My uneducated guess said 25% longer, not bigger, which to me, is important. Ok, they are bigger but not thicker, just longer. And even though they are an inferior substitute for Ho Hos, they have become that late night staple I dream of. They didn't make the Milky Way mistake.
I know its hard to believe that the most sought after candy bar in the world (based solely on numbers) could possible make a mistake but the Mars company did. Worse, they never consulted with me to inquire about the problem.
The current Milky Way candy bar is 2 3/4oz. It has been down sized slightly over the years but proportionately still the same. That is the key. In their attempt to increase sales, they did 2 things. First, the mini. Tasty yes but not a Milky Way. Too much chocolate for the nougat and caramel. Throws the flavor off. You buy the bags at $7/lb and think nothing of the taste difference.
The worst came second. Big Size. This was to gain more sales per purchase in the hopes no one would notice the discrepancy in flavor. The bar was thicker, more nougat, more caramel. The balance of chocolate was now out of whack. They could've went the Debbie route and just made the bar longer.
Last week, I made the decision to write this blog. My wife brought home a new abomination. "Great Value Swiss Cake Roll" I've decided NOT to settle for another change in a favorite. And if Hostess would box of 12 of their original Ho Hos, I would gladly pay the asking price, maybe enjoy them less often but savor every bite.
As the menu prices rise, understand one thing...you are eating GV and not Hostess.