July 31, 2009 by Marianne

July 31, 2009 • Filed Under: Bacon Gifts , Archie McPhee, bacon belt, etsy, muffin top

One of my least favorite fashion trends in the U.S. is the muffin top. You know, when your jeans get a little too tight, but instead of giving them to Goodwill you just keep rocking them and add a slightly-too-short t-shirt to emphasize your tummy’s accomplishment? I see it less and less, but a couple of years ago I could have sworn someone was actually selling the concept to teens. Half the girls on State Street were sporting muffin tops, and I spent a lot of time shaking my head. I’m not saying I’ve never spilled over the top of my jeans, I’m just saying I wore a long, flowy shirt to fool myself. Probably didn’t fool anyone else.

“Why is she rambling about this?” you’re wondering. Well in England they call this look the Bacon Belt. Which I find far more descriptive and less flattering than the American term. But, I guess you gotta call a spade a spade, and the English are pretty blunt people.

Now, to redeem the term altogether, Archie McPhee has given us something more literal. The Bacon Belt, seen here looking extra rock-star with a Slayer t-shirt, is made of vinyl and runs $24.95.

If you’ve got a little more cash to spare, you can get this custom bacon and eggs belt from the Etsy Belt shop. The buckle is made of pewter, and at $460, this would be a serious sign of your devotion to the pork belly. Totally worth it, right? 

July 29, 2009 by Marianne

July 29, 2009 • Filed Under: Bacon Gifts , Archie McPhee, bacon soap, soapourri

You know how when one vampire movie (or zombie movie, or movie about Truman Capote) comes out, suddenly there are one or two others within the next 12 months? Like, everyone had this great idea right around the same time for some weird reason? Well, apparently bacon-scented soap is an idea whose time has come.

We begin with a new product from Cindy at Soapourri. She has a variety 3-pack of Man Soap (scroll down a bit), including not only bacon, but also rum & lime (yum) and Dirty Boy, which includes coffee grounds, pumice and the scent of motor oil! Super inventive and exfoliating! Count my man in. And just so your guy doesn’t feel weird about getting soap in his stocking, it comes wrapped in manly camo paper, tied with minimalist twine.

And of course, never to be outdone by the little guy, and always excessively overboard on all things bacon-kitsch, Archie McPhee took it a step further by making soap that smells and kinda looks like bacon. This embossed bar comes in the ever popular McPhee tin, giving you somewhere to keep your collection of spent shell casings . You manly man, you.

If Taco Bell has it right, we ladies should be using this soap to draw men to our heavenly aroma. Wait, did I just suggest that women take dating advice from Taco Bell? I think I’m high on liquid smoke. Someone needs some coffee, STAT.

February 20, 2009 by Marianne

February 20, 2009 • Filed Under: Bacon Gifts, Bacon Reviews , Archie McPhee, bacon floss, bacon mints, gummy bacon

A couple of my friends like to joke about becoming “Crazy Cat Lady,” that old woman who has 2 dozen cats roaming her home with names like Mittens and Uncle Albert, and little bowls of milk all over the floor, piano and stairs. My mom is another form of cat lady — the kind who constantly gets cat-related gifts because she likes cats. Every birthday, Mother’s Day and Christmas she gets a new book, calendar, figurine or card featuring cats, whether she wants it or not. I myself am guilty; I bought her Dewey for Christmas, but only because I really thought she’d enjoy the read. She’s a reader, that one.

Anyhow, what does this have to do with bacon? Only that I think I’m becoming Bacon Lady, the friend who you buy little bacon-related gifts for because, hey! She likes bacon! I’m not complaining. I recently received a box of gummy bacon, some bacon floss, and my personal favorite, the bacon mints. The gummy bacon tastes like strawberry gummy anythings, and I liked it. I’m a sucker for gummy. The floss was weird; when I first opened the package and sniffed, it reminded me of a big, meaty dentist hand. I know that sounds strange, but the mixture of rubber gloves and whatever antiseptic soap dentists use…well, it smells like bacon floss. I couldn’t really taste the bacon in the floss, but the more I used it, the more I could smell that smoky, dentisty smell. I vote no on bacon floss.

To my great surprise, I liked the bacon mints. The smell when you open the tin is similar to the smell of the bacon floss, except that the container is a metal tin rather than a plastic box, so it’s kind of metallic with a backwash of liquid smoke. When you put it in your mouth there’s an instant of smoked meat flavor, but then you mostly just taste mint. The weird thing, though, is that you continue to smell the smoke, almost like you’re smelling it with your mouth. It’s hard to describe, but the essence of smoke remains sort of ethereal throughout. So I give the mints at least one thumb up. If you’re curious about any of these bacon delights, you can find these and much, much more at Archie McPhee.

Big thanks to Todd, Kerby and Lorraine for thinking of me when you see anything bacon. I hope someone thinks of me next time they see a gourmet bacon of the month club!

January 21, 2009 by Marianne

January 21, 2009 • Filed Under: Bacon Gifts , Archie McPhee, Bacon, bacon watch

I thought that headline sounded more dramatic and exciting with the year thrown on the end, like a breaking news story. Which I suppose this is, because hey! It’s an actual bacon watch! As in, a watch made of bacon! Well, sort of.

Yes, Archie McPhee has done it again. I love the old-timey look of the character on the watch face. It reminds me of the concession foods on the “Let’s all go to the lobby” cartoon they used to show before movies. Like he should be marching along behind the frankfurter and soda pop, just before the box of popcorn. Mmm…bacon at the movies. Another great idea just waiting to happen.

October 3, 2008 by Marianne

October 3, 2008 • Filed Under: Bacon Gifts , Archie McPhee, Bacon, bacon gum

Archie McPhee, you complete me.

Naseem and I were just saying last night that McPhee will likely keep coming up with a new bacon product every few months from here to eternity. Then yesterday she sends me this. So now if bacon mints, floss, or toothpicks don’t give you that bacony taste in your mouth all day long, you can chew on some bacon gum and watch the members of the opposite sex swoon.

For $6.95, you get not one, but TWO TINS of chewy, bacony goodness. And I love the tin, especially the little bacon strip guy blowing a bubble. He looks like a stick of Fruit Stripe Gum, cannibalistically chewing bacon gum.

Ew, I just creeped myself out a little.