How to Pocky Party

Let's cut to the chase. It's been one tough week: we got the move downtown, tons of coverage of festivalia-galore for follow-up, and well, just sheer exhaustion. Not to the level of "crappy" (though it got damned close) but even Friday doesn't taste as it should.

I'm not one to throw big parties, but a day like today calls for one. And at Metromix LA/HQ, nothing causes sheer giggly delight like Pocky. Yes, I said Pocky. Those rail-thin, chocolate-coated biscuit sticks. You look at those and you know that a culture that daily uses chopsticks was the mad genius behind them. Of course, the Pocky empire expands well beyond the realm of chocolate. 

I hit my local Marukai and cleared the shelves of Pocky varietals and gained some serious lovin' from my colleagues (sorry, dudes, no photos). Come join us on our little Pocky Party (set in two parts), and let's see which creamy-coated dips passed our lips.

DISCLAIMER: In my efforts to resize my photos and with my hateful computer problems today, I realize that the photos are blurry. I'll see what I can do next time.

Bottom row (left to right): Tahitian Vanilla, Honey & Milk, Strawberry, Mango Mousse, White Chocolate Mousse

Top row: Gigantic sack of individual bags of original Pocky, Bittersweet chocolate with cocoa dust

Miss Alie Ward shyly hides her excitment at her first introduction to Tahitian Vanilla.

Oooh....Alie shows off how the pretty bag matches Alexandra's shirt of hotness

Sniff! It smells like cake batter...and tastes delightful! This ended up being the Ward favorite as it tasted like vanilla pudding (and shared the pure snowiness of Alie's skin).

Contributing editor George Ducker isn't afraid to get in on some Pocky action even in his formal Friday attire. "[Strawberry] smells like cigarettes!" Alex cries with surprise. Oh, that was George.

We appreciate guys who coordinate with their favorite Pocky, in this case: Metropolitan white chocolate mousse meet a creamy oxford with a touch of tie (perhaps an "Oxford" knot, if you will)

Alexandra liked the Mango Mousse, which was "enormous!" As she summarizes, the bigger the stick with more frosting, the better. Yes, that was meant to be sexual.

More delights from the party forthcoming—as well as some professional evaluation (I am a serious food editor, after all). For now, enjoy Alie's ballerina flight of Pocky euphoria during the intermission.  

TO BE CONT'D.