Arnott's Barbecue Shapes

I am normally one for foods that err more on the sweeter side ("mmmmm.... chocolate", as Homer Simpson might say).

The other day however, I was doing the grocery shop at the local, when I came across an unfamiliar looking box of crackers, emblazoned with the words, "Baked Crisps Chipotle Barbecue". My mind immediately tuned to thoughts of the product pictured here, on the left: Arnott's Barbecue Shapes; those delightful Aussie crackers that forbid many a lured nibbler from ever eating just one.

The Barbie Shapes, as they are fondly referred (at least in my family) are a baked cracker topped with a generous and very visible smattering of onion powder, salt, dried parsley and tangy, dried tomato seasoning. When one makes it to the bottom of the cracker carton, there lies a considerable layer of the tomato seasoning, the honour in syphoning and scrounging this tomatoey treasure from the furthermost corners of the cellophane bag, is both highly coveted and heavily debated. With this in mind, not to mention a mouth reminiscent of one of Pavlov's dogs, I grabbed a box of "Chipotle Barbecue" in the deluded hope that some ingenious fellow had managed to replicate the Arnott's taste...it was not to be.

While the Chipotle Barbecue were faintly reminiscent of the Arnott's variety, they were really only mere wanna-bes; though I doubt the crew at "President's Choice" were trying to re-create the Arnott's classic or were even aware of the product's existence. Nevertheless, there was no comparison. The President's Choice flavours included tomato (apparently), smokey chipotle pepper and onion powder - a fine mist of each, at best. The ingredient list on the back of the pack suggested dried parsley was also a feature of the President's Choice cracker, and the picture on the front of the box appeared to second this assumption, but alas, even after a thorough search to the outermost regions of the cellophane bag, no such positive i.d's were returned.

Don't get me wrong, the Chipotle Barbecue were edible. I didn't mind them at all, but they weren't a patch on the Arnott's variety, and the failed hope of sampling some ridgy didge barbie shapes, has now left me wanting - not that I really need them...please DON'T send me any! OK.