A Taste of Charlotte

Every region, regardless of the country has some type of food that is synonymous with the area. Sao Paulo state is renowned for its pizza and also its Arabic influenced salgados. Valladolid, Quintana Roo has its lime soup. Lexington has barbecue. What does Charlotte have? Charlotte has nabs.
In the Southeast, every convenience store, every supermarket, every grocery store, without exception has Lance snacks. The Lance brand has been around since the early 1900’s, originally, roasted peanuts, but then, in 1915, the crème de la crème was born…Lance crackers. Lance crackers are truly the king of snack foods. There are those who immolate, those who imitate, but none can surpass that common little morsel that is so pleasing and satisfying to the palate.

Having grown up in the Carolinas, we’ve experienced the pleasure all our lives. The best of the Lance line is the Toastchee. The bright orange little squares covered in salt and held together by just the right amount of peanut butter goes well with every beverage. As a child, it was Coke, but for the more adult taste, they’re great with coffee.

I’ve always referred to them as “square cheese crackers”. Mick has asked me repeatedly as to my reference? I really don’t have an answer, but at our house, they were square cheese crackers. Every vending machine had them. In my mid teens I worked in a sewing factory in the summers. At that time, the “nabs” as some call them were only 10 cents. I gladly spent that dime twice daily for my pack of crackers. In the ‘60’s there were 4 in a pack and the cost was a nickel, then the price crept up. As the price continued to increase, the quantity went to 6. Currently, most vending machines require from 50 or 60 cents. But it is so worth the cost!

When Mick and I travel, we always take the Toastchees in the back pack. For a boost of energy, a break in boredom, or just a taste of home, those little orange squares are capable of solving any problem. We’ve taken them all over the world and shared them with many who have never encountered such a delightful blend of flavors. Perhaps some of the most interesting creatures to enjoy them were a colony of ants on the Amazon in Peru. The tiny insects made their way into the packs and devoured them, without even making a hole

When we travel to Ecuador next week, the backpack will have a supply of the nabs to once again, a taste of home away from home, searching for a new home. We always have enough to share. For us, the crackers are a part of our growing up, spawning memories of simple times. After the move, the snacks won’t last forever, but the memories will. We will find other tidbits to compensate, not a replacement, but something to build new memories and fill that little void that is sometimes felt in the stomach and the soul.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy