In Jonathan Lethem's novel, "Motherless Brooklyn", there's a vignette about an Oreo enthusiast whose tastes are so refined that he can identify which, of two, plants the cookies were baked at. According to him, one of the plants has a master baker, and the other is not so talented. The result is a disparity in cookie quality that Nabisco obscures by mixing cookies from both plants in every package. This character would reportedly open the package, and then examine the cookies one by one, dividing the acceptable cookies from the unacceptable cookies. This was all related to the protagonist by a woman to whom this fanatic was her former boyfriend. It all made for a very vivid and amusing impression. It's all the product of Lethem's imagination, I assume; although I wouldn't know since the delights of the Oreo escape me.

Canadians have an analog to the Oreo, which they find superior. The name escapes me at the moment, but it's oddly reminiscent of strong chemicals. Something "-ox", I believe. And you Canadians and Brits also have your version of the M&M, the Smartie (?), which is also by reputation superior.

But then you guys ruin perfectly good french fries with vinegar, so I'm dubious. My ex-wife, a Canadian, was confounded when she wasn't able to get vinegar with her fries from McDonald's here in the SW US. On the other hand, most people I know ruin their fries with a glob of ketchup, so the American palate is clearly perverse, as well.

I'm an extraterrestrial.