# Time Machine Grocery List **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 26, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215 "2017-01-26T11:23:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/1 "2017-01-26T11:23:07Z")
I’m sure others have started threads on this same topic before, but I wasn’t there at the time; though I could be if I got my wish, and then this thread would vanish as if it never had been. **If I had a time machine,** I would go back and buy myself cartloads of a lot of things: the original Joico K-Pak corn flavor Australian Toaster Biscuits 5th Avenue bars, before Hershey bought them and ruined them completely same goes for Cadbury Mini Eggs (the hard-shelled ones) the original Riviera Minestrone Campbell’s Chili Beef soup the original Ranch dressing. and some Roquefort dressing too, dammit! butternut squash, back when they used to stain my hands orange from beta-carotene the original Tripp black stretch jeans (way better-made, alas) R.H. Philips Night Harvest Cuvee Rouge I know there are more. I’ll come back and rant when I remember them. You corporate conglomerates get offa my lawn! ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/2 "2017-01-26T11:44:31Z")
Faygo pop in the [weird glass bottles they used in the '80s.](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/da/cd/8e/dacd8ec732ed1e1ede96650c55e194ca.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/3 "2017-01-26T12:38:45Z")
Rowntree Nutty Bars (they were a bit like PayDay, but the peanuts were different) - not for me - for my sister, who loves them so much I had to try to [recreate](http://atomicshrimp.com/post/2012/07/04/Nuttish-Reverse-Engineering-The-Rowntrees-Nutty-Bar) them myself. For me, I would grab a lifetime supply of candy cigars. They were like the little white candy sticks that used to be called candy cigarettes, but they were cocoa flavour, and bigger. I have looked everywhere for these and I think they’re gone. (there are plenty of ‘chocolate cigar’ products that are not the same, but the chocolate candy sticks are nowhere) ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/4 "2017-01-26T13:08:13Z")
The kind of fruit we used to get when I was a child, before they bred everything for looks and shelf-life rather than flavour. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/5 "2017-01-26T13:20:36Z")
Regal Crown Sour Fruits. Although, just now, doing an internet search, I see the Sour Cherry and Sour Lemon are back. Not the sour Grape and Sour Orange, though. StG ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/6 "2017-01-26T13:30:52Z")
McDonald’s apple pies. The deep-fried kind. I’d try to get them raw so that I could freeze them and cook them upon demand, though. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/7 "2017-01-26T13:33:00Z")
Seconding the Regal Crown Sour Fruits. [Danish-Go-Rounds](http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/4519/3904/1600/574176/a-Danish-Go-Rounds.jpg) [Breakfast Squares](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/92/4b/76/924b76b22d1a47180c7be68cae43cea2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/8 "2017-01-26T14:16:45Z")
[Ebinger’s Chocolate Blackout Cake](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2010/09/ebinger-chocolate-blackout-cake-food.html). If God exists, this is his recipe for chocolate cake. [Regal Crown Sours](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2008/07/regal-crown-sours-candy.html) [Milk Shake](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2013/04/milkshake-candy.html) (candy bar) [Baskin-Robbins Mandarin Chocolate Sherbet](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2015/11/mandarin-chocolate-sherbet-food.html) [Wagner & Sons Tea](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2015/01/wagner-and-sons-tea.html) [Schweppes Bitter Lemon soda](http://greatbutforgotten.blogspot.com/2013/02/schweppes-bitter-lemon-food.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/9 "2017-01-26T14:20:13Z")
Snapple Elements…specifically Fire. Also in the glass bottles, not the weird metal ones. ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/10 "2017-01-26T14:47:02Z")
Nabisco Heyday cookies Ding dongs - the real ones that came wrapped in foil. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/11 "2017-01-26T14:52:28Z")
Screw the groceries. I’d go next door to K-Mart and stock up on vintage toys and trading cards. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/12 "2017-01-26T14:52:47Z")
You’re all thinking too recent, I’d go back to ancient times and get a cartload of Silphium to unextinct it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/13 "2017-01-26T15:01:02Z")
Rather than groceries, I’d be curious to go back a few decades to see if a McDonalds hamburger or a Pizza Hut pizza tasted better than what they sell now. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/14 "2017-01-26T15:03:05Z")
**Chuck** - Did you see that you can now get limited flavors of the sours? [Regal Crown Sour Cherry & Lemon](https://www.amazon.com/Regal-Crown-Hard-Candy-Rolls/dp/B01A7MH10W) My mouth still automatically salivates just thinking about those candies, after probably 40 years. StG ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/15 "2017-01-26T15:03:42Z")
You could go back in time and pick up some legal, over the counter cocaine. The resale value would be great (I kid!) Anyone else remember Nestles Triple Decker bar? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/16 "2017-01-26T15:04:40Z")
BBQ Fritos. Jack in the Box Ham and Turkey melt. Some wacky wall climbers (For my cats). ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/17 "2017-01-26T20:34:29Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > McDonald’s apple pies. The deep-fried kind. I’d try to get them raw so that I could freeze them and cook them upon demand, though. THEY DON’T HAVE THEM ANYMORE??? WHA–?? Dang, those were good. I’d go back to around 1970 and stock up on [Big John’s Beans & Fixins](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3d/7c/3d/3d7c3d3f7a9818511d0571b433161477.jpg). The little separate can had chopped onions in a barbecue-tomato-y sauce. I don’t know if they even sell this product anymore, but the last time I bought it (maybe 10 years ago) the little can just had a paste of some kind in it. Blech. Also, small frozen button mushrooms… don’t remember the brand-- Birdseye, JGG? My first husband used to do them up in a pan with butter and Worcestershire sauce. With an artichoke, a gin & tonic, watching the original _Upstairs Downstairs_ (c. 1973), a nice evening. Of course, if that product were available, I’d have to call him up for the recipe. Never mind. Howard Johnson’s frozen shrimp croquettes. Very deliciousl ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/18 "2017-01-26T20:59:27Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Chuck** - Did you see that you can now get limited flavors of the sours? [Regal Crown Sour Cherry & Lemon](https://www.amazon.com/Regal-Crown-Hard-Candy-Rolls/dp/B01A7MH10W) > > My mouth still automatically salivates just thinking about those candies, after probably 40 years. > > StG Yes. They contacted my blog when they were starting up. I’ve seen mixed reviews, usually saying they weren’t as good as they used to be. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/19 "2017-01-26T21:26:56Z")
16 ounce bottles of Coke with the location of where the bottles were made stamped on the bottoms. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215/20 "2017-01-26T23:43:12Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > 16 ounce bottles of Coke with the location of where the bottles were made stamped on the bottoms. I loved those! Some old-timey foods, especially candy, can be found at the online [Vermont Country Store](http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/Candy/cat1010062), along with cosmetics, pajamas, cleaning products, and other stuff. The site and catalog are fun to read. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-machine-grocery-list/778215.md?page=2)