Important DMs Chicago Mix, the Vince Vaughn of popcorn

CriticalDMs light edited conversations on Slack with people from the MPR News arts team about Minnesota art and culture.

Log in or create an account into your account to store stories.

Thank you for sharing this story with us! We’ve included it in a list of your most loved stories.

The week before, the arts editor Max Sparber and arts reporter and critic Jacob Aloi discuss Candyland’s Chicago Mix popcorn.

Max Sparber: All right, popcorn ahoy.

Jacob Aloi While I’m located in Chicago I was unable to get my hands on Chicago Mix. However, I believe that’s fine since it’s not coming from Chicago is it?

Individual gifts keep MPR News available to everyone Free of paywalls and obstacles.

Sparber The question is what the origins of this concept originated Mixed popcorns have been in use for ages. You’re right that the name is an Minnesota invention. Specifically, Candyland in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Stillwater.

Garrett Popcorn in Chicago called their mix Chicago Mix and Candyland filed a lawsuit.

The Aloi Chicago Mix does have a better tongue roll over “Twin Cities Mix.” Sorry MSP metropolitan region.

Sparber It’s exactly what Candyland thought when they gave it the name. Chicago Mix just sounds like popcorn that you’d want to consume.

Let’s describe it.

Aloi The Candyland’s Chicago Mix is a mix of cheese-flavored popcorn as well as carmel popcorn. It’s was described as “seasoned” popcorn.

Sparber The cheese is cheddar powder and to avoid any spice-timid Midwesterners get scared over the seasoning it’s popcorn oil, and salt.

I’ve experienced mixed popcorn in which they add hot pepper spice -This isn’t the case.

The Aloi Salt really is an ingredient that can be used to spice up your marketing!

Sparber: No lies here!

Aloi One thing that I love about this mix is that it’s an excellent blend of sweet and savory, with an added dose of sodium thanks to it being “seasoned” popcorn.

The Sparber Yes, this is an everyday staple in my home. I consume a lot from it. Even my friend is a big fan and our dog nags us into feeding the most amount of it.

Aloi Does it exist all year long? I’ve always thought of it as winter, up until the time I began working at MPR in the MPR office, where it’s the lunch snack that’s popular.

Sparber It happens whenever I drive by Candyland. Since I am located near downtown Minneapolis and there’s an Candyland only a few blocks close to the St. Paul office, it happens quite often.

I also purchase the Chicago Mix knockoffs you find at grocery stores. These have their advantages however, they don’t contain the seasoned popcorn, making it a true conflict of sweet and spicy.

Aloi Well, I believe you’ll need the standard products to help you cut through more intense flavors.

Sparber: I agree. Despite its name the Candyland version resembles the famously Minnesotan version.

There is something uniquely Minnesotan about denying that you’re Minnesotan. As in Prince saying to Matt Damon that he lives within his own heart.

Aloi Chicago Mix: King of snack foods.

Sparber It’s a great slogan.

The Aloi Food that is snack was formerly known by the name of Chicago Mix.

Sparber: Chicago Mix: It’s inside your heart. Matt Damon.

In reality, it’s more similar to Vince Vaughn. His birthplace was in Minneapolis however, he insists that he’s Chicagoan and was there he raised.

Aloi What ever it’s called, I believe Candyland deserves the status as the definitive source for Chicago Mix.

Sparber: By law!

It’s odd to me that people went crazy for Jucy Lucy a few years ago, and yet Chicago Mix does not seem like it’s got the same kind of local food reputation.

Aloi: Name recognition. It’s a confusing name that is highly marketable and keeps the possibility of being a local hero.

Sparber Yes, but I imagine that if Jucy Lucy had called itself the Santa Fe Lucy none of us would be discussing it.

Chicago Mix gives and Chicago Mix removes.