A small list of knowable things
Subscribe
Cover photo

#19. Shelly Senbei rice crackers

On the best snacks of all time

Jonny Sun

Jan 27
4

This is entry number 19 of my newsletter, A small list of knowable things. As a reminder, if you are reading this entry but haven’t subscribed to the newsletter yet, you can subscribe here, for a new drawing and essay in your inbox every week. Thank you for reading, as always!

______________________

I’m currently in a writers room for a new show that I’m incredibly excited about (and that I can’t wait to share more news about when the time comes), and we’ve been breaking an episode that I'm co-writing, so all my creative energy has been going toward that, and so I will keep this entry short.

Shelly Senbei rice crackers might be my favorite snack of all time. Similar to how I feel about fried dace with salted black beans, they are so perfect that can’t describe how perfect they are in words. They're a little umami and a little sweet, perfectly balanced and crunchy and rewarding. I had to immortalize them for myself by illustrating the perfect little 2-cracker packs they come in.

You know how there are some things — daily, little, seemingly insignificant things — that you don’t realize are meaningful to you until you take the time to focus your attention on them? Well this is NOT one of those things. This snack has ALWAYS been on a pedestal for me, from day ONE, ever since I was a BABY.

“Ten outta ten, baby!!!!!” is what I imagine I shouted as a baby the first time I ever laid eyes on them, long before I even had the teeth or digestive system to eat them. It’s that good — if you’ve had them, I trust you know what I mean. If you haven’t… get your hands on some immediately. They’re perfect.

And now I have something to ask of all of you: please please please tell me what snacks evoke this level of pure screaming rage/joy for you!!! What is the snack that you love that every person in the world needs to know about?? I need to up my snack game. Especially since I’m going to be off on script, writing an episode of television very soon!! So I will need all the snacks I can get. Please comment with your answers so I can make a shopping list. Thank you!!!

______________________

This entry is (unofficially) brought to you be Hrishikesh Hirway’s newsletter post about Snack Club, which inspired this entry because it got me thinking about snacks. So I’m unofficially including this entry into Hrishi’s Snack Club canon without asking him! Sorry, Hrishi! Read and subscribe to Hrishi's newsletter here!

______________________

From quietly provocative international best selling author and TV writer Jonny Sun, A small list of knowable things is a weekly illustration and reflection on a personal object close to his heart. If you haven't already, you can subscribe here.

  1. Telephone

  2. Carrot (imagined)

  3. Marimo moss ball

  4. Traffic model

  5. Tin of fried dace with salted black beans

  6. Study of the interior volume of the Sant’Eligio degli Orefici in Rome

  7. Engraved stainless steel cup (belonging to Hrishikesh Hirway)

  8. 3.5mm auxiliary cord input

  9. Digimon Digivice D3

  10. Glass of water (overfilled but not yet spilled over)

  11. Lily pad

  12. Chess piece (rook)

  13. ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

  14. Fountain pen

  15. Bucket

  16. Succulent arrangement (after 9 months)

  17. Rock (ordinary)

  18. Chocolate chip cookie (with chocolate chips omitted)

  19. Shelly Senbei rice crackers

Subscribe for free to A small list of knowable things
By subscribing, you agree to share your email address with Jonny Sun to receive their original content, including promotions. Unsubscribe at any time. Meta will also use your information subject to the Bulletin Terms and Policies
4

More from A small list of knowable things
See all

#32. Paper bag (a poem recommendation)

On ordinariness and grocery stores
May 18

#31. Makeshift finger splint

On being lucky enough to have a favorite teacher
Apr 30
4
2

#30. Mom’s drawing

On holding onto everything
Apr 27
1
Comments
Subscribe with Facebook to comment

4 Comments

  • Joy Hermalyn
    Mallomars (winter only 😉), Trader Joe's Cacio e Pepe Snacks, Deep River Potato Chips, Shrimp Shumai from H-Mart, Levain Chocolate Chip cookies definitely with the chips though....!
    • 17w
  • Jireh Lee Silva
    Oishi Cracklings Salt & Vinegar; Regent Golden Sweet Corn balls; Hany Peanut Milk Chocolate bars; also banana milk, if banana milk counts as a snack
    • 17w
  • Kelly Li
    Shrimp chips! And those yellow orange almond cookies that come in a big clear container, where each cookie has one almond slice (or two if you're lucky)
    • 16w
  • Lisa Ortega
    I had to think about this for a while. The absolutely perfect and desirable snack that satisfies all main characteristics (crunchy, salty, creamy, sweet) is....drumroll.... a strawberry ice ream scoop with broken pretzels on top. ❤️❤️😱❤️❤️
    • 16w
Share quoteSelect how you’d like to share below
Share on Facebook
Share to Twitter
Send in Whatsapp
Share on Linkedin
Privacy  ·  Terms  ·  Cookies
© Meta 2022
Discover fresh voices. Tune into new conversations. Browse all publications