Some very sad news out of Texas today.   Hostess Brands says it is going out of business, closing plants that make Twinkies and Wonder Bread and laying off all of its 18,500 workers.

The Irving, Texas, company says a nationwide worker strike crippled its ability to make and deliver its products at several locations.

Hostess had warned employees that it would file a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to unwind its business and sell assets if plant operations didn’t return to normal levels by Thursday evening.

So let’s get real – what does this really mean? It means part of my childhood is dead.

I grew up, not on twinkies, but on Ding Dongs.

The ultimate snack food, Hostess Ding Dongs.

They were the perfect lunch dessert.  Small enough to fit in the lunch box, not too messy.  It had the perfect amoung of chocolate, versus cake, versus cream.  I especially loved back in the old days when they came wrapped in tin foil.  But even the plastic wrapper is fine.  I also lived on these in college, but was rather freaked out when I left Chicago to go to Michigan State, and found them with a different name:

In Michigan, Ding Dongs were called King Dons.

I have NO IDEA WHY the name change.  And let me offer a bit of too-late financial advice to the Hostess company…If you keep the same product with the same name across the country, it will be cheaper for package purposes! You will save money!  Also, you won’t confuse poor college students who are far from home and just want some delicious goodness.

It is a sad day for poor King Don and company.  What are some of your favorite Hostess desserts?

King Don

ODE TO THE DING DONG:

Carefully unfolding the silver tinfoil – careful not to rip a piece.

Hard chocolate shell that smells like heaven.

The look and feel of a hockey puck.

The taste of hard chocolate gives way to moist chocolate cake and a fluffy cream.

Each bite, a perfect combination.

Ding Dongs of the world unite.