According to the New York Times, Americans seem to be coping with the economic downturn by gobbling down obscene amounts of Necco Wafers and other sugary treats. I read this piece with great interest, since my own candy intake appears to be rising. 'Course, I blamed it on blogging, which is probably worse on your health (and the environment) than red meat.

Reports the Times:

The recession seems to have a sweet tooth. As unemployment has risen and 401(k)’s have shrunk, Americans, particularly adults, have been consuming growing volumes of candy, from Mary Janes and Tootsie Rolls to Gummy Bears and cheap chocolates, say candy makers, store owners and industry experts.

Theories vary on exactly why. For many, sugar lifts spirits dragged low by the languishing economy. For others, candy also provides a nostalgic reminder of better times. And not insignificantly, it is relatively cheap.

Given this information, Y&H wonders if other restaurants will follow the lead of Liberty Tavern and replace their brunch dessert bars with candy ones.

To be fair, The Liberty Tavern, one of my favorite dining spots in Clarendon, did have little dry chocolate mousse cups on their Sunday brunch dessert bar, but the majority of the sweets on the table were commercial candies, including Tootsie Rolls, Necco Wafers, Whoppers, Mary Janes, and, ugh, Pixy Stix.

I have to admit, the candies are a brilliant idea. Grown adults acted as if they were kids at Halloween; they pawed at the table, grabbing various candies to unwrap back at their tables, far more excited by these "desserts," it seemed to me, than by just another creme brulee or double chocolate cake.