Does owning something make you an expert? People assume, say, you know everything about films if you own a theater. So it makes sense that people want to know Paul Rudd’s views on candy because he and Jeffrey Dean Morgan own Samuel’s Sweet Shop in upstate New York. But they’ve been public with the fact they bought it after the owner died to keep it open for the community and don’t have a hand in running it. Still, guilt by association and now inquiring minds want to know: what’s good, Paul? Afterall, he does eat at his own shop. And they sell a sampler bag that’s supposedly filled with Paul’s favorites. So what’s top of Paul’s list? Hot Tamales, Mike and Ikes, white Tic Tacs and anything chocolate.
The next time you watch one of Paul Rudd’s movies, try pairing it with one of his favorite candies.
In this week’s PEOPLE cover story, the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania star, 53, says that he has “the candy taste of a seven-year-old child.”
“The long tube of bottle caps? I can’t get them because I’ll eat the whole tube of bottle caps, or I’ll eat the entire tube of the fruit Mentos,” says the actor, who owns Samuel’s Sweet Shop in Rhinebeck, N.Y. with Jeffrey Dean Morgan. “They’re amazing.”
The Only Murders in the Building actor lists his favorite candies as Hot Tamales and Mike and Ikes. But he’s also “way down with” chocolate.
“I’ll tell you what is a really unheralded candy that is another one of my all-time faves: the white Tic Tac. There’s a little hint of vanilla or something in it that is really low-key fantastic,” Rudd tells PEOPLE. “Everyone knows the orange Tic Tacs — they crush, they’re so damn great. But white? If you had to go, ‘Which one do you like better?’—that’s a real Sophie’s choice for me.”
Needless to say, I’m with Paul on the you had me at chocolate part. I rarely like a spicy candy, so I’ll leave the Hot Tamales to him. Mike and Ikes are fine. Unfortunately, the only time I ever eat them is when someone discovers them after years of neglect so they’re practically petrified. But I’m not sure that isn’t the general state of a Mike and Ike normally. Combined with popcorn, they do have a certain appeal. I’ll lose many readers here, but I’ll take a Good and Plenty over a Mike and Ike. If we want to talk underrated: Red Vines. I know they aren’t undervalued because everyone eats them, but people eat them because they’re there. Next time you’re chomping on one, think of how much joy it’s bringing you in that moment. And don’t bring a Red Vine v. Twizzler debate here. I won’t have my post sullied with that nonsense.
I love that Paul’s going to the mat for white Tic Tacs. I’ll do them one better and flat out pick white over orange. In general, though, people never give Tic Tacs credit. But this is why we love Paul, he stands up for the unsung candy. Everyone knows the chocolate celebrities. Snickers has movie star spokesperson money. Three Musketeers is carrying Dumas’ reputation atop its whipped mouse center. Reese’s has decades of smug assurance knowing how delicious they are. And along comes Marvel’s Ant-Man to collect the wax covered pieces of hardened jelly stuck to the underside of the chair, hold them aloft and say hey. You know what? You’re pretty good, too, buddy.
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- Los Angeles premiere of Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ at Regency Village Theatre Featuring: Julie Yaeger, Paul Rudd Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 06 Feb 2023 Credit: BauerGriffin/INSTARimages
Photo credit: Instagram, Getty Images and Cover Images
I LOVE hot tamales, they’re so good. But I like any kind of cinnamon flavoured candy, lol
I’m gonna be honest. I’m Canadian, and I’d never heard of Red Vines until this year. I had no idea what they were. I wonder if they sell them up here?
Red Vines are like Twizzlers, only they have texture of an old crumbling car tire and they taste like NyQuil. I said what I said.
@mj
You made me spit out my coffee, lol
I think both Red Vines and Twizzlers are nasty. The shape and texture are fun, which is important when you’re a kid. But as an adult? Blech.
Agree. Red Vines taste like ABC gum. Already been chewed
Lol I am eating twizzlers at my work desk as I write this 😂
lol I LOVE the flavor of redvines. I feel like it’s realer red licorice than twizzlers.
KrystinaJ, I don’t know what part of Canada you’re from, but in my area, you can buy RedVines at London Drugs and Peavey Mart. I have never tried them, but I must now because I love me some unpopular candy (seriously, give me ALL the black liquorice and coconut- covered everything).
I’m with you on the coconut, but black licorice should be something that is only offered to a crossroads demon, to make a deal!
I have never had Mike and Ike! I have no idea what they taste like, but now I’m curious.
Red Vines/Twizzlers are the tolerable “licorice”, for the repulsed by black licorice, and are the same thing. Only, it worked out that barely anyone likes a gigantic burst of fennel in their mouth, while they are watching a movie. It’s gummy cherry/strawberry-ish.
I loved the old recipe for Good ‘n Plenty. When you could bite the candy shell off of the piece of licorice inside, eat the piece of licorice and when the box was empty, you could blow the box and make a sound!! I was thoroughly disappointed when they changed the recipe and packaging.
Loved good n plenty, I love black licorice. My fave was Callard and Bowzer licorice caramels. I also loved Squirrel Nut Zippers, Goldenbergs peanut chews and Mary Janes.
We need to start a liquorice lovers support group and make field trips to Dutch shops; my local Dutch bakery has an entire wall of black gold, from sweet to super-strong salted. It’s my happy place.
@Sunnee, I had forgotten about the C+B licorice caramels! 💗 and I do like those peanut chews. I see the peanut chews here and there still.
Hot Tamales are also my favorite candy, so Paul has good taste.
I always wanted Good & Plenty from the candy machine when I was little, because I loved the colors. But in truth I didn’t like how it tasted. I liked the sugar rush, just not the licorice flavor.
I’m with Paul on the hot candies! I like that stuff, or at least I did. It’s been a while since I’ve tasted a Hot Tamale candy, But in general, sweet and spicy is a good flavor combo in my book. And chocolate, of course! Always has to be on the list.
I have a theory that in general East Coasters prefer Twizzlers and West Coasters prefer Red Vines with midwesterners kind of up in the air.
Hmmm. You could be right. I’m from NYC-moved to No California 30 years ago. I just don’t understand these people and their Red Vine love when Twizzlers are right there.
I was born and raised in the midwest, and your theory stands. I am completely ambivalent about Red Vines/Twizzlers. If they are the only thing that is sweet, while I’m eating popcorn, I will nibble a bit, to cut the salt, but I never think of them, until the next time I am at a movie.
My dad always made “homemade” cinnamon applesauce by melting Hot Tamales in a pan for flavor. I recently bought a tube of Mentos on a whim because I wanted some mints and promptly ordered a multi-pack. My favorite candy besides like a candy bar are those puffy peppermints that melt in your mouth.
those puffy peppermints are so good! have you ever had angel mints? They’re similar and soooo good
I love Hot Tamales, my love for them is so great that my kids have bought me some for birthday presents. My youngest when he was about 4 years old saw them at the dollar store and grabbed a box and proudly exclaimed that “they had my fire beans” and the name has stuck so now they are fire beans. I can eat a box in one sitting and some stores carry a pound bag, which is just dangerous for me.
Red Vines for this midwestern transplant who discovered them in SoCal.
My grocery store has had Mikes & Ikes and Hot Tamales on sale for $1 a box. Big movie size boxes. My husband has been coming home with 5 boxes each every time he goes to the store. I love Hot Tamales anyway and never thought about Mike & Ikes, but I’ve been eating so many of them my teeth hurt. Not like cavities, but sore from all of the gooey chewing. I mix them up in a bowl and add M&M’s. Gotta get the chocolate in there.
White tic tacs are the only tic tacs I’ll f with. Hot tamales are just showing your age. Remember sucking on those until getting to the non hot clear jelly insides at the movies in the 80s. Good n Plenty were the same except you bit off the hard sugar exterior and eat the licorne afterwards. What they changed the recipe???
The writing in this post is so funny!! Lol.
I love good n plenty’s too, and I’ll often buy them because it’s the only candy that my family won’t steal from me and devour.
Really bizarre to refer to tic Tacs as candy. Very old man behavior.
This is me with lemon drops. They are the only thing in my house I can reliably depend on to be where I left them.
Mike and Ike is my favorite fruity candy, tying with starburst jelly beans. Yum
Count me in for the Hot Tamales love. When I was in high school, I discovered adding Hot Tamales in popcorn. The chewy, crunchy, sweet, salty, and spicy combination is delicious! I highly recommend it.
Anything chocolate all the time, too.
Owning what you like is sexy. And good. Just like the latest Ant-Man Movie.