NEW YORK: Toy makers have gone to the toilet for their latest creations.
Mattel, a company best known for its clean-cut Barbie dolls, is set to release a game called Flushin’ Frenzy that sends a brown plastic poop flying into the air.
Rival Hasbro, whose water-squirting game Toilet Trouble was a hit last year, stuck with the potty humor this year and released Don’t Step In It, a game where players are blindfolded and have to avoid stepping in poop that’s molded out of a clay-like substance.
Toy analysts and experts say the potty-related toys are hitting stores now because of the popularity of the poop emoji, which has also made it more acceptable for parents to buy poop toys for their kids. At the New York Toy Fair this weekend, toy makers showed off poo-shaped action figures, squishy toys and other creatures from the toilet.
“Yeah, poop is a theme,” says Juli Lennett, the toy analyst at market research company The NPD Group. “Kids think it’s funny.”
Sticky the Poo, a squishy likeness with eyes, clings to walls and ceilings when thrown. The company behind it, Hog Wild, also sells a rainbow version called Sticky Unicorn Poo. Its Sticky the Plunger is sold separately.
There’s poo for collectors, too. Flush Force, by toy maker Spin Master, sells 150 nickel-sized mutant critters that kids can collect. Poopeez, meanwhile, makes tiny squishy collectibles with character names such as Pooji, Skid Mark and Dumpling.
Poopeez are aimed at boys aged 7-years-old and up, says Ashley Mady, who created Poopeez and works for toy company Basic Fun. But she thinks the appeal will spread.
“We really believe poop is for everyone,” she says.
Toy makers turn to the toilet for poop-inspired toys
Toy makers turn to the toilet for poop-inspired toys
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Where We Are Going Today: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory in Dammam
Since returning to live in the Kingdom after years abroad with the best bakeries at my fingertips, I have been on a mission to find suitable sourdough locally. I sampled many mediocre ones, but one would rise above the rest: Ana Starter Sourdough Factory.
I first met founder Aisha Al-Omair at the Juthoor Farmer’s Market and tried her bread then. I liked it immediately.
“Ana Starter Sourdough Factory started as a passion for creating and fermenting the healthiest bread and introducing it to the Saudi market,” she told me at the time.
It began as a personal mission then expanded — like the dough — to serve the community.
“For a long time, I’ve suffered feeding my kids proper bread. The breads that were available at the supermarkets or at local bakeries had instant yeast, that never really took time to ferment, and therefore, when you consume the average bread, you notice some stiffening, you notice indigestion, you notice bloating and heartburn.”
Indeed, I did not feel any bloating or heartburn after devouring a slice or a few so I recently went on a quest to find more.
I ventured to Dammam to find her factory shop. It is a tiny slither of a place — I almost missed it while driving past factories in the Industrial City.
The shop comes with a decadent whiff of delicious bread.
Upon entering, you will see fridges stocked with bread and goodies like jams and butters (from other brands) that complement the bread well.
The sourdough offerings include jalapeno cheddar, zataar, plain and about a dozen other flavors.
The hassawi sourdough, made with local dates from neighboring Al-Ahsa, quickly became my favorite. It has little bits of dates tucked inside like tiny treasures.
Each slice is separated with a sheet, making it easy to freeze and pull out what you need without slices sticking together.
Fluffy with a rustic crust, it is great for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or slathering with salted butter.
My freezer is now packed with loaves.
At around SR45 ($12) per loaf, the price is slightly steep for the local market, but the superior quality is worth the extra dough.
Each day, they post on Instagram Stories showing what is available for pickup — and the quantity of each item.
Ordering is easy: Send a DM to reserve a loaf, swing by the shop, or opt for delivery.
• For more details, check their Instagram @anaastarter.
