SNAAAAAAAAACKS!
Posted by Chewy on Sunday, April 29th, 2007
I used to have a big beef with the American snack industry. The first time I went to London, in 2002, I went ape-shit over all the flavored potato chips they have over there. The selection of deliciousness overwhelmed me: Sunday roast, shrimp cocktail, curry, chicken with thyme, lamb and mint, SMOKY BACON! It was like a mini-mall of flavors. Check out the Walker’s website (which I think is owned by Frito-Lay because they have the same logo). I got really angry at Lay’s and Ruffles for not expanding their flavors beyond regular, salt ‘n’ vinegar, sour-cream and onion, and BBQ.
Fast forward several years later and America has finally caught on. Except it’s mainly indie chip makers that are experimenting, like Kettle (check out Kettle UK, they offer different flavors then America) and Terra with their sweet potato chips. The Big Boys are still fidgeting with oils and fat content and cooking methods - which I understand, but they are putting all their potatoes in one basket. Lay’s Dill Pickle flavor isn’t that bad, but it needs work. And Lay’s chips themselves are cruddy because they are paper thin – I don’t want to be able to read my blog through my chips. (However, a guilty pleasure of mine is bag of Ruffles with a pot of that store bought French onion dip full of preservatives.)
Even Emerald Nuts has caught on. They have flavored nuts now! Chipotle and wasabi, both oven roasted.
Matt and I got a bag of Utz’s Dark Russet Potato Chips. Holy shit! They make it with peanut oil (as opposed to canola or safflower), which is a neutral flavored oil, so all you taste is the potato. And they taste lighter and crispier because your mouth doesn’t get all greasy. I’ve never had chips like them. Even Pokey loves them. Buy them now!
What new snack products do you like?
Categories: 
Discussion: 
ketchup flavored potato chips rock the house. i also like the spicy thai kettle chips mucho. snow peas that you can find in chinatown are good although they are basically soaked through with fat.
mmmm. fat.
Comment written by stephTM on 8:56 pm on the 29th of April, 2007
The vending machine here at work has the Stacey’s naked pita chips….still one of my faves. And I agree that the UTZ naturals are good too.
Comment written by Danielle on 11:50 am on the 30th of April, 2007
I have to question your neutral oil comment. Utz’s may well be wonderful but as far as neutral oils go, peanut is much lower on the list than canola or safflower, no? Safflower especially.
Comment written by Michele on 10:29 am on the 1st of May, 2007
Oh, I thought peanut was the neutralist - that’s why your are supposed to deep fry your turkey in peanut oil. Maybe because it also has a very high smoke point? I will have to look into this.
Comment written by Chewy on 10:09 pm on the 1st of May, 2007
best chips ever are St. Michael’s roast chicken flavor. Apparently they have stopped selling them in Marks & Spencer. booo
also, in other, just as sad news, they don’t sell those gorgonzola and red onion chips at Choice Market anymore. NOooooooooooooooooooo!
Comment written by vincent on 12:54 pm on the 2nd of May, 2007
prawn chips in england are pretty much the shit. as for chips, i’ve traded them in for crackers. specifically tasty pomodoro formaggio numbers you can get at the bedford cheese shop.
Comment written by la duchessa on 8:43 pm on the 7th of May, 2007
I went to the Bedford Cheese Shop for the first time yesterday! I got some creamy soft blue cheese.
Comment written by Chewy on 9:24 pm on the 7th of May, 2007