Month: June 2014

Chip Review’s Weekly Rewind

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Rewind

6/22/2014 – A quick look back at this past week’s crunchy chip reviews and random ratings.

:: Reviews ::

Snyder's of Hanover Korn Krunchers - Barbeque

Snyder’s of Hanover – Barbeque Korn Krunchers

“The Korn Krunchers initial mouth texture produced a hard, sturdy crunch just like the Pretzel Pieces do, but after a few more chews, their more rustic texture appeared.  Combine that with an impressively strong corn presence, reminiscent of delicious, fresh corn tortillas, and we’ve got a new snack unlike any other.”

Archer Farms - Habanero Ranch

Archer Farms – Habanero Ranch Homestyle Kettle-Cooked Potato Chips

“Well look at you Archer Farms.  You’ve gone ahead and redesigned your packaging.  We have to admit that we like it.  The re-vamped design feels more natural, streamline, and fresh. Great big, clear picture of the main ingredients, with the AF logo and description simply floating inside of a dark green square in the upper left side of the bag.  Works for us.“

7 Select - Spicy Nacho Tortilla Chips

7 Select – Spicy Nacho Tortilla Chips

“We have to hand it to 7 Eleven, it seems as though they have been working some major overtime trying to upgrade their 7 Select line-up.  The other day we must have counted at least half a dozen new chip additions to their convenience store collection (which wasn’t too shabby in the first place).  There’s no arguing that their privately labeled salty snack selection is among the best in their industry.”

Larry the Cable Guy - Bicuits & Gravy

Larry The Cable Guy – Biscuits & Gravy Potato Chips

“Summer of 2014, and once again two new flavors from everyone’s favorite cartoon tow truck.  What’s the theme this time you ask?  Well, although it was a bit more difficult to nail down, we’ve decided to go with “ultra comfort food”, and feel like that description accurately encompasses both flavors.  Those two flavors are Biscuits & Gravy and Chili Cheese Fries.”

Skinnygirl - Sweet Thai Chili with Flax Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Skinnygirl – Sweet Thai Chili with Flax Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

“Skinnygirl snacks.  Really?  What the heck is a Skinnygirl Snack?  Do we have to be skinny girls to enjoy these chips?  Will these chips transform us into skinny girls?  Were these chips made by a group of skinny girls?  All good and viable questions, but not really the ones that we answer here on this site.  What we want to know, and what we think you really want to know, is if these Skinnygirl chips really taste good?”

Kettle Brand - Sriracha Potato Chips

Kettle Brand – Hot! Sriracha Potato Chips

“Let us welcome the newest member of the ever growing Sriracha flavor club!  As far as our records show, this spicy club was founded by none other than last years Lay’s ‘Do Us a Flavor’ finalist, and since that time the club has continued to grow in popularity and quality!”

:: Ratings ::

14-6-22

○ Terra Red Bliss – Olive Oil, Roasted Garlic & Parmesan Potato Chips

○ Athenos – Whole Wheat Baked Pita Chips

○ Brother Kane – Buffalo Wing Bleu Cheese Crinkle Cut Potato Chips

○ Art’s & Mary’s – Classic Salt ‘N Vinegar Home Style Tater Chips

○ T.G.I. Friday’s – Bacon Ranch Potato Skins Snack Chips

○ North Fork of Long Island – Potato Chips

REVIEW: Kettle Brand – Hot! Sriracha Potato Chips

/ duthow / 2 Comments

Rating: ©©©©-1/4 chips  (lip-smacking)

Kettle Brand - Sriracha Potato ChipsLet us welcome the newest member of the ever growing Sriracha flavor club!  As far as our records show, this spicy club was founded by none other than last years Lay’s ‘Do Us a Flavor’ finalist, and since that time the club has continued to grow in popularity and quality!

Raise of hands, how many of you out there knew that Sriracha was pronounced nothing like it is spelled?  That’s right, “I” before “R” except after…. Say it with us “SI-racha,” not “SREE-racha.”  According to Wikipedia, “It is named after the coastal city of Si Racha, in the Chonburi Prvince of Eastern Thailand.”  Which makes total sense, but why the additional ‘R”??  It makes no sense!  We like pronouncing Sriracha correctly, about as much as we like the pronunciation of a certain retired Green Bay Packer QB!!  Sorry Brett Favre, it is FAV-RE, not FARVE!!

Over the past couple of years, Sriracha chili sauce has really grown in popularity, and so much of that is due to one iconic brand.  That rooster gracing electric red hot sauce filled bottle, with the unmistakable green cap, always brings a smile to our faces.  We are huge fans of Huy Fong’s Sriracha Chili Sauce.  And, while it may not necessarily be our favorite hot sauce, it is definitely up there in probably the top three, and we definitely would consider it the most versatile of any of them.  We use it with everything.  We use it in soups, on grilled meats, in sauces, on eggs of any type, and even on peanut butter toast (thank you Bon Appetit!).

Similar to Pringles recent version of the Thai chili sauce, Kettle Brand has created a very lip-smacking version!  Both versions are definitely at the top of their flavor genre, but due to Kettle Brand’s quality of potato chip, their Sriracha version may just be the best!  We love the decision to use dried red pepper sauce which consists of aged red peppers, vinegar, and salt!!  It really delivers on the true hot sauce essence.  All at once zippy and spicy, and tongue, mouth and nasal tingling.  As we let the heat settle, we hoped that it would subdue, but instead it simply continued to permeate whatever it made contact with!  Of course with those hot sauce notes also came the stereotypical Sriracha generous dosage of potent garlic.  In fact, they may have actually gone a bit overboard with their garlic flavor, but better to do that than the opposite!

Kettle Brand’s Sriracha recipe is really spot on, and seems like a perfect pairing for their deliciously greasy and crunchy, kettle cooked potato chips!  Kettle Brand’s thicker cut potato chips provided a very complimentary, hearty flavorful potato crunch backdrop!  OK, we have to say it, these are now the best Sriracha flavored chips that we have tried so far.  Granted, we’re sure that we haven’t tried them all, but for the time being, we can say with utmost certainty that these are the best that we have tasted!

As always, these are our thoughts, we would love to hear what you think.  Agree or disagree, let us know.

Discovered at Whole Foods; Willowbrook, Illinois

Kettle Brand Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list