Jalapeño

REVIEW: Deano’s Jalapenos – Ranch Jalapeno Chips

/ duthow / Leave a comment

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

Deano's Jalapenos - Ranch Jalapeno Chips

Comments:

A while back, we reviewed both the original Deano’s Sea Salt, and Cheddar Jalapeno chips, and we definitely thought they were tasty, and practically, unbearably, lip-scorching!  Well, luckily for us, we saved Deano’s best rendition for last!!  First of all, we must warn you straight off that you better make sure to grab your bottles of milk, and your icy popsicles before tackling these chips!  These chips are not for spicy food amateurs, so don’t say we didn’t warn you!!  In fact, if we are being honest here, Deano’s Jalapeno Chips are very close to being too spicy for even us to enjoy!

Deano’s Jalapeno Chips “…are the brainchild of Doehne “Deano” Duckworth, owner of The Cactus Café in Stowe, Vermont. As jalapeno-flavored potato chips became more popular on the market, Duckworth thought, why not skip the potato part and make chips out of the jalapenos themselves?  He used the Cactus as a tasting ground, with loyal customers acting as testers and food critics as he perfected the recipe. The chips are still handmade in small batches and packaged in re-sealable bags for restaurant-quality flavor that can be enjoyed anywhere.” (www.deanosjalapenos.com)

The chips themselves are thin slices of jalapeno chile peppers, dusted in cornstarch, and fried just like traditional potato chips.  The result is unlike any other chips we have tried on the market.  After the initial, creamy tang from the ranch seasoning, the jalapeno flavor takes over and commands most of the attention with its authentic, and powerful vegetal flavor.  The chip’s texture reminds us a lot of those crunchy, fried onion straws that our grandmothers were always sprinkling all over their comforting casseroles that we grew up on in Northern Minnesota.  Don’tcha know!

The tangy, herbal, ranch seasoning complimented the jalapeno chips very nicely.  These were definitely the most balanced from Deano’s trio of jalapeno chips.  And, whereas we felt like the cheddar cheese seasoning didn’t really do anything to subdue the natural heat of the jalapeno chips, the ranch seasoning was able to help withstand some of the tongue burning.  Of the three flavors, the ranch were the only chips we went back to and enjoyed on their own.  Whereas with the sea salt and cheddar flavors, we simply used the remainder of those bags as garnishes for cheeseburgers and brats – which we would definitely recommend.

So, while Deano’s Jalapeno Chips won’t be stealing a spot from any of our most favorite jalapeno flavored chips any time soon, we can most definitely see why they were “Ranked #1 for “most unique” spicy snack food at the 2010 Scovie Awards, the world’s leading recognition for hot and spicy products.” (www.deanosjalapenos.com)

As always, these are our thoughts. Agree or disagree, make sure to let us know.

Chip provided to Chip Review from Deano’s Jalapenos for review

Deano’s Jalapenos Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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REVIEW: Chex Chips – Cheddar Jalapeno

/ duthow / Leave a comment

Rating: ©©-1/2 chips  (tolerable)

Chex Chips - Cheddar Jalapeno

Comments:

Most of us here at Chip Review are from the generation raised on homemade Chex Mix!  Not the Chex Mix that kids these days are growing up with, but the kind that was so deliciously saturated with unctuous amounts of butter and Worcestershire sauce, that it took the mix pieces forever to crisp back up again in the oven.  The O.M. – Original Mix!  Absolutely delicious!  Granted, many of us referred to this “classical” delicious mix as Doo Dads, rather than Chex Mix, however, that’s another story.

So, what exactly are Chex Chips?  Well, lets imagine that someone took all of the Chex pieces out of the Chex Mix, and this same someone then took each of those pieces and placed them under that laser from ‘Honey I Shrunk The Kids.  Not knowing how to accurately use the machine, rather than shrink the pieces they used the laser to enlarge the Chex pieces into giant-jumbo Chex pieces!  So large in fact, that they could be classified as Chex Chips!!

According to the Chex folks, if “unique is what you seek.  You’re about to experience a multigrain chip like no other.  A bigger, puffier version of the Chex square. You’ll love that unique pattern in a light and crunchy chip.”  In our opinion, the Chex Chips are not much different than most other puffed, or popped, multigrain chips currently on the market today.   They are airy, crisp, light, with a slightly melt-able texture, reminiscent of a good corn puff.  However, we think that Jack over at The Impulsive Buy said it best in his review of the chips that “the texture of Chex Chips is a wonderfully effective hybrid somewhere between the puffiness of Bugles and the crispiness of the late (and well missed) Doritos 3D. Much less flimsy than their breakfast cereal brethren.”

Unfortunately, these particular criss-crossed Chex Chips are not nearly as tasty as the Caramelized Onion flavor we  tasted before them.  It just seemed like from the very get to that the seasoning blend had some unusual flavor quality to it.  The cheddar jalapeno flavor definitely had a more peppery ratio than it did cheddar cheese.  In fact, the cheddar cheese aspect almost seemed muted, or at the very least, a timid afterthought when compared to the extra peppery jalapeno chile flavor.  We can’t even seem to pinpoint exactly what it is, but this flavor combo just do not work as well with the Chex Chips as the other two flavors that we have tried.

We don’t have anything else to say about that.  We are still more than happy to welcome Chex to the chip game, but we just plan on sticking with the Caramelized Onion flavor!

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

Discovered at 7-Eleven; Burr Ridge, Illinois

Chex Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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REVIEW: Wise Cheez Doodles – Jalapeno Cheddar Poppers

/ duthow / Leave a comment

Rating: ©©©-1/2 chips  (notable)

Wise Cheez Doodles - Jalapeno Cheddar Poppers

Comments:

We’re confused, are these doodles or poppers?  In our opinion, small, crunchy, balls of cheese would be better classified as poppers than doodles.  A doodle, actually makes us think of a noodle, which more closely resembles a curl – you catch our drift?  All kidding aside, Cheez Doodles are Wise’s line of cheese-centric snacks – ie. curls, puffs, crunchies, balls, etc.

Not very much can be said about these Jalapeno Cheddar Poppers.  They are a drastically straight forward, unoriginal, unnatural and predictable snack, that’s easy to eat.  First, comes the wave of aromatic jalapeno chili pepper scent.  Next, a slight burn kisses the tongue and brushes the throat.  Then comes another wave from the fragrant vegetal, chili pepper presence.  Finally, the salty cheddar cheese flavor envelops all taste buds, and reminds you that these Doodles are a Cheez snack first and foremost.

The Cheez Doodles’ texture is slightly more dense, and crunchy than the traditionally delicate, tongue meltable, cheese puff.  Their small spherical shape maximizes ease of pop-ability.  Overall, the snack is crunch worthy and snack-able, but simply nowhere near as delicious as say Herr’s Jalapeno Popper Cheese Curls.

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

Discovered at Jewel Osco; Westchester, Illinois

Wise Snacks Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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REVIEW: Popcorn, Indiana – Jalapeno Popcorn

/ duthow / 2 Comments

Rating: ©©©-1/2 chips  (notable)

Popcorn, Indiana - Jalapeno

Comments:

Popcorn, Indiana specializes in popcorn.  As far as we know (and granted we didn’t do much research in this case), they have created more flavor varieties than any other popcorn company that we know.  In fact, their non-stop flavor creation reminds us of Pringles!  That’s it, Popcorn, Indiana is to popcorn as Pringles are to potato crisps!

A little while back we reviewed Popcorn, Indiana’s Hatch Chile Cheese flavored popcorn, and we thought it was alright.  The funny thing about their latest popcorn iteration is that it actually reminds us quite a bit of the Hatch Chile Cheese flavor, except that this time we have more of a problem with the flavor description accuracy and execution, than we do with the actual popcorn itself.

The popcorn this time was fresh, plump, and fluffy with a crispy, toothsome bite.  Plain and simple, it was really good popcorn, especially for coming out of a bag.  The seasoning that was scattered all over the tasty popcorn kernels had a very recognizable vegetal chile presence.  The flavor was definitely reminiscent of jalapeno peppers, but lacking in any real deep heat.  It was only after eating the large majority of the bag that we really began to feel any actual burn in the backs of our throats.

What we’re actually thinking is that the majority of the jalapeno heat was subdued due to the strong presence of cheddar and bleu cheeses?!?  Wait, cheese?  That’s right we said CHEESE.  But, this is supposed to be jalapeno popcorn, not jalapeno & cheese popcorn!  So, what gives Popcorn, Indiana?

We understand that the flavor combo of jalapeno and cheese is terrific, we certainly can’t argue with that.  But the question is why not describe, and name, your flavor accurately?  It would be one thing if the cheese was so subtle that it only complimented the jalapeno, but not when it is SO evident that the main flavor component is not even the true flavor you are highlighting any longer!

All that being said, the seasoning combo did include a deliciously funky cheddar and bleu cheese layer.  The combo is potently rich and well balanced.  The flavors compliment the popcorn nicely and when combined with the jalapeno and the background  flavors of garlic and onion, the whole combination is quite tasty.  However, it is not JALAPENO flavored popcorn!

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

Discovered at Walgreens; Hillside, Illinois

Popcorn, Indiana Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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