REVIEW: Monster Munch – Pickled Onion

Rating: ©©©© chips  (lip-smacking)

Comments:

We hate to sound like a broken record, but……here is another remarkable U.K. snack for us to enjoy, and ponder over.  Monster Munch, similar to Space Raiders, are part of a wholly different genre of puffed corn snack really unlike anything we have seen in our U.S. market today.  Like we have previously told you, the vast majority of our U.S. puffed corn snacks always seem to be covered with cheese based seasoning (the two are practically synonymous with one another).

We were so happy to see these included amidst the great selection from our bud Josh at Crisp Nation.  We have been beyond ecstatic with the quality of snacks from over seas!!

In our initial Flamin’ Hot Monster Munch review, we had told you that we believed that the Monster Munch shape were supposed to mimic that of the spooky monster head that graced the front packaging.  However, now that we have noticed that these Pickled Onion flavored Monster Munch encompass the same shape as that of the Flamin’ Hot flavored snacks, but the monsters on the front of the packaging look nothing like one another, we’re pretty sure that the shapes are actually supposed to mimic big fat monster feet!  Kids must really get a kick out of these, which of course means that many of us here at Chip Review (who are often described as children), also loved their fun shape!

Just a short while ago we reviewed Space Raiders version of the classic U.K. pickled onion corn snack. Truth be told, we felt that their product was tasty, but maybe a little bit too unfamiliar for our pallets to truly appreciate.  The combination of vinegary pickle, plus sweet & pungent onion, plus soft puffed corn snack, was a completely new experience for us.  Like we said in our Space Raiders review, “Pickle and onion – that works.  Onion and corn snack – that works.  Pickle and corn snack – sorry, nope.  Which is weird, because we are usually huge fans of pickled anything (accept for some pickled bacon we had the other day – not good!).  Maybe our pallets just need to adjust in this case? ”

For the most part, Monster Munch was the same product as Space Raiders.  The only difference(s) we could detect were possibly a slightly more minimally dense crunch, and a bit more depth to the overall flavor profile.  Similar to the Flamin’ Hot Monster Munch, we could swear they tasted a little bit like Worcestershire sauce.  We like Worcestershire sauce.  Worcestershire sauce provides a strong, rich and salty, umami presence.  This is good.  Which means, these have some, or more, good than “all” of the other pickled onion puffed corn snacks that we have tasted.  Would we buy these if we spotted them during our trip abroad – certainly.  Would we specifically search them out during said trip?  Probably not.

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

Monster Munch provided to Chip Review from our good friend Josh at Crisp Nation

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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REVIEW: Ruffles Max – Beer Battered Onion Rings Potato Chips

Rating: ©©©-1/4 chips  (notable)

It appears as though we here at Chip Review completely missed Ruffles initial run of these Beer Battered Onion Ring Potato Chips.  Luckily, our Three-Chip-Reviewing-Amigos, all took the opportunity to share their opinions on these chips with us.   Apparently, we are in the minority here, because for the most part Junk Food Guy, The Impulsive Buy, and the Fat Guy Food Blog, were all a bit more impressed with these chips than we were.

Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with these chips, they are flavorful and crispy, it’s just that they don’t add much else, and definitely nothing new to the ‘Chip Game’.  Each narrow rippled potato chip was generously seasoned with a liberal dose of dehydrated onion powder, providing us with the requisite onion component of the flavor equation.  There is also a good dash of what we would describe as generic seasoned salt thrown into the mix, really adding no more dimension to the overall flavor profile.  However, the other half of the equation – beer batter – we couldn’t really detect at all.  The chips themselves were a bit oily and greasy, but it just wasn’t enough to accurately resemble a rich, fatty, and savory beer batter.

The true test was when we closed our eyes, and tried to imagine that we were eating onion rings.  When we strained our imaginations to their limits, then sure, we could make ourselves believe that we were enjoying onion ring flavored potato chips, but that was probably only due to the fact that we knew these were supposed to taste like onion rings in the first place.

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

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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Chip Review of the day…..

Space Raiders – Pickled Onion

Rating: ©©©-3/4 chips (notable)

Comments:

Here is yet another U.K. corn snack for us to enjoy, and ponder over the simple fact that we have never tasted anything like these ever before.  Space Raiders are part of an entirely different genre of puffed corn snacks that we simply do not have in our U.S. market today.  The vast majority of our U.S. puffed corn snacks are typically covered in cheese (the two seem synonymous with one another).  In fact, the only popular U.S. puffed corn snack that we can possibly compare these Space Raiders to would be Funyuns, and their subsequent copycats.

Space Raiders are shaped exactly like the alien head that graces the front of their packaging.  Imagine a “Scream” mask converted into a puffed corn snack.  Kids would definitely get a kick out of these, which of course means that many of us here at Chip Review also loved their shape!

Funny we should mention Funyuns above, because the best way we can think of to describe the ‘pickled onion’ flavor of these Space Raiders to you would be to call them Pickled Funyuns.  Just imagine Pickled Funyuns – combining the distinct sweet dried onion flavor of Funyuns with a liberal dose of some zippy vinegar.  The flavor combination is great, it works, and as far as we can remember, it is another first for us.

Unfortunately, we also have a couple of issues with these as well.  One, we are not quite sure that pickled puffed corn snacks are our favorite combination.  Pickle and onion – that works.  Onion and corn snack – that works.  Pickle and corn snack – sorry, nope.  Which is weird, because we are usually huge fans of pickled anything (accept for some pickled bacon we had the other day – not good!).  Maybe our pallets just need to adjust in this case?  Our other grievance with these would be that the pickling recipe does not have much depth of flavor.  With this ‘pickle’ all we taste is the one note acidic vinegar, none of the lovely herbs or other seasonings that are often added to a pickle recipe to enhance the flavor.

We appreciated the originality here more than we actually liked consuming them.

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

Space Raiders provided to Chip Review from our good friend Josh at Crisp Nation

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

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Chip Rating…..

Schlotzsky’s Deli – Sour Cream & Onion Deli-Style Potato Chips

Rating: ©©©© chips  (lip-smacking)

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

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REVIEW: Lay’s Stax – Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins

Rating: ©-3/4 chips (return to sender)

Comments:

The antithesis of manufactured, stereotypical, fat soaked, artificial, over-salted, and preformed, flavored potato flakes coming straight at you.  Greasy U.S. bar food, converted into a crunchy, salty snack, delivered in a handy-dandy, easily transportable, plastic container.  These crisps have no essence, no personality.

The ‘good old’ loaded potato skins.  For any of you out there still unfamiliar with this classic bar & grill appetizer (we’re guessing that there aren’t many of you); potato skins are russet potatoes that have been cut in half, and some of the potato innards have been scooped out to make a potato canoe, or bowl.  The halves are then thrown into the deep fryer, once removed they are covered with chopped bacon, and cheddar cheese, and then put under the broiler to melt the cheese.  Lastly, they are topped with chopped green onions, and served with sour cream on top, or on the side.  And the U.S. wonders why we have weight issues….

The only reason why we even gave these potato crisps an additional 3/4’s of a rating, was simply because their flavor wasn’t necessarily off-putting, and the crisps did crunch in our mouths like they were supposed to.  They were relatively edible – in a bland, mish-mash, smoky seasoned salt, sort of way, and they were sprinkled with a colorful confetti of seasonings – light orange (cheddar cheese), red (bacon), and green (onion).  If we didn’t know any better, we would think that those colors were the national colors.

As always we would love to hear what you think.  Agree or disagree.  Let us know.

Chip Ratings Scale:

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©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

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RATING: Deep River Snacks – Sweet Maui Onion Kettle Cooked Potato Chips

Rating: ©©©© chips  (lip-smacking)

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

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REVIEW: Pringles – Sour Cream & Onion

Rating: ©©©©-1/2 chips (lip-smacking)

Comments:

Iconic.  Classic.  Throwback.  Old School.  There are so many ways of describing Pringles timeless Sour Cream & Onion crisps.  Each time we enjoy a can, it brings so many memories flooding back for many of us at Chip Review; and we’re betting that we’re not the only ones.  Most of us here at Chip Review were pretty young when Pringles entered into our lives.  Oh, those glorious, unique potato crisps, arrived on the scene with their uniform-scooped shape, and their handy-dandy canister (definitely a game changer).

We’re pretty sure we don’t have to describe Pringles Sour Cream & Onion to the majority of you.  If you have been alive for more than ten years (minutes), and living in the U.S. (anywhere), then you’ve more than likely, at one point or another, tasted these super popular potato crisps.  Well, just in case, you are among those three people who haven’t tasted Pringles Sour Cream & Onion yet we would describe them as such: classically great!!  The creamy, white powder coating exudes a smooth, and tangy, and salty flavor that melds very well with the crunchy potato crisps.  The onion aspect is mild, in fact, there are none of the typical green, onion-representing, specs that are normally found on sour cream and onion chips.

Plain and simple, these are a classic for us, and probably many of you.  What are some of your other classics?

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

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

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