BIJOU-REVIEW: Pretzel Crisps Limited Batch – Bacon Habanero

Rating: ©©©© chips  (lip-smacking)

We have wanted to try these new Pretzel Crisps ever since The Impulsive Buy spotted them on Safeway shelves some four months ago….

We mean come’on – BACON & HABANERO?!?!  Yes & Yes – Please!!

In fact, these aren’t the first bacon habanero flavored chips that we have tried.  Last year Late July’s lip-smacking tortilla chips wowed us.

Let’s hope that this flavor combo becomes a new standard among all chip companies – because there could be nothing wrong with that!

Smokey, salty, delicious bacon essence exudes from the Pretzel Crisps.

The flavor is sort of reminiscent of barbeque seasoning, and we are surprised to see that Pretzel Crisps has never offered the classic flavor as an option….

Unfortunately, similar to Late July’s chips, these Pretzel Crisps suffer from a case of no-habanero-flavor-idous. Maybe, just maybe, we get a little bit of the chili flavor deep behind the bacon, and there is a subtle burn when all is said and done.

But really, this seasoning is all about the bacon.

The crisps are tasty, and salty bacon flavor works well with the pretzels (not quite as well as Late July’s corn-ful tortilla chips), but we still really wish that we could taste some habanero!

Another welcome addition to Pretzel Crisps’ line-up.

Crisps discovered at Jewel Osco; Westmont, Illinois

Pretzel Crisps Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

Pretzels – Tell us what you think

 

Chip Review’s Top Pretzels:

1. Snyder’s of Hanover – Buttermilk Ranch Pretzel Pieces

2. Rold Gold – Cinnamon Raisin Pretzel Twists

tie 3. Pretzel Crisps – Buffalo Wing Deli Style

tie 3. Pretzel Crisps – Cinnamon Toast

4. Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels

5. Archer Farms – Jalapeno Savory Pretzels

 

 

Top 5 – Pretzels

Chip Review’s Top 5 Pretzels:

Chip Review’s Top Pretzels:

1. Snyder’s of Hanover – Buttermilk Ranch Pretzel Pieces

2. Rold Gold – Cinnamon Raisin Pretzel Twists

tie 3. Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels

tie 4. Pretzel Crisps – Buffalo Wing Deli Style

tie 4. Pretzel Crisps – Cinnamon Toast

5. Archer Farms – Jalapeno Savory Pretzels

Make sure to tell us your favorite Pretzels!!

REVIEW: Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels

Rating: ©©©©© chips  (“A” list)

It was a year ago or so that we first crossed paths with Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels.  To say the least, we were very, very impressed!

Fast forward to this year’s annual summer jaunt to northern Minnesota, and what do we find on a quick stop into L&M Fleet?  Yep, you guessed it, Dot’s delicious pretzels!  But….wait a minute here….something is a little different this time.  Oh, now we see it, looks like someone got themselves a makeover.  – Last year’s bag on the left, and the new and improved design on the right. –  Dot’s Pretzels Company must be doing well for themselves these days.

A little backstory on this small, family owned operation:

Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels have been around for many many, years made in Dot’s own home outside of Minot, ND. They were a special family snack for football-watching, family gatherings, and every day yumminess, of course. In 2012, two families began a business centered around the snack they’ve been enjoying for years.

Probably the best way we can describe Dot’s Homestyle Pretzel flavor would be something akin to a cross between the seasoning from traditional Chex Mix, and Old Dutch’s classic Butter Spindles.  In case that description doesn’t work for you, then try to imagine braided pretzels, about two inches in length, coated in a deliciously rich butter flavor, and dusted with an addictive seasoning blend of tangy buttermilk, garlic, onion and some secret spices.

Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels are absolutely amazing, and addicting.  Easily among the best pretzel snacks we have ever tried.  In fact, Dot’s Pretzels got us thinking that we should probably put together our Top 5 Pretzel list – so that’s what we did.  We’re talking pretzels only, no filler, no mixes.  Make sure to check it out.

P.S. – if you ever happen to cross paths with Dot’s, do your self a favor and grab a bag – a BIG BAG!!  And grab one for us while you are at it too!!!

Pretzels discovered at Simonson’s and L&M Fleet; Bemidji, Minnesota

Dot’s Pretzels Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

BIJOU-REVIEW: Buck Wild – Honey BBQ Snack Mix

Rating: ©©©-1/2 chips  (notable)

As one little reviewer responded, after being asked what she thought of this latest snack from Buck Wild:

Yummy.  Just yummy. 

In case you are looking for a touch more description from the reviews you read….

Buck Wild’s latest snack mix is very much similar to their Chocolate Banana Snack Mix, in that it includes an odd combination of snack pieces.

In this case there are pretzel pendants, corn sticks and pita bites (not exactly sure which was which), crunchy corn pieces, and peanuts.

The snack mix was more than thoroughly coated with a fairly sweet and smoky BBQ seasoning.  Nothing amazing, but nothing pleasantly out of place either.

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

Mix provided to Chip Review by Buck Wild for review

Buck Wild Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

BIJOU-REVIEW: Buck Wild – Chocolate Banana Snack Mix

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

Okay, we really didn’t mean to judge a book by its cover, or in this case a snack mix by its flavor, but we’ll admit it, our initial thoughts regarding this stuff had bad idea written all over it!  No seriously, small letters, right there in the bottom left hand corner of the bag.  Oh, you’re actually looking for it?  What’s that, you still can’t find it??  Well, you just keep looking, and we’ll just continue on.

Buck Wild’s Chocolate Banana Mix includes: Banana Chips, Chocolate Granola, Pretzel Sticks, and Little Chocolate (what they are calling) Cookies.

Are you thinking that this is an odd mix combination?  Well, we are way ahead of you!  But, we’re happy to tell you that the combination of textures and flavors actually works really well!

Right away our mouths recognized the classic sweet and salty juxtaposition.  Certainly more sweet than salt, but the deeper we dug into the bag, the more salty the combo became.

None of the four ingredients were really anything special on their own, but to be completely honest, each time we crunched on a handful of the pieces our mouths were deliciously intrigued.

So, we are here to tell you, don’t judge a mix by its flavor!

P.S., we just noticed the other day that you can actually pick up a bag of this mix at Starbucks locations now.  We’re thinking coffee may go very well with this odd sweet and salty combination.

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

Mix provided to Chip Review by Buck Wild for review

Buck Wild Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

BIJOU-REVIEW: T.G.I. Friday’s – Sweet & Spicy Happy Hour Snack Mix

Rating: ©©©© chips  (lip-smacking)

It is about that time, right?

We can only imagine how this over-the-top, disjointed “happy hour snack mix” came to exist.

Dude 1: Hey man, do you have anything we could crunch on with these ice cold brewskies?

Dude 2: Not sure…let me check the cupboards.  Oh yeah, let’s see here…..looks like I’ve got butter toffee peanuts, wasabi peas, roasted almonds, pecans, cashews, some rice crackers, and cajun corn sticks…..oh yeah, and apparently honey mustard pretzels.  What would you like?

Dude 1: Well, it is happy hour, so everything! Mixed together!

And as they say….the rest is history.

Not too much to say about these.  TGI Friday’s has taken a lot, and we do mean A LOT, of high quality products we know and love, and combined them into one sweet & spicy mess of a snack mix.  Despite the weird combination of disconnected crunchy pieces, it somehow all works!!  The wasabi peas are certainly the most dominantly flavor profile, but most of the other mix ingredients play off of the unmistakable nasal heat just fine.  The variety of nuts provide a good level of mouth fat and textural difference, and the pretzels are there to bring everything home, and probably to soak up the beer!

Mix discovered at 7-eleven; Burr Ridge, Illinois

TGI Friday’s Snacks Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

© – return to sender

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list