Chip Review’s Honorable Mentions – 2015

November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 / duthow / Leave a comment

25 Chips to Christmas – 11 Honorable Mentions

These chips nearly made our Top 25 of the Year, and deserve some recognition too!! (in alphabetical order)

“These are really good! Not – really good for a bean and rice chip – sorta good. NO! Really good for any type of nacho cheese flavored chip!”

Cobs – Sour Cream & Chives Popcorn

“The onion presence is sweet and pungent, without being too pronounced. The cool, sour cream is really enhanced with a good touch of tangy cheese. All of the flavors work harmoniously, and surprisingly enough, do not overwhelm Cobs delicious popcorn one little bit.”

D’vour Tortilla Chips made with Real Coconut – Sea Salt

“And some of us at Chip Review were even excited to try the chips with nachos; melting a whole bunch of cheese all over them and seeing how the sweet, salty and cheesy combo works out.”

Herr’s – Peppered Bacon Potato Chips

“Seems like no matter how many times we try another poorly executed bacon flavored snack, we still get excited for the next one!!”

International Popcorn – Everything Bagel Popcorn

International Popcorn – Cheddar Ranch Popcorn

“Has popcorn replaced chips as the international favorite salty snack?!? Well, we’re not sure if popcorn is as popular around the rest of the world but right now, here in the U.S.A. popcorn is booming!!”

Popsalot – Honolulu Aloha

“The few moments when we actually landed a mix of both the caramel corn and the macadamia nuts were, lights-out fantastic. Those precious, porcelain, roasted half nuggets of unctuously rich macadamia nuts were amazing! WOW!”

Pringles – Exclusive Flavor Wasabi & Soy Sauce

Pringles Limited Time Only! – Salted Caramel

“Turns out that it has been nearly 3 months since we reviewed any new Pringles! THREE MONTHS! While three months may not seem like that long of time to many of you, let us just tell you that in Pringles’ months we’re talking about a very long time between new reviews!!”

Snacks 101 – The First Baked Popcorn – Less Mess White Cheddar

“Apparently, Snacks 101 has created “The First Baked Popcorn”…. Are they messing with us? Can this be right? Well, we can’t find any evidence to dispute them so let’s roll with it.”

Trader Joe’s – Partially Popped Popcorn …with Butter & Sea Salt!

“Trader Joe’s Triple P embodies a real strong corn essence, and flavor. They do in fact look like those partially popped kernels you find at the bottom of the popcorn bag or bowl, except that they don’t break your teeth when you chomp down on them.”

Ziggy’s Kettle Corn – Kickin’ Buffalo Wing with Himalayan Pink Salt

“Great combination of tangy, sweet, salty, zippy, spicy, zingy, sour-y, and did we mention spicy-spicy-spicy?!? Seriously, lots of heat – WHOA!!”

** And here are 5 additional dishonorable mentions that we hope to never mention again… **

(in alphabetical order)

Old Dutch – Cheddar Bacon Popcorn

“First, the bacon aspect was not reminiscent of bacon but rather of standing in front of a camp fire. Smoke, and smoke alone, does not make popcorn taste like bacon.”

Old Dutch Ripples Appetizers On The Go – Chicken Artichoke Flatbread

“But, as for the taste – uhhhh…. we do not taste any chicken, artichoke or flatbread (not that we were expecting to actually taste the flatbread).”

Pop! Gourmet Popcorn – Extravagant White Truffle Bliss Popcorn

“But, maybe it’s difficult to capture and accurately deliver the deliciously aromatic flavors of truffle onto popcorn? Nope, we’ve tasted and reviewed a handful of truffle flavored snacks (predominantly popcorn), and most of them have actually been lip-smacking!”

Snyder’s of Hanover – Raspberry Creme Sweet Pretzel Sandwiches

“Plain and simple these pretzel sandwiches are a sweet dessert treat that should not be included anywhere among salty snack section for any rhyme or reason. These belong on the shelf next to cookies!”

Trader Joe’s – Popcorn in a Pickle

“Popcorn in a Pickle is not only not better than Trader Joe’s Baconesque, but it makes Joe’s cheddar bacon popcorn seem lip-smacking in comparison.”

**Chip Review’s Top 25 list of the Year consists of chips that we tasted and reviewed during the 2015 calendar year for the first time. The chips are not necessarily new to the industry, but they were new to Chip Review in 2015!

REVIEW: Rusty’s Island Chips – Potato Chips

July 17, 2015July 17, 2015 / duthow / Leave a comment

Rating: ©©©©© chips (“A” list)

It’s true. We can’t deny it. Here at Chip Review we do not review very many “plain” or “original” or “regular” or whatever you wish to call them – good old potato chips. It’s a fact, check the stats. We do not have a definitive answer as to why this is, but in the back of our minds we sort of feel like most “regular” potato chips are too much the same to warrant writing a review about them. That, and would there even be enough to write about? Plus, our palettes usually prefer the punch and flavor difference that seasoning or flavoring adds. But… BUT!! Every once in a while we cross paths with some chips that astound us, amaze us, and force us to re-evalute our closed-minded, flavor wanting, chip way of thinking. Today, those chips are Rusty’s Island Chips!!

Let’s begin with Rusty’s chip story:

Once upon a time, 1980, Rusty, while dreaming of far away places, came up with a plan to make Maui Potato Chips on the mainland. Six months later, Rusty was manufacturing Rusty’s Island Chips in his own little kitchen in Costa Mesa, Ca. His Maui recipe chips were selling like hot cakes in every gourmet market in Southern California. By 1990, Rusty’s Chips were in every major market as well. He was shipping chips to the east coast by the truck load and even to Hawaii.

Rusty’s little Maui chip company grew and grew. It got so big so fast that the stress was getting to Rusty, and he wasn’t surfing anymore. He did not have time to be on his sail boat. He wasn’t happy. So he let a big company swallow up his little company. Well the 1990’s came, and a lot of things did not survive the times and one was Rusty’s Maui Chips. The recipe was changed, the little kitchen turned into a factory, and the love for the best chips ever faded away…

Well, Rusty’s Back!! He has his own chip kitchen in Huntington Beach and things could not be better….!!!

There are a few rules that any “regular” potato chip should follow if it wishes to be great. First, it better come from some superb potatoes, because with regular potato chips we all know that you won’t get any help from salt if you are hoping to cover up the quality of the potatoes you are using. Two, the CUT is key. Just like with a great steak, people have different preferences as to what constitutes the best cut, and there are obviously many varieties. Should we go thin, or should we go thick, or should we add a wavy ripple, or a criss-cross waffle cut?? What ever style of cut those great potato chips choose, they must fully commit to it, and try to make it the best variation of that variety! Third, salt type, and level. Very, very important when talking about regular potato chips. Why? Well, other than the frying oil used to crisp those potato slices up, salt is the only ingredient really triggering those taste buds to wake up and take notice! The salt should compliment the chips, without overwhelming them. All of these facets must come together in perfect salty, crunchy and potato-y chip harmony, if that little old “regular” potato chip wishes to grab our attention away from all of those flamin’ hot and spicy cheese dusting seasoned chips out there! At this point it is probably needless to say but Rusty’s Island Chips have done just that!! Perfect potato chip harmony!

Rusty’s Island Chips are really, really fantastic potato chips! The chips are definitely thicker cut, although it seems like they may vary in thickness a little bit from chip to chip, leading us to believe (and we may have actually read this somewhere) that they could possibly be hand sliced. If that is the case, that is some real dedication and attention to detail. Both of which we recognize and appreciate! The thicker cut potato chips deliver a deliciously hearty and firm crunch. Nearly on the verge of tooth shattering, but not quite that crispy. Probably most notable are the chips pure potato flavor. Golden harvest yellow in color, reminiscent of the radiant California sun they are made in. The chips potato flavor is sort of tough to describe. The chips deliver a deep and rich starchy potato flavor, with a touch of that nutty, rustic, burnt potato flavor that we really love on the tail end. We wonder what type of potatoes Rusty is using here? Usually, when we taste that dark-nutty-burnt notes, they are coming from Russet potatoes, but the coloring on these just do not coincide, so we’re guessing they are not Russets. Some may consider these chips a touch too greasy, but we think that they are just right. Salt coverage was a tad inconsistent, but the majority of the chips were more than amply covered. Plus, whatever type of salt Rusty is using is fantastic! It appears that it is a French Mediterranean Sea Salt. Ooh la la! We love and can really taste that slight mineral tang that the sea salt adds.

In the end, what we are trying to say is that these potato chips really just taste like some great fried potatoes. And we love, love, love fried potatoes of all varietals! Needless to say, these chips were very easy to devour (too easy, in fact…must find more)!! We could not stop eating them! We would not stop eating them!! At this point we think that it is fair to say that these are among the best regular potato chips anywhere. In fact, let’s not beat around the bush here, we’re going to go ahead and say it – Rusty’s Island Chips are so fantastic that they not only made our Top 5 Regular Potato Chips list, but it they’re sitting atop it!! That’s right numero uno!! Our #1 Regular Potato Chip of all-time!! Now we only wish Rusty’s chips were more readily available in our neck of the Midwest (of course there’s always the internet).

We will sign off with what Rusty always says “Life is good….eat more chips!!!” Well Rusty, that won’t be very hard when they are this good!!

So, what are your favorite plain or regular potato chips of all-time? Make sure to tell us at our Potato Chip poll.

Rusty’s Island Chips provided to Chip Review for review

Rusty’s Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)

©© – tolerable

©©© – notable

©©©© – lip-smacking

©©©©© – “A” list

Top 5 – Plain, Salted, Traditional (you know) Regular Potato Chips

July 17, 2015July 16, 2015 / duthow / Leave a comment

Chip Review’s Top 5 Plain/Salted/Traditional/Regular Potato Chips:

1. Rusty’s Island Chips

2. Old Dutch – Rip-L

tie 3. Better Made – Rainbow Old Fashioned Dark

tie 3. Herr’s Kettle Cooked – Dark Russet Potato Chips

4. The Original Saratoga Chips

5. Kettle Brand – Sea Salt

runner-up: Terra – Yukon Gold Potato Chips

Make sure to tell us your favorite Regular Potato Chips!!

Regular Potato Chips – Tell us what you think

July 17, 2015July 16, 2015 / duthow / Leave a comment

Chip Review’s Top 5 Plain/Salted/Traditional/Regular Potato Chips:

1. Rusty’s Island Chips

2. Old Dutch – Rip-L

tie 3. Better Made – Rainbow Old Fashioned Dark

tie 3. Herr’s Kettle Cooked – Dark Russet Potato Chips

4. The Original Saratoga Chips

5. Kettle Brand – Sea Salt

runner-up: Terra – Yukon Gold Potato Chips

REVIEW: Nick’s – Flamin’ Hot Sauce Crunchy Cheese Curls

May 3, 2015September 6, 2015 / duthow / Leave a comment

We must believe that by this day and age nearly everyone, in all corners of the world, either knows of, or has personally enjoyed a bag, or two, or in our case – five thousand of the iconic Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Oh Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, you are so perfectly tasty! You are so delicious and popular in fact that years ago “several schools in California, New Mexico and Illinois…banned the high-fat, high-salt and possibly addictive treat.” www.huffingtonpost.com

But Chip Review, today’s review is for Nick’s Flamin’ Hot Sauce Crunchy Cheese Curls, not Cheetos?!

Why yes, you are most certainly right, dear observant reader. We only first mentioned the delicious power of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to help us segway into our review of Nick’s Curls, and to really drive home our feeling that one must live in a pretty amazing world when so many similar products can both coexist and thrive, and at the same time taste so differently. With that being said, we have tried quite a few different spicy cheese curls over the years, and for the most part they are all pretty delicious, with of course the occasional dud thrown into the mix.

Luckily for us, and for you, if you happen to be in the surrounding Detroit area (as Nick’s is a local D Town chip company), then you will be happy to know that if you do spot Nick’s bright orange and yellow bag, with the Dave Navarro looking devil guy in the corner, go ahead and fork over the cash, because some tasty cheese curls are about to be yours!

Nick’s Flamin’ Hot Sauce Crunchy Cheese Curls are a more than welcome addition to the hot cheese curl family! Nick’s curls encompass the standard Flamin’ Hot blinding red color, which makes us ponder if Red 40 Lake (coloring) is actually the secret to making tasty hot curls because they all seem to use it?! It is certainly no mystery where the 10 bright red fingertips that are consequently staining the keys on our keyboard comes from! Pretty average curl shape and size, with sort of a firmer, or heartier, crunch than other curls. Flavor-wise these are fantastic. They are certainly not the spiciest of curls, but do exude the usual combination of unnaturally sort of spicy acidic tongue shock mixed with just a tiny splash of cheddar cheese seasoning. An usually heavy usage of garlic, and a touch of onion, adds a delicious background layer of flavor that really compliments the heat and cheese. Plain and simple, we could crunch these all day long!!

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

Curls provided to Chip Review by Nick’s for review

Nick’s Official Website

Chip Ratings Scale:

(1/4 increments)