Rating: ©©©-3/4 chips (notable)
Comments:
A little while ago we reviewed Mix Match’s trademark Buttery Caramel & Cheddar Cheese Popcorn (aka Chicago Mix). Much of what we said in that review holds true with this variation on that classic recipe:
“Before moving to Chicagoland, many of us here at Chip Review were unaware of Chicago’s magical namesake popcorn combination. What’s that you say? You have not heard of this either? Well, apparently when cheddar cheese popcorn and sweet caramel popcorn are mixed, and served together in the same vessel, they become the dynamic popcorn duo known simply as ‘Chicago Mix’. We are not exactly privy to the origin, or the validity, of this popcorn combination, but what we do know is that there are a few local popcorn ‘houses’ that call this combination as such, and do it very, very well (Garrett’s and Wells Street – we’re talking about you).
What Mix Match (also a local Illinois company) has tried to do for us is threefold: replicate the great quality cheddar cheese and caramel-corn combination of these local popcorn ‘houses’, provide it to us in shiny, handy-dandy packaging, and make it readily available to the masses. Mix Match’s popcorn kernels are large, fluffy, and definitely have some textural body to them.”
The bright fiery cheddar kernels are heavily coated with a commanding layer of spicy, and salty, cheese. The golden caramel kernels, are the same as the standard Chicago Mix ones, flaunting sweet and crunchy, but once again they are definitely not as rich and buttery as the great caramel-corns found at those popcorn ‘houses’. What sets this Fiery Cheddar Chicago Mix apart from the traditional one, is of course the addition of some heat. To be completely upfront and honest, we expected to like these even more than the traditional Chi Mix, simply because more often than not the addition of heat enhances whatever we are eating. However, in this rare case, the heat did more harm than help, and actually distracted our focus away from the rich, sweet and salty highlights that make Chicago Mix Popcorn so great in the first place.
So, although we may prefer Mix Match’s traditional buttery caramel & cheddar cheese popcorn, this is still a good variation on Chicago Mix popcorn, and we would be more than happy to find a bag of this at a convenience store.
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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