Miss Vickie's - Spicy Dill Pickle Flavor kettle chips

I love dill pickles, so I thought these would be really good with lunch. They were. Not quite the same "dill" chip as some of the others, but still really good. What I found is that the dill flavor is not as strong as say Lay's or even Gloden Flake versions of this, but is was also LESS salty. Chips has a very good kettle chip crunch and were not greasy. They say spicy, but they were really not that spicy. No where like a sweet heat or other "spicy" chip. Overall very enjoyable. I would give them a 4.5 out of 5 because the flavor was really good and it was nice not to be overpowered by the dill flavor of the chips.

 

Weird Chip Flavors...

We now have an Aldis and an Ollies in town. Between these two places there are a number of weird potato chips and snack flavors. I have not reviewed anything in ages so I may stop buy and see how weird they actually are....we shall see.

Ruffles Mozzarella N Marinara Chips

Ruffles Mozzarella N Marinara Chips

I like Ruffles brand chips as a whole. They are usually pretty good. My only complaint is they are really salty...and that holds true to this offering also. They tasted really good. The marinara flavor and cheese flavors did well. I could have used a bit more marinara, but it really is a great flavor combo. Now to the down side: The Salt. As I was eating and enjoying these chips. The salt kept building. I was drinking water to impart no influence on taste and it still kept building. By the time I finished the bag it was way up there. I would decrease the salt a bit and increase the marinara and cheese flavors. I give theses a 4 out of 5. Still great chips...but they could adjust a just a couple of things and they would be even better.

Salsa....the perfect chip companion

I was given a box with three kinds of salsa in it the other day. All three were fruit flavored..one apple, one pear and one raspberry. Opened the raspberry one and it was tangy and sweet. I guess my tastes as a foodie kicked in. I had some white corn chips, not really salty. When I went to town I picked up a brand of corn chips I new were much saltier and they blended much better with the salsa.
I thought about instead of changing the chips....change the salsa. So I then put some finely ground sea salt in with some. Same result. So the moral of the story is if your salsa it not balanced, you can doctor it. It would be harder if the salsa was too salty, but if it is just a tad sweet I think you can fix it.

Until next time...and yes we broke out the grill this week so food pics coming soon.

KW

Barcel Artisan Style Fuego KettelCooked Chips

Barcel Artisan Style Fuego KettleCooked Chips

As you know I am a kettle chip fan. I saw these and they said NEW so I had to try them. Great flavor and a good bit of heat. Not so cayan peppery...nice chili habenaro flavor with a lime chaser. Coating was even and not so powdery and not oily. This is a great chip. I will have to find more flavors by this brand to try. I would give it a 4.25 out of 5. Not necessarily my favorite, but it is up there. Give these a try if you can.

SE Grocers Prestige Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips

SE Grocers Prestige Garlic Parmesan Kettle Chips

I have been impressed with the kettle chip offerings from SE Grocers...ie Winn Dixie and related family of stores. They are usually a great bang for the buck and the flavors are usually good. This bag is sort of an exception. Although they don't taste bad, the label says a "hint" of garlic and Parmesan flavor. I don't believe I could even identify what I was eating as having a "hint" of real garlic and parm. There was a hint of seasoning...but not enought to really even say there was much more than salt on them and something else. They should up the garlic and parm flavors by a good margin. Then we would be talking good chip....these were kinda boring. Not bad, just nothing really exciting. I would give them a 2.5 on a 5...but I wont buy them again in the "hint of" version.

Doritos Blaze

Doritos Blaze 

Now I like Doritos...always have. Most Doritos have a bit of sweetness in their seasoning. This one is different. It is not overly sweet, paprika heavy or too salty. Those are the main things that make a Doritos chip sort of taste like one. These guys are corn flavored. The heat is about like the super spicy Doritos chips of other flavors...ie my heat level is way over this stuff. But as far as taste they are not bad. They just don't taste like your normal Doritos. What you find flavor wise is a medium salty, not so sweet, chili with a hint of paprika flavor with a hint of onion and am guessing the pepper is a Cayenne...not really strong, but it has some heat. These chips would be a with food and not overly interfere with what you are eating. I would rate them a 3.75.....not bad...and I would purchase again.

Sorry I have been away....

For some reason or another I could not get Blogger to work right...so I kinda quit trying for a while. Well now it seems to be working. Well in the mean time I have tried a bunch of chips and things that need posting, so now I will begin. Look for some regular updates....
KW

Itz "The Crab Chip" Potato Chips

Utz "The Crab Chip" Potato Chips

A little while ago I reviewed the Zappas Cajun Crawtaters....a good kettle style chip. This is not that chip. The Crab Chip is heavy on the Chesapeake Bay Crab Seasoning. Heavy enough that it has a tingle to it. My wife was OK with it. My son was that is a little much. I think it is a really good chip. I have a preference for kettle chips...but am wondering if this seasoning would work as well on them. Thin chips allow seasoning to stick to the chips very well, almost caked on. Kettle chips tend to hold less..but still carry the flavor. Eat these and you end up with some of the seasoning stuck to your fingers...much like Lay's BBQ chips do. IF you like crab boil seasoning you will love these..if not stay away. I give them a 4 out of 5. Utz makes some good chips...but their overal flavor is not as bright as say Lay's or Golden Flake plain. Not sure what they do in their process that is different, but still good chips. More later.

K

Zapps Voodoo Chips

Zapps Voodoo Kettle Chips

I happened apon this flavor a while back and have not reviewed it...so I shall. This is probably my favorite chip at the moment. When I first saw the bag several months ago I was expecting something hot and spicey. But no...they have a citric acid kind of kick with smoke, papprica, onions, etc..kind of rolling around in there. I don't really know how to classify what they are. They are not sour, they are not sweet, they are not hot, they are not overly leaning to say one style of cooking. It is like someone too some kettle salt and vinegar chips and took out all the extra salt...then seasoned it with a generous portion of season all....like an everything bagle.

They are unique...and if they came out with a Voodoo+Heat version I would certainly buy it. Went in the store the other day to get some of these for my lunch bag....there were not many of them left so I must not be the only person who likes them. 4.7 on a scale of 1 to 5...and I am sticking to it for the moment.

Home made Sweet Potato chips

Home made Sweet Potato Chips

So I have this deep fryer...and a mandolin slicer.  If you have not tried it you should..make your own chips. I love home made chips. Regular or sweet potatoe. They are just good and fun to make. I am partial to the sweet potato though. Give you a little secret on how to make chip and make them well.
1. Grease need to be hot...350 is minimum, I prefer 375.
2. Slice chips moderately thin. Too thin and they fry really fast and burn.
3. Slice chips and soak them in salted ICE WATER for 30 minutes if you can. Cold potatoes fry better. I learned this from an article on how McDonalds and other fast food chains make such good frys...cold salt water bath.
4. Don't over fry them and put them on paper towels to absorb grease.

I hope this peaks your interest in home frys/pub chips or whatever you call them. My kids love them.
KW

Zapps Sweet Pimento Cream Cheese Kettle Chips

Zapp's Sweet Pimento Cream Cheese Chips

I am really liking Zapp's chips. These are nice and crunchy...as are all the Zapp's chips I have tried. They are sweet and creamy and have a descent pimento cheese taste. I personaly like it even stronger and use extra sharp cheader cheese when I make my own home made pimento cheese. All in all a good stab at an interesting flavor. I would give it a 3.5 out of 5....and I would definately buy again.

Doritos Jacked Ranch Dipped Hot Wings Chips

Doritos Jacked Ranch Dipped Hot Wings Tortilla Chips

Doritos has done some interesting things with their tortilla chips. I personally love the Del Taco Loco Taco. The plain jane red bag ones are classic. That being said I really think they missed the boat on this one. Here is why:
1. Ranch flavor was majorly lacking
2. Way too much citric acid flavor...I though I was eating lime chips
3. Hot wing flavor was minimal and not hot at all.

Overall impression is that there was way too much salt and citric acid and not enough of the flavor listed on the bag. I don't know if this was just a bad bag...but I would not purchase these chips again. They did seem to be a thicker chip, but that doesn't make up for the fact they really don't deliver in the flavor department. On a scale of 1 to 5 I would give them a 2. Some people may like them...but I would take a bag of Nacho Cheese ones over these any day.

Wise Finger Lick'n Ribs BBQ Chips

Wise Finger Lick'n Ribs BBQ Chips

I was in Fred's the other day looking for stuff for the Christmas season....since you know they got all kinds of stuff at Fred's that came from somewhere else except now it is cheaper. Anyhow I was snacky and they have an entire isle of nothing but snack food. On the end cap were these chips.

I thought...OK, I'll bite. So I get in the car and start back to Bainbridge and opened the bag. I have to say for $1.00 this was the best bag of chips I have had in a while. You get a really nice meat flavor. Smokey and flavorful to the point I could about taste the charred meat on the outside of the ribs. I have no idea how they replicated that, but to get any more realistic I would have to be picking stuff out of my teeth with a toothpick. These things are great. Good sweet and tangy flavor from the bbq side of things...not to mention the previously talked about meat flavor. I will have to give these a 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5. These are a must try chip if BBQ is your thing.

Takis Nitro Tortilla Chips

Takis Nitro Tortilla Chips

I first found these a few years ago. Made by Barcel and mainly marketed at the Hispanic community. They have caught on pretty good in the overall market. I see them in most stores. They have 7 or 8 different flavors and I like all the ones I have tried.  I remember seeing bags with NO English writing on them at some stores which was kinda cool. This particular flavor "Nitro"....is a Habanero Lime. They roll up the tortillas and cook them into a cool little package. Flavorings are generous. You do end up licking your fingers because it does come off and stick to them. Not really an issue since they are loaded with the seasoning. 

Heat wise these are good. About like a good hot chip. Not overly hot though. (some would disagree).

They have a mild sweetness with a citric acid kick. I think they would really be good dipped in some cheese or sour cream. Overall a fun snack. Cool looking...they look like little rolled up tortilla shells, which they kinda are.  I would give them a 4 out of 5. I could have even stood a little more heat and a little less salt. 

Would love some suggestions on more chips to try....so make a comment or drop me a line.

That time of year....Chili!!

When it gets cooler outside I crave chili. I love chili...and you got to have corn chips to go with the chili right? I like the white corn chips the best due to their slightly milder flavor. I usually warm them up, sprinkle with salt and even spritz them with lime juice for a citrus kick.

Another twist is to make your own corn chips.You can make them out of flour tortillas and they are just delicious. The cool thing is they are hearty enough to support chili, meat, or heavy dips and you can season them like you want them.

Check out this link for the 411 on how it's done:



http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_homemade_tortilla_chips/

Good stuff...Oh and we have a chili cook off at work and will be making a pot of ghoulish delight for Mondays competition and festivities!

kw

Zapp's Cajun Crawtators

Someone brought me a bag of these...so here is my review. Decided to do it on video this time.

Zapp's Cajun Crawtators


KW

Herr's Peppered Bacon flavored Chips

Herr's Peppered Bacon Chips

I have discovered over the years that Herr's potato chips are usually not bad. They are down right cheap.  I think I payed 1.39 for a 5 oz bag, which is usually what you pay for a smaller bag of Lay's or other name brand chips. And like other cheap chips flavors sometimes are hit or miss. This one didn't quite hit. I mean it tasted ok, but not what I expected.  Let's dig into the review.

Taste: They didn't quite get there. To me it almost tastes like a pork rind. They have a porky baconish kind of flavor, but it is sort of hollow. If you have ever had pork rinds you know you get a pork flavor in the light airy rinds. These chips eat like a chip, they are crunchy. But the taste is not enough bacon and just a mild pork flavor.  You could almost call them "pork rind flavor chips". They don't taste bad, just not like I expected. I was not the only one who thought this. My kids devoured the bag and said they were good but didn't taste like bacon...more like a pork rind. There you have it.

I would rate these at 2.5 out of 5...not because they tasted bad, but because they didn't meet my expectations of a bacon flavored chip.

Until next time...
KW

Lay's Barbecue chips...the old standard

Lay's BBQ Chips

I like bbq chips. As far as I am concerned these have got to be the standard. I mean they just pop in my head when I think of BBQ chips. Why? Couple of reasons. 1. They are consistent in flavor. Some bbq chips have tasted better...yes. But these guys are spot on all the time. 2. Not too sweet. Some bbq chips are just way too sweet. Honey bbq I can live with it...but not just plain bbq chips. 3. Not too greasy. 4. Not too messy. I have had some bbq and other chips that when you finish eating them you have stuff all over your hands and you...combine the powdered coating with grease and you have a mess.
I remember these from when I was a little kid...and they still taste the same. And they are probably the number one bbq chip in America...not seen any figures but I would not doubt it.
On a scale of 1 to 5...I give them a solid 4.5.

Kettle Brand Backyard Barbeque

I like Kettle Brand chips most of the time. That being said I am kind of scratching my head on this flavor. Backyard Barbeque....I am thinking tangy, smokey, maybe some sweetness. In fact their website says "smoky, spicy, tangy and sweet". My impression at least for the 2oz bag I got to go with lunch was that the flavor is not real pronounced. I think the chips taste good. Crunchy, sweet, not a lot of salt. But the flavoring side of things was just not there. Didn't pick up any smoke. Not a lot of tangy taste. Not much in the way of a hint of bbq sauce. Not real spicy either. They didn't taste bad...they just left me going "backyard bbq?" I think I either got a bad bag or this is just not a real pronounced flavor. I will get another bag from another store later and see. If I find different...I will amend my review. On a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate these a 2.5. Not bad tasting, just not on par with what I would call "backyard barbeque".