Athena wrote:Has anyone tried the beer flavored chips Aldi is selling right now? (Clancy brand, iirc, spotted them in the store yesterday).

I balked at the "beer flavored," but I couldn't resist the "sriracha flavored." They were sitting next to each other in my store's seasonal aisle. The sriracha ones really grew on me. Hot ketchup flavor with some really decent heat buildup. They kind of get heavily sweet after a while (like sriracha does, imo.)

Does anyone remember Jay's 'Crazy Calypso' chips from the '80s or '90s? They were salty, spicy and sweet and came in a pink or purple bag. Loved those.

Nothing less than Old Dutch : Dutch Crunch Kettle Chips for me.

Chicago Expat wrote:I had a torrid love affair with Uncle Ray's Chips back when I lived off of Lake Shore Drive and Irving Park. One of the little convenience shops in a nearby condo tower sold them. I was especially smitten with the Coney Island chip, but also enjoyed bags of Dill Pickle, Jalapeno, and Roasted Garlic. Occasionally, I'd have a Ketchup or plain ol' BBQ. Here's some pictures just because I like giving visual aids with my posts...



Uncle Ray's aren't so much a great chip as they are a great "trashy" chip. They're not to be savored, so much as devoured. But damn they're good. After a while, though, it seemed like they stopped selling them in Chicago. I did discover, however, on one of our many drives between Chicago and Louisville, that interstate gas station/convenience store chain Family Express sold them, making it the only reason to look forward to the Indiana leg of our journey. I now live in small town Kentucky, and as it turns out, the little grocery store/lunch counter around the corner from our new home sells Uncle Ray's. Sadly, it appears that both the Coney and Jalapeno chips have been discontinued (or are unavailable in our zip), but I get all the Dill Pickle, Garlic, and BBQ I could ask for. The Salt & Vinnegar is okay, but I'm not much of a connoisseur of that kind of chip, so my opinion shouldn't rate much there. In any event, it would appear that my life is fated to live near tiny grocery stores that sell these wonderful chips.
To any of you Uncle Ray's addicts in Chicago, the closest place I could find was the Family Express in northwest Indiana (Wolcott, I think).

Farmer's Pride Produce at Chicago and Western Ave carries Uncle Ray's chips. They are in the process of remodeling and recently added a walk in beer cooler with a lot of local and craft offerings. I will be frequenting this grocery store on a much more regular basis with these recent changes. They've also expanded their wine/cheese offerings and appear to be trying to keep up with the changes in the neighborhood. I much prefer to visit a store of this size on weekends as the larger grocery chains are impossible to make a quick in/out stop, in addition to supporting the local/little guy.

Back to the chips... unfortunately, I did not see some of the more unique flavors such as Dill, Roasted Garlic, Ketchup, or what peaked my interest in the first place: Coney. But given the recent changes to the store, next time I go I'll ask if they are willing to bring some other flavors in. Sadly, the Uncle Ray's website (see below) does not list Coney as a current offering - but on a positive note, Jalapeno has returned (and is at Farmers Pride Produce).

I'm originally from Northeast PA - which has many special treats, and even multiple websites offering mail order snacks for those transplants like myself (which I've never used). One of these snacks is Middleswarth chips - with a highly honorable mention to the BBQ. There is just something about these chips that makes them different. It's hard to describe or perhaps fathom, but they are more dense than a typical chip with more of a melty feel to them. However, they do not lack crunch and I would absolutely still describe them as light. Perhaps it's their use of vegetable shortening (per their website)? The only other chip I've had that was similar to them was from Larry's Market in Brown Deer, WI and I mistakenly did not commit the brand name to memory.

If you fine yourself traveling through Pennsylvania and see these chips (remember, BBQ) - I recommend you give them a shot. They also offer a large family bag with a resealable top for your convenience.


http://www.unclerays.com/products/chips/

http://www.pasnacks.com/
http://northeastsnacks.com/

http://www.middleswarthchips.com/

Farmers Pride Produce
756 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60612

This year's Frito Lay flavor contest includes (per grub street) Kettle-Cooked Greektown Gyro, Wavy West Coast Truffle Fries, Southern Biscuits and Gravy, and New York Reuben.

At least it isn't cappucino. The Truffle is likely to be vile truffle oil flavored. Not sure what Biscuits and Gravy would add. I'm hoping Gyros are good, the Reuben could go either way.

I'm really enjoying the Route 11 Yukon Gold chips, which are a seasonal item. They're light, crispy, and well-salted, with no bitter off notes.

As far as I know, they're only only available through their website (in cases of 30 x 2-ounce bags). Needless to say, most of these will be going to my office for sharing . . . but not until Tuesday!

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:I'm really enjoying the Route 11 Yukon Gold chips, which are a seasonal item. They're light, crispy, and well-salted, with no bitter off notes.

Tease
Yukon Gold chips are in season, but currently sold out. Please check back!

G Wiv wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:I'm really enjoying the Route 11 Yukon Gold chips, which are a seasonal item. They're light, crispy, and well-salted, with no bitter off notes.

Tease
Yukon Gold chips are in season, but currently sold out. Please check back!

Whoa, that was fast! I'll save you a few bags.

=R=

Also, fwiw, the Route 11 Lightly Salted chips -- not a seasonal item -- are also excellent. You can get them at Zier's in Wilmette, and probably at some other brick and mortar places in town. Or, you can order them online.

=R=

Zier's Prime Meats & Poultry
813 Ridge Rd
Wilmette, IL 60091
847 251-4000

Chef Jose Andres' potato chips are excellent. They're made in Spain using specially chosen potatoes, olive oil, and himalayan salt. I think they're probably made by Torres, but I'm not sure. Anyway, they're light, not greasy, just salty enough.

I get them from La Tienda, but I think Amazon has them, too. They also have the Torres chips, and those come in different flavors.

One day when I was lost and wandering around in Madrid, I came across a potato chip store -- picture Garrett Popcorn, except with chips -- yum. The free potato chips offered at many tapas bars in Madrid/Seville probably sealed the deal on my affinity for Spanish-made potato chips, too....

Also Chef Andres is a great humanitarian.

I know it will go away but I prefer chips without ridges/wavy.

I am a fan of the All DressedUp Chips. Ruffles make them, but folks were waiting for me to arrive at a cookout with the Roundy's version of them that happen to be sans ridges yesterday. They remembered the chips from last year and were waiting for me. I don't even think they stayed for burgers.

How The Pennsylvania Dutch Turned A Rural Town Into A Snack Food Empire

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/20 ... pad&f=1053

G Wiv wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:I'm really enjoying the Route 11 Yukon Gold chips, which are a seasonal item. They're light, crispy, and well-salted, with no bitter off notes.

Tease
Yukon Gold chips are in season, but currently sold out. Please check back!

They're back in stock . . . but who knows for how long.

=R=

While they're not my favorite chip, Lithuanian Lay’s Creamy Forest Mushroom Potato Chips are interesting. Milda's in Union Pier, MI imports several cases every summer and they only take a week or two to sell out.

Not sure how long they will have them for, but Trader Joe's Peruvian Potato Chips were a big hit at (board) gaming night:

http://www.whatsgoodattraderjoes.com/20 ... chips.html

Really kind of pretty, and potato-forward. They don't do well in high humidity but they probably won't last long out of the bag anyway.