Hey, prolate spheroid-shaped ball fans! It’s time for your favorite sport that involves a prolate spheroid-shaped ball!
Rugby!
No, football!
Soccer?
No, American football!
And the famous cracker brand with a name that sounds too fancy for football has added two new limited edition flavors to its Ritz Crisp & Thins line — Buffalo and Jalapeno Cheddar. Most people don’t associate Ritz as a snack that goes with football, but the brand is trying to shed that image by becoming an Official Partner of NCAA Football, instead of an Official Partner of Appetizers at Middle Class Dinner Parties.
If you think about it, Buffalo and Jalapeno Cheddar are football tailgate/party-related flavors. Buffalo wings are a football party favorite, while jalapeno cheddar sounds like a dip for chips.
If you have to pick one of the two varieties because there’s no BOGO sale or your football party is a party of one, then I’d recommend the Buffalo version over the Jalapeno Cheddar.
The Jalapeno Cheddar is disappointing, although it is the spicier of the two. The first cracker in my mouth tasted great with a balanced cheesiness and pepperiness. But with the following pieces, the jalapeno and its heat took control of the flavor, and the cheddar ghosted my taste buds. I’m a little okay with the jalapeno overwhelming everything, but the cheesiness makes it taste much better.
The Buffalo version has those distinct peppery and smoky flavors that instantly tell you it’s Buffalo flavored. And like with the other one, there’s a secondary flavor that makes the cracker taste better. It’s a ranch dressing-like seasoning that helps cut through the Buffalo taste and heat. But all is not great because that dressing flavor comes and goes as it pleases like an outdoor cat. It’s annoying but, at least it comes back, unlike the cheddar in the other variety.
I’ve had a few of the Ritz Crisp & Thins since their debut in 2017, and I’ve liked what I’ve tried. But the Jalapeno Cheddar is by far my least favorite, and I wouldn’t repurchase it. On the other hand, the Buffalo one is as tasty as the others, and I would rebuy it for any of my upcoming football parties…for one.
Purchased Price: $3.99 each
Size: 7.1 oz. bag
Purchased at: Safeway
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Buffalo), 4 out of 10 (Jalapeño Cheddar)
Nutrition Facts: (21 chips) Buffalo – 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 200 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. Jalapeno Cheddar – 130 calories, 5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 270 milligrams of sodium, 21 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.
I really really like the cheddar version, buttery like ritz, even though it crunches like a good thick chip. Like I need more snack foods o love…
Bring the Buffalo flavor back please