SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Hi-C Ecto Cooler (2016)

Hi-C Ecto Cooler (2016)

It’s been a really long time since I drank juice from a box. (Spotted by Jennifer R at Price Chopper.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

REVIEW: Lay’s Creamy Bacon Potato Salad Potato Chips

Lay's Creamy Bacon Potato Salad Potato Chips

Barbeque season is upon us once again, and your old friend Vin is here to share a dirty little secret with you.

No one really likes your potato salad.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the side dish you made/bought is not as big a hit as your well-meaning friends are making it seem. There’s a reason it’s the last thing remaining on the table as the sun drops, just rotting there in a warm, gelatinous clump of misery as the guests head for their cars.

In terms of the salad offerings at any given BBQ, potato almost always ranks behind macaroni. If chicken salad is on the menu, forget about it! Hell, potato salad usually ranks behind regular salad. With all due respect to all the red headed stepchildren of the world, potato salad is truly the you of summer BBQ staples.

Lay's Creamy Bacon Potato Salad Potato Chips 2

Crispy chips are tastier than starchy spud cubes slathered in a gross mayo concoction and the good folks at Frito-Lay are well aware of this. That’s why they’re ready to make the summer of ‘16 potato salad-free with the introduction of their “new” flavor, Creamy Bacon Potato Salad.

Now that I think about it, potato salad was probably an easy flavor to reproduce in chip form. You’re already working with potato. Add a buzzworthy ingredient – possibly the buzziest – in “bacon,” and yup, this seems like it might actually work.

They certainly smell the part. These are the best smelling chips I’ve had in some time. Upon tearing open the bag, I was hit with the aroma of bacon bits. It’s a bit more artificial than freshly cooked bacon, but amazing nonetheless.

I guess the initial flavor is the “salad” component of the chip. There’s a sharp vinegary, mayonnaise taste, but that is immediately trounced by bacon. Beyond that quick surge, these are basically a loaded baked potato.

Lay's Creamy Bacon Potato Salad Potato Chips 3

Sure, I was put in mind of potato salad for a split second, but it doesn’t seem like they even tried to steer this away from loaded baked potato. Sour cream, onion powder, and cheddar cheese are listed in the ingredients. It’s a potato chip and bacon is the star of the show. What’s missing? That’s a loaded baked potato.

Think of them like this – If you filled three-fourths of a bowl with 3/4 loaded baked potato chips and then filled the rest with salt and vinegar, this would be the end result.

These chips are a delicious sham. Lay’s repackaged a slight variation on an old flavor and designed a shiny new bag. I’m not mad at ‘em, and when you try these, you won’t be either. I am however mad about one minor thing.

I realize sour cream and onion is one of the most popular chips in the world, but why is “Creamy” necessary here? First of all, “Creamy Bacon” is a weird combination of words that illicit some weird thoughts in my brain. Second of all, it’s a chip. It’s not creamy. Even if you’re mimicking the taste of “creamy” potato salad, we don’t need to know it’s creamy, it’s assumed. Not to mention, “creamy” is a disgusting word. It’s my “moist.” This concludes my creamy rant.

Next time you’re considering bringing potato salad to a BBQ, think better of it. Grab a bag of these and pick up some macaroni salad. Your hosts/guests will appreciate it.

Fans of any of the numerous bacon-centric flavors Lay’s has put out in the past will love these. If you like potato skins appetizers, you’ll love these. If you like summer, you’ll love these.

(Nutrition Facts – 1 ounce – 150 calories, 90 calories from fat, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 170 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugars, and 2 grams of protein.)

Purchased Price: $2.48
Size: 7 3/4 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Pros: One of the better new flavors in a while. Worthy replacement for gross potato salad. Smells great. Buzzworthy bacon.
Cons: Basically a retread flavor in a shiny new bag. Imagining what creamy bacon might taste like. The word “creamy” in general. Potato salad.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES – 6/7/2016

Here are some interesting new and limited edition products found on store shelves by us and your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of the products, share your thoughts about them in the comments.

Uno Pizzeria & Grill Pepperoni & Cheese Calzone

Uno Pizzeria & Grill Pepperoni & Cheese Calzone

Uno Pizzeria & Grill Ham & Cheese Calzone

Uno Pizzeria & Grill Ham & Cheese Calzone

Uno Pizzeria & Grill Steak & Cheese Calzone

Uno Pizzeria & Grill Steak & Cheese Calzone

Uno Pockets! (Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

Johnsonville Sweet Chili Lime All Natural Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Sweet Chili Lime All Natural Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Lemon & Herb Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Lemon & Herb Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Teriyaki All Natual Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Teriyaki All Natural Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Sweet BBQ All Natual Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville Sweet BBQ All Natual Chicken Breast Kabobs

Johnsonville does chicken? So used to seeing sausages from them. Chickenville! (Spotted by Jamie S at Family Fare and Amanda Y at Tom Thumb.)

Red's Natural Foods Non-Dairy Organic Bean & Rice Burrito

Red’s Natural Foods Non-Dairy Organic Bean & Rice Burrito

Give me a sister, I can’t resist her. Red beans and rice didn’t miss her. Sorry. Every time I see the words “beans” and “rice” next to each other, I immediately think of Sir Mix-A-Lot. (Spotted by Jarred B at Publix.)

Mt. Olive Simply Pickles Kosher Dill Spears

Mt. Olive Simply Pickles Kosher Dill Spears

Vlasic Farms Kosher Dill Spears made with Sea Salt

Vlasic Farms Kosher Dill Spears made with Sea Salt

Pickle party! (Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B and Costco.)

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Limited Edition Blueberry Pie Oreo Cookies

Limited Edition Blueberry Pie Oreo Cookies

These cookies have graham-flavored wafers and a blueberry-flavored creme. Do blueberry pies with lattice tops usually have graham cracker crusts? Eh, who cares? These are a Target exclusive flavor. (Spotted by Sean L at Target.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

SPOTTED ON SHELVES: Wild Habanero Cheetos Crunchy

Cheetos Crunchy Wild Habanero

Google tells me these originally made an appearance in 2010. But now they’re back to burn our mouths. This photo was taken in Texas, but I don’t know if it’s a regional product. Let us know in the comments if you’ve seen it elsewhere. (Spotted by Robbie at Walmart.)

If you’re out shopping and see an interesting new product on the shelf, snap a picture of it, and send us an email ([email protected]) with where you found it and “Spotted” in the subject line. Or reply to us (@theimpulsivebuy) on Twitter with the photo, where you spotted it, and the hashtag #spotted. If you’ve tried the product, share your thoughts about it in the comments.