Tag: Chips

REVIEW: Lay’s Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Potato Chips

Marvo 5 Comments

Lay s Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Potato Chips

There are some of you who are looking at Lay’s new Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Potato Chips and thinking to yourself, “Dammit! That was MY Lay’s Do Us a Flavor submission! Frito-Lay stole my idea!” or “Dammit! Lay’s ripped that flavor idea out of my head! This tinfoil hat I made doesn’t work!”

If you have no ill will towards Lay’s, I’d recommend purchasing a bag of this limited time flavor if you’re interested in experiencing the comfort food combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese without having to worry about burning your mouth with savory liquid or getting your fingers greasy with buttered bread.

I’d also recommend this new variety if you like pizza. I’ll get to that in a few moments.

Lay s Grilled Cheese Tomato Soup Potato Chips Closeup

The crunchy fried potato slices look like they might taste either super cheesy or a little spicy, but they are neither. They smell more cheesy than tomato soup-y, but that flips when being eaten. The tomato is sweet, slightly acidic, and at the forefront from the first chomp.

The cheese is still around but in the background of the chip’s flavor. Also, like with Lay’s previous sandwich-flavored chips, it tastes as if the food scientists were able to add a little bread flavoring, or maybe that’s my imagination. But what I do know is real is that Lay’s Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Potato Chips are delightful.

The flavor profile is easily recognizable. However, as someone who has dipped his hands into many bag-shaped universes of chips, the combination of tomato and cheese, at times, reminds me of pizza-flavored snacks. But if you think about it, it does make sense since pizza is a few food chromosomes away from tomato soup and grilled cheese.

These chips aren’t as comforting or warming as a grilled cheese sandwich dipped into hot tomato soup. But, since chips go well with sandwiches, this crunchy snack would make an appropriate and tasty side.

DISCLOSURE: I received a free sample of the product from Lay’s PR team. Well, actually, I received two bags and ate half of one within 30 minutes for, um, testing purposes. Getting free samples did not influence my review. Although I can totally see how some might think so. But I assure you it did not.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 7 3/4 oz. bag
Purchased at: Received from Lay’s PR
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 chips) 160 calories, 10 grams of fat, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Fried Onion Ring Pringles

Marvo 1 Comment

Fried Onion Ring Pringles

What are Fried Onion Ring Pringles?

A 7-Eleven exclusive Pringles flavor that was also available in Canada earlier this year, but under the name Crispy Onion Rings.

How are they?

The aroma from the can is slightly oniony, but it’s not strong enough to cover up the underlying potato. The first crisp I put into my mouth reminds me of Funyuns, but more like Funyuns lite or less fun Funyuns. But chomping on a few more or maybe through subliminal influence by staring at the Pringles can for too long, they began to remind me of onion rings, which is basically onion with a little something-something for the breading.

Fried Onion Ring Pringles 2

The crispiness of the potato crisp itself is a good stand-in for the crunch of an onion ring’s breading and the garlic powder in the seasoning helps get across the breading’s flavor. As for the level of onion, you’re not going to need a breath mint after eating these. The onion was mostly mild as if someone waved a Pringles crisp through the tail end of an onion powder cloud. There were times when the flavor was so light that the chip-shaped potato flakes dominated the taste. But, even with their moderate flavor, I did enjoy them.

Is there anything else you need to know?

As I mentioned earlier, it’s currently a 7-Eleven exclusive flavor, but like a lot of relationships, it doesn’t mean it’ll be exclusive to the convenience store chain forever. Another store might come in and sweep Fried Onion Rings Pringles off its feet. That’s how life is. Sometimes it’s forever, but sometimes it’s not. When it’s not, you just move on.

Conclusion:

As a fan of onion rings (more fast food places should offer them), I happily munched my way through the two cans that were sent to me by Pringles. I enjoyed them, but I don’t think they’re a must-buy.

DISCLOSURE: I received free samples of the product. Doing so did not influence my review, although it might seem like it. But I assure you it did not.

Purchased Price: FREE
Size: 5.5 oz. can
Purchased at: Received from Pringles, but available at 7-Eleven
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (about 15 crisps) 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 210 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein.

REVIEW: Taco Bell Reaper Ranch Tortilla Chips

Louis 2 Comments

Taco Bell Reaper Ranch Tortilla Chips

What are Taco Bell Reaper Ranch Tortilla Chips?

Based on the popular (I’m guessing) supreme fries and not-so-supreme burritos that were featured on the Taco Bell menu a short time ago, this is the home-game version of the Reaper Ranch flavor of the famed sauce, now in the form of a heavily-dusted tortilla chip.

How are they?

As I sat there, my mouth burning in a Carolina-based pepper-fueled ecstasy of sorts, I have to admit that I did like these Reaper Ranch spin-offs more than their Taco Bell menu board counterparts. On a tortilla chip, while the Reaper peppers are hotter than ever and the Ranch is also far more prominent, the notable flavoring beautifully covers the light and airy triangles of corn to great effect.

Taco Bell Reaper Ranch Tortilla Chips 2

Munching these considerately and carefully, I realized that years of sampling different Doritos concoctions have trained me to graciously accept the surprisingly different flavors of these Taco Bell tortilla chips. Remember those Wasabi Doritos? I loved those and, if I may, I love these as well.

Is there anything else you need to know?

After handling the Reaper Ranch chips, remember to immediately wash your hands thoroughly before touching or rubbing your eyes. It took me almost twenty minutes to get the mace-like burning to become somewhat manageable.

Conclusion:

The Taco Bell Reaper Ranch Tortilla Chips can really do no wrong, finding the niche that the fries and burrito never could. Too bad, though, that Taco Bell hasn’t made the Reaper Ranch sauce available as a kicky party dip. Imagine the meta-dining dipping these chips into that sauce. The fiery mind reels.

Purchased Price: $1.29
Size: 3.5 oz. bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 8 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) 150 calories, 8 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 120 milligrams of sodium, 17 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of dietary fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.

REVIEW: Pringles Mac ’N Cheeese and Pringles Bacon

Marvo 2 Comments

Pringles Mac N Cheeese and Pringles Bacon

To be honest, I didn’t notice the extra E in “Mac ’N Cheeese” until right before I was ready to post this review. So if Cheeese gets an additional E, then every double E gets an extra E in this review. Wheee!

Until the end of August 2019, Pringles Mac ’N Cheeese and Pringles Bacon are exclusive Dollar General flavors. After that, I imagine, they will test the freee-agent market.

The marketing materials I received promotes the Bacon one as new, but if you’re a regular reader or photo scanner of this site, you’d know that it popped up at Walmart a few years ago as an exclusive flavor. As for Mac ’N Cheeese, it’s also not a new variety. It was part of the Thanksgiving Dinner Pringles set from 2017 and, if you do a Google search, one existed many years ago. Although those didn’t have an extra E.

Pringles Mac N Cheeese

Mac ’N Cheeese almost looks like your standard Pringle, except there’s a very slight orange tinge to let eaters know it’ll be a little cheeesy. As for Bacon, it has a layer of seasoning that makes it look like it spent some time in an attic next to a bunch of old yearbooks, newspaper clippings, and the Boogie Monster who watches you sleeep every night.

Pringles Bacon

Mac ’N Cheeese has a mild cheeesiness and a hint of elbow macaroni flavor. Yes, I don’t know if my tongue is playing tricks on me, but I do taste pasta. Although I think it comes from the potato base. It makes me wonder if this is regular Pringles Cheddar Cheeese with less seasoning, which causes a toned down flavor that allows the dried potato base to come out a bit more.

Pringles Bacon smell like barbecue chips, but they have a smoky flavor that’s similar to other bacon-flavored products I’ve tried. They’re also a bit on the salty side. While I somewhat like them, I can seee how the smoky taste might turn off some eaters.

They’re both fine flavors, but they didn’t wow me like some of the past limited edition Pringles varieties, like Nissin Top Ramen Chicken and Hot Diggity Dog.

Now, I can’t just end the review without combining the two flavors because bacon mac ’n cheeese is incredible. Well, I’m happy to report it turned out pretty good. So buy both, mainly so you can use the Mac ’N Cheeese one to cover the dusty-looking Bacon one.

The combo does make me think of bacon mac n’ cheeese, but if Pringles ever comes out with a smoked cheddar variety, I imagine it’ll taste similar. Also, I can’t help but think this is Pringles’ way of revealing what the Mystery Flavor is from a few weeeks ago. That was smoky and cheeesy, and these are smoky and cheeesy.

DISCLOSURE: I received freee samples of both flavors from Kellogg’s (Thanks!). Doing so did not influence my review in any way.

Purchased Price: FREEE
Size: 5.5 oz. cans
Purchased at: Received from Kellogg’s (available at Dollar General)
Rating: 7 out of 10 (Mac ’N Cheeese)
Rating: 6 out of 10 (Bacon)
Nutrition Facts: (1 oz.) Mac ’N Cheeese – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 190 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 1 gram of sugar, and 1 gram of protein. Bacon – 150 calories, 9 grams of fat, 2.5 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 16 grams of carbohydrates, less than 1 gram of fiber, less than 0 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of protein..

REVIEW: Urge Glazers Donut Flavored Potato Chips

Mike 2 Comments

Urge Glazers Donut Flavored Potato Chips

What are Urge Glazers Donut Flavored Potato Chips?

Kwik Trip is a chain of convenience stores found exclusively in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa. As a Wisconsin native, I know I can count on a Kwik Trip to have clean bathrooms, fresh coffee, and decent-for-a-gas station food. It’s solid and dependable, like the folk that live ’round these parts.

That’s why I was surprised to hear Kwik Trip was releasing doughnut-flavored chips in the form of Limited Edition Urge Glazer Potato Chips. Personally, I’m always willing to try the newest mad food science franken-snack, but it seems awfully daring for ol’ reliable Kwik Trip, more of a showy Illinois kind of thing, ya know?

How are they?

Urge Glazers Donut Flavored Potato Chips 2

Speaking of mad food science, how exactly does one make a potato chip taste like a glazed doughnut? Simply adding sugar seems like a bad idea, but is the flavor of a plain Glazer more complicated than that?

There are no visual clues, as these look like the same plain potato chips that sit next to the dip (in Wisconsin, it’ll be taco and beer-cheese dip). The scent is subtle, but with familiar caramel and vanilla notes. These smell like ice cream waffle cones.

The sweetness is immediately present as I taste one, but it doesn’t become dessert-like. The vanilla and caramel come through, with some creaminess I wasn’t expecting. These really do taste like a glazed doughnut without losing the savory quality I look for in a potato chip. They’re great.

Urge Glazers Donut Flavored Potato Chips 3

Is there anything else you need to know?

Though I enjoy trying the cornucopia of flavors that chip makers offer us these days, a drawback to many of them is that they’re often not very versatile. Do you really want to dunk southern biscuits and gravy flavored chips in the French onion dip? Or put cappuccino chips next to your tuna sandwich for lunch?

To see if these chips are more than a gimmick, I brought a bag to my family’s 4th of July party to see if they held up to the plethora of dips present. It worked well with the French onion and beer-cheese dips, both of which have a certain sweetness already. It worked less well with hot dips like chili queso and Rueben dip, which didn’t allow the glazed flavor to come through.

I can also confirm they taste good with the unholy mixture of ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, baked beans, taco dip, and marshmallow jello salad that was left on my paper plate after I was done with it. Truly, these are a chip for every occasion.

Conclusion:

Kwik Trip’s Urge brand Glazer Potato Chips are a tasty and versatile snack. They’re great alone and with a variety of dips.

Purchased Price: $1.99
Size: 6 oz. bag
Purchased at: Kwik Trip
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (28 grams) 140 calories, 7 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 15 milligrams of sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein.