Originally posted March 2011
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by Jen L.
I grew up in Louisiana where Zapp's Potato Chips ruled the roost. I now live in Golden Flake country. When I lived in New York, however, it was Utz all the way. Each of these chips has their own unique contribution to the potato chip world and each has a special place in my heart and my snack bowl. Here are my top five picks for the perfect potato chip.
5. Golden Flake Dill Pickle Flavor.
Sounds nasty, right? These are ridiculously good. They're tangy, extra-crispy and perfect with an ice cold Coca Cola. My only complaint is that they're a little overly salty, but then I'm not the greatest judge of that since I rarely add salt to my food. These are not a chip I'd want every day, but whenever I see them at a picnic or potluck, I get very excited.
4. Terra Chips
Oh, Terra Chips.How I love thee. After BlogHer last year, I received two bags of original flavor Terra Chips in the mail and proceeded to eat both bags in about 2 hours. They're good for you, people ... they're VEGETABLES. I love the original flavor, the sweet potato chips and even their exotic flavors. They're a bit on the pricey side, so I generally only buy these when I have a coupon, but they're always worth the money. The only unfortunate thing about them is that they don't last long in my house.
3. Utz Carolina BBQ
These chips are what would happen if BBQ and Salt & Vinegar chips had a baby. They're tangy, a little spicy on the back end and just downright delicious. They are phenomenal with hot dogs and hamburgers or all by themselves. I craved these like crazy when I was pregnant with my son. These babies will take your tastebuds to a whole new level of happiness.
2. Zapp's Hotter 'n' Hot Jalepeno
I grew up eating these crunchy kettle-style chips. The proper way to eat Zapp's is to flip the bag upside down, shake it so that the powdery spices coat all the lucious chips, then open the bottom of the bag and devour them. Zapp's has some great flavors, like Cajun Crawtator and VooDoo Gumbo, but my heart will forever belong to the Jalapeno flavor. They are savory at first, spicy on the back end. I love them with a good shrimp po' boy.
1. Original Ruffles
Despite all the flashy flavors on my list, my favorite chip will forever be original Ruffles. They are the perfect chip to dip, they go with anything and their classic taste reminds me of childhood when my mom gave them to me as a snack with onion dip and sometimes packed them in my lunchbox in a zippy bag. As I grew older, I began to appreciate them dipped in queso or (wait for it) chocolate frosting. Those famous ridges are hard to beat, so whenever I get a major craving for chips, Ruffles are the first bag I turn to for satisfaction.
What's your favorite chip?
Photo credits: Goldenflake.com, taquitos.net, utzsnacks.com, cajunsupermarket.com, fritolay.com
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Great picks, Jen! You can check out the rest of Jen's posts here.
There's a weird kind of chip here that's only sold at a certain gas station. It's part BBQ, part spicy, and it is spectacular. I can't remember what the brand is, though.
Also, Utz will forever make me think of Mad Men.
Posted by: PinkieBling | March 14, 2012 at 05:43 PM
Cape Cod makes dark russets - they are almost burnt and heavenly. I rarely find them but when I do I don't share.
Posted by: Michelle Smiles | March 14, 2012 at 08:55 PM