Lay's France Jambon Braise

I am so torn by this bag.

On one hand, I love the flavor of Ham. Ham chips will always and forever be some of my favorite chips.

However. I tried these on the same day I ate some Walkers. And it reminded me so strongly that Walkers makes some of the best damn chips around.
The texture of chips manufactured by Lay's France can not come close to the texture of Walkers. Not in any universe are they even neighbors!
France always makes thin, crumbly, flakey, overcooked, semi flavorless chips.... and once again we have that here in this bag.
Which is unfortunate, because the flavors from Lay's France are incredible. The Ham flavor is decadent and rich and meaty and sumptuous. But it is almost wasted on a lackluster potato chip.

Now, don't get me wrong, on it's own, the chip holds up and is a nice treat. But, when you are eating it, literally at the same time you are eating Walkers, the failures become overwhelmingly obvious.

Final Thoughts: If you are in France and you like these meaty flavors, please feel free to pick up a bag and eat it. Lord knows there are worse chips around. But, if you are looking for Potato quality, search elsewhere.
But, what do you think? Have you tried French Lay's? Do you agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments below.

Walkers UK Market Deli Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

mmm.
Gotta love those Walkers Chips.

IDK how they make the chips taste so good in the UK, but I want to live my life by the same philosophy.

The chips as usual are rich and tasty and crispy. This time paired with a sweet and acid punch of "Balsamic Vinegar of Modena". Unlike the kick from a traditional "Salt & Vinegar" crisp, the Balsamic flavoring has the more complex flavor and sweetness of the grape sugars used to produce Balsamic.
I would liken this bag to sitting at an Italian restaurant and dipping bread in freshly poured Balsamic Vinegar.  It's very true to the flavor described.

The bag is incredibly tasty and unique and I would highly recommend it to any fans of the delicious chips being made by Walkers. The texture and unique flavors can rarely be beat. Loved this bag! A+

Gotta Get At This: Lay's USA Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Popper Walmart Exclusive

Do you guys remember back when Lay's unveiled the "Do Us A Flavor" 10 Semi finalists. IDK, if yall remember me saying that this flavor sounded so good that it should be a permanent flavor... but I did and I guess Walmart felt similarly. Right now, as a tie in to the "Do Us A Flavor" competition (That's stupid and weird btw Lay's), you can find the "Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Popper" flavor exclusively at Walmart. I don't know how limited the run of it will be, but it is a bag being carried by Walmart outside of the competition, so it could stay a store exclusive. That's weird, but I think Walmart got a good deal. These are a sure fire seller regardless of what they taste like.

So... if you want to try these, climb over the mountain of homeless people outside and make your way down the stinky aisles of Walmart to hunt these down. Who knows how much longer you'll be able to.

Happy Hunting!

"The Spotted Cheetah" Pop-Up Cheetos Restaurant in New York with Chef Anne Burrell

For one weekend only last month Chester Cheetah opened up a Cheetos restaurant in NYC. The food sounds like it was Amazing... check out the awesome info from the website.

Here is the introduction:

"Cheetos by Chester. 
Food by Anne Burrell.

Welcome to my restaurant. Well, my restaurant’s website!

As all of you (hopefully) know, I have a passion for cheesy, crunchy and downright delicious food. After years of cooking up dishes infused with my cheesy snacks, I was over the moon to discover that Cheetos connoisseurs had started sharing and liking their own. All of the Cheetos sushi rolls, Cheetos bagels and cheesy Cheetos pizzas gave me a brilliant idea: recruit the most dangerously cheesy celebrity chef, Anne Burrell, to help elevate my almost-purrfect Cheetos recipes for the very first Cheetos restaurant, The Spotted Cheetah.

Pull up a chair and grab a napkin — you’re going to need it because it’s about to get dangerously cheesy!
Chester Cheetah

Real dining. Real delicious.
Really, reserve your spot now."


The Menu sounds incredible:

• DangerouslyCheesyStarters

Cheetos Crusted Fried Pickles + Creamy Ranch

Time to get your paws messy! These Cheetos crusted fried pickles are meant for dunking in creamy homemade ranch. We condone the use of all hands and paws as utensils.

Cheetos Grilled Cheese + Tomato Soup

A deliciously familiar comfort food to warm every Cheetos lover’s soul. A hearty Cheetos tomato soup and small grilled cheese sandwiches filled with bacon, tomato and cheesy Cheetos.

Cheetos Meatballs

Classic Italian meets “Dangerously Cheesy.” These Cheetos, beef, pork and veal meatballs are served in a fresh, hearty tomato herb sauce and sprinkled with ricotta cheese.

Purrfectly Fried Green Tomatoes

Nothing says green tomatoes like white Cheetos — especially when the tomatoes are breaded with a crispy White Cheddar Cheetos crust, fried and paired with a fresh corn and cherry tomato arugula salad.

• TheBigCheese

Flamin’ Hot and White Cheddar Mac n’ Cheetos

White Cheddar Cheetos. Spicy jalapeños. Bacon. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Chipotle Ranch crust. All in one decadent dish. Need we say more?

Cheetos Mix-ups Crusted Chicken Milanese

Because variety is the spice of life, this chicken fillet comes crusted with the four cheesy flavors of Cheetos Mix-Ups and paired with a salad of mixed greens, hazelnuts and pickled onions, topped with even more Cheetos Mix-Ups.

Spicy Cheetos Nachos

Cheetos are the new tortilla chips. These “nachos” are smothered with spicy sausage ragù and creamy cheese, then piled high with crisp lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños and a dollop of sour cream.

Flamin’ Hot Limón Chicken Tacos

We could describe the masterful combination of perfectly seasoned chicken tacos, crunchy veggies and Flamin’ Hot Limón Cheetos, but instead we’re just going to say, “You’re welcome.”

• SweetSpot

Cheetos Sweetos Crusted Cheesecake

Get yourself a forkful of my rich goat cheese cheesecake with a crunchy Cheetos Sweetos crust. If that wasn’t enough, the delicious blueberry compote is like the icing on the (cheese)cake. Pun very intended.

Cheetos Sweetos Sweet and Salty Cookies

Every dreamy bite of these warm cookies is packed with Cinnamon Sugar Cheetos Sweetos. In fact, they’re dangerously delicious when dunked in the Cheetos Sweetos Salted Caramel dipper.

White Cheddar Cheetos and Cheetos Sweetos Apple Crepes

Eating these light and airy crepes topped with a blend of White Cheddar Cheetos and Cinnamon Sugar Cheetos Sweetos crumbles is like biting into a cheesy, apple-y cloud.

Cookbook 

The Full Color Cookbook can be downloaded on the site here: The Spotted Cheetah 

Would you have visited the Spotted Cheetah? What recipes would you make better than these? Discuss in the comments below!

Elma Chips Brazil Cheetos Assado Lua Parmesao

Cheetos are the best. They are just THEEEE best.

But, for some reason, people in other countries just DO NOT understand the magic of Cheetos. They be changing em and making em all weird.

So, in Brazil, the Cheetos line comes in different shapes but they are all puffs... there are no crunchy Cheetos. They shapes are "Lua" which look like traditional Puffs, "Bola" which look like Cheese Balls, "Fogo" which look like Paws, "Explosao" which look like Triangles, and "Onda" which are a squigly shape (and maybe more). The Assado subtitle translates to Roasted, but I'm guessing in Portuguese that also means to Bake because of the Latin root in the word... and this picture from their facebook...
In America, Puffs are Oven-Dried, not Fried... so that might also be what this means. How are Cheese Puffs made?? Whatever the answer, that is why this label says "Assado". I don't know what other subtitles they have, if it says "Pipoca" that is Cheetos Popcorn.

Ok, so moving on from that lil mini wiki. These are in a "Parmesan Cheese" flavor. The Cheddar flavor tragically doesn't exist there.
So, the review... the Puff was fine. It's a corn puff, you can't really mess it up. The seasoning is crazy. It tastes so much like Parmesan, which I love. But, it was TOO real. It tasted EXACTLY like those dried Parmesan crisps, but a puff! It has the distinctive after taste of Parmesan. It was just TOOOO real. I like Cheetos because I like Cheetos seasoning. It is the most perfect seasoning in the Universe, and I am consistently SHOCKED to not see it at all in other countries offerings. Brazil! You are missing out!!
But, if you want to try something KIND-OF like Cheetos while you are away, and you like the strong taste of Parm, try these, they are weird, but DELICIOUS!

Lay's USA Everything Bagel

I caved guys. I caved.
Here is a bag of the Kettle Cooked "Everything Bagel" flavor from Lay's USAs current "Do Us A Flavor" competition.
In the lead up to trying it, it didn't sound very good. I imagined heavy cream cheese flavor (like a "sour cream & onion" bag) and minimal "everything bagel" flavor. I was wondering how they could replicate the unique potency of poppy seeds and all the other treasures on an everything bagel... well, now we know.
First of all, I was shocked by how mild the cream cheese flavor was. I could almost go out on a limb and say they could have added more; but I don't want to nit-pick. It was very tasty, just enough cream cheese flavor to compliment the garlic, onion, AND.... poppy seed... real... poppy seed!
What shook me the most about this bag was how strong that flavor of "Everything Bagel" really was. When I gave the chips a better look, I noticed they were actually covered in REAL poppy seeds. I didn't think Lay's would pull off that move... but they did; and it pays off big time with this bag. It lends an incredibly authentic flavor to what they were trying to accomplish with this bag. The bag really tastes like an Everything bagel.
Lastly, I just want to touch on the fact that the Kettle Cooked chips used to be my favorite cook on chips from Lay's USA... but today I consider it hit or miss. These fell somewhere in between. I can't say I loved the texture. But, they were cooked, not burnt, and tasted very fresh, so, It was just the texture that I didn't care for as much as the seasoning.

Anyways, let me know... have you guys tried these? Have you tried the competition yet? What did you think? Did they surprise you like they surprised me?

Gotta Get At This: Lay's Canada Sizzlin’ Szechuan and Paprika & Sweet Onion

We get it Lay's Canada! You watch Rick & Morty!
(Canada is so cool you guys)

Look at that! Capitalizing on the WAVE of Szechuan Sauce fans coming out, here is Lay's Canada's new "Sizzlin' Szechuan" and "Paprika & Sweet Onion". The two flavors are very bold in contrast to the rest of Canada's range... but I find that exciting!
I tried the US's "Chinese Szechuan" offering last year and it was good... it tasted JUST like Chinese takeout, so, I'd give the Canadian version a chance. As for "Paprika & Sweet Onion" I love Paprika the spice... put it on anything for me... this sounds like a WIN.

Anyways, these are available now, possibly for a limited time, grab em, order em on ebay, do what you gotta do.

Happy Hunting everyone!

OK Here's Some Late News: Lay's Canada World Flavourites & Chalet Sauce

These came out last year, I missed them, I know I did... but THANKFULLY, none were truly original flavors.
The flavors were part of Lay's Canada's "World Flavourites" (get it, like, Favorites?) a promotion that ran last Summer in Canada. The Thai inspired flavor is "Thai Sweet Chili", which is a favorite of mine when Walkers in the UK makes it. The Canadian inspired flavor is from Lay's Canada's 2014 "Do Us A Flavour" competition... it is the "Bacon Poutine" flavor. And The UK inspired flavor is "Cheese & Onion"... one of the classic Walkers UK flavors... I think this tastes like "In & Out" a local fast food chain here in California, it's an awesome flavor combo. Sooooo.... sorry for the outdated news, but the bags are still something cool to look at. I've never seen this packaging before from Lay's and I really like it. It blends the "Do Us A Flavor" packaging with a new look.

Secondly, there was a new Canadian release last Fall with the flavor "Swiss Chalet Chalet Sauce". The bags are exclusive to select Swiss Chalet restaurants in Canada. They emulate the flavor of the Chalet Sauce, a cult favorite since the sauce was developed in 1954. Apparently, these sold out SUPER fast, so Lay's ordered more. I'd guess you can still hunt these down if you were to call up a few Swiss Chalets.

That wraps it up for late news, there are also a pair of new flavors from Canada that just released, I'll give you the details about all that asap. Enjoy & happy hunting.