Gotta Get At This: Margarita Colombia Jamon y Miel

COLOMBIA! STOP MAKING ME HUNGRY!
Ham & Honey flavored Chips. Sounds so yummy.
Packing my bags now!

Gotta Get At This: Lay's Thailand Honey Butter and Popcorn Caramel

DAMN THAILAND, BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE CRAZY ASS FLAVORS!
I LOVE Lay's Thailand, they are always doing some wacky stuff, but they make a perfectly cooked chip and authentic seasoning, so they are always pulling it off.
This year they've debuted a sweet collection, starting with "Honey Butter"... which, if you didn't know, is a flavor that SWEPT Korea last year. Literally, bags by Japanese snack maker Calbee of "Honey Butter" Chips were selling at up to $104 USD on ebay. The bags were so coveted in Korea that shopkeepers were bundling the chips with other snacks to cash in on the craze. Even McDonald's in Korea started selling "Honey Butter" French Fries! It's my understanding that they are still nearly impossible to find, but in the span of the craze, many imitators have come out with the "Honey Butter" flavor. Lay's Thailand has tapped into the mania and released their own version, albeit on a Ruffle cut chip. The sweet range also includes a regular cut chip "Popcorn Caramel" flavor that is only available at 7 eleven stores.
As with most Thai Lay's, they are pretty easy to find on ebay or Amazon, and I've already ordered these to try. So, if you don't wanna pack a bag and go to Thailand, order them from the convenience of your home. These are the kinds of fun new chip ideas I like to see, so I'm keen to try them! What do you think? Discuss in the comments section below :)

Contest: Lay's Belgium Maak Je Smaak 2013 Winner!

Belgium has crowned a Champion! The battle was over when Tim's "Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs" knocked out "New York Hot Dog" and "Cocktail Andaluz". I still don't understand why Belgium needs "Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs" in a range that already includes "Barbeque", "BBQ Ham", "American BBQ: Deep Ridged", "Super Chips: Barbeque", and "The Oven: Barbecue" baked chips... but whatever. Congratulations Tim!

Contest: Lay's Belgium Maak Je Smaak 2013 Finalists Announced!

 

Lay's Belgium has put forth the finalists in their "Maak Je Smaak" or "Make The Taste" contest. This year the contest borrowed "The Battle" theme from Netherland's 2012 contest to highlight how these flavors were going to duke it out for supremacy. The 3 flavors stepping into the ring now will be "Cocktail Andaluz", "New York Hotdog", and "Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs". 

"Cocktail Andaluz" may be the wackiest of the bunch and if I were placing bets, I would look at this bag to win it all. It is the brain-child of Sander, who while in the chip shop, could not decide between Andalusian sauce and Cocktail sauce for dipping his French Fries... he decided to mix the two and called it Cocktail Andaluz. Andalusian Sauce, for those who don't know, is a popular Mayo-based sauce in Belgium with tomato paste, chopped onion, chopped peppers, and lemon or lime. The Cocktail Sauce referred to here is a pink colored Mayo-based sauce similar to Thousand Island, it consists of Mayonnaise and Ketchup. I think this has a really good shot and winning, because Belgium tends to gravitate to the home grown flavors. Last year's winner was "Bicky Crisp" a local hamburger, and Netherland's Battle Champion 2 years ago was "Patatje Joppie", a bag flavored like a popular local dipping sauce called Joppiesaus. If "Cocktail Andaluz" strikes a cord with the locals, it could take home the gold.

"New York Hotdog" is pretty straight forward... and yet as obvious as it seems, I can't believe no one has sold this flavor before (at least not in recent memory). The Hotdog lover here is Pierre, who found these in NYC during his world travels and loved them enough to ask Lay's to make them into a chip. This bag will have a bit of complexity to it, as it isn't JUST the Smoky Meat flavor being recreated, but the Ketchup, Mustard, and Caramalized Onions as well. This may also pull at the stomachs of "Bicky Crisp" lovers from last year... "Bicky Crisp" offered the flavor of a fully dressed up Burger, and that could cross over to Hotdog love.

Lastly we have Tim's "Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs", which are described as having the sweetness of Honey, the smokyness of Meat, and the char of the Grill; evoking Summer BBQ in a bag. I am always a BBQ hater. I just don't get excited about BBQ flavors.  But, Tim's got a good shot at winning this too. Exhibit A. Belgium loves Barbeque. The standard range not only comes with a "Barbeque" flavor, but also a "Barbeque Ham" flavor. Barbeque can also be found in their 'Deep Ridged', 'Super Chips', and 'The Oven' collections.  Exhibit B. Netherlands crowned "Spicy Reggae Chicken" as their latest champion; this was another sauced-up meat flavor. So it is possible Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs can win this year. (On the other hand, who needs 3 BBQ flavors in a range? But I'm trying to be nice)

So who are you voting for? These bags are available now, so let the hunt begin!

(And speaking of hunting, is it just me, or are all of the finalists really good looking? Sheesh, is this what all the men in Belgium look like?... Who needs a Green Card?!)

 

Contest: Lay's Belgium Maak Je Smaak 2013 Semi-Finalists

Lay's Belgium has announced the 5 Semi-Finalists in their 2013 Maak Je Smaak: The Battle contest. As you may remember, Lay's Belgium's winner from last year; "Bicky Crisp", a popular local Hamburger, has gone on to join the permanent collection of crisps and a new "Make the Flavor" winner will be selected to take the title.
The 5 flavors up for selection this year are "Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs", "Cocktail Andaluz", "Mexican Chilli and Cheddar", "Cream Cheese Garlic and Herbs", and "New York Hotdog".
So what do you guys think? Are any of these worthy successors to "Bicky Crisp"? And does Belgium even need a "Honey Glazed BBQ Ribs" flavor when they already have "Barbecue"? Or is that one a throw away? What do you think a "New York Hotdog" chip tastes like? Cuz it sounds DELICIOUS.
AND...Most importantly... what on earth is a Cocktail Andaluz?? Is it a drink? I need to know!

I don't know if these are available for purchase or are just up for a vote, so keep your eyes peeled for info. But the winning bag will definitely be available eventually to hunt down.

UPDATE: These were just up for a vote, 2 Finalists will be produced and released in stores in Early October.

Gotta Get At This: Lay's España Mostaza y Miel

I love the packaging on this bag. It makes me want to lick my screen.
Here's a special edition bag coming from Spain, the brand new "Sabor a Mostaza y Miel" or "Mustard and Honey Flavor" (or "Honey Mustard", if you want to be a know it all).
I don't know how long this will be on shelves, but it doesn't sound long, as Lay's Spain is directing their customers to get it asap. The flavor is something we have easy access to here in the states, but I would venture to say the Spanish version tastes a bit different.
So, if I can track it down, I will make it mine!
Fact.