NSFM2012 - Days 9-14
Featured snacks:
Sizzlin’ Hot Cheesy Corn, Cool Ranch Crunchy Kurls, Sizzlin’ Hot Salt n’ Sour Potato Chips, Hot n’ Spicy Corn Chips, Jalapeno Nuggets, Kosher Dill Pickle Potato Chips
Rating: Midterm Report Cards
Review:
Well, it has been a busy week but I’ve managed to spend some of it with an array of Vitner’s-produced snacks (and some pals). Here’s the blow-by-blow:
Day 9 - Sizzlin’ Hot Cheesy Corn - Pretty darn hot. Not really what I’m looking for in a popcorn. The graphic featuring the Vitner’s mascot (a righteous bag of chips named Vinnie) with flames coming out of his trademark saxophone was some comfort however. Grade: B
Day 10 - Sizzlin’ Hot Salt n’ Sour Potato Chips - These were easily the highlight of the week. A trusted and dear snacking friend (whaddup Snackmaster!) has, for a long time, claimed this product to be the hidden jewel of the Vitner’s line and I have to say, after my terribly un-scientific survey, I agree with her. Based on the other “Sizzlin’ Hot” varietals, you might think these would be too hot, or even too busy with all of the artificial flavorings going on. Wrong. They are a beautiful balance of hot and sour - along-celebrated flavor combination. They come across as sophisticated and satisfying as any snack on the market. Score one for Chicago. Grade: A+
Day 11 - Cool Ranch flavored Crunchy Kurls - These were aptly described by a snacking compatriot as “Menthol Cheetos”. Enough said. (h/t CL and RT) Grade: C
Day 12 - Hot and Spicy Corn Chips - Straightforward and predictable. I suspect these are meant to fill the rather inexplicable gap in the Frito-Lay “Flamin’ Hot” line (more on that here). I find, as I suspect many snackers do, the corn chip to be a little too dense of a delivery system for such an intense flavor. Too hot for little ol’ me. Grade: C
Day 13 - Jalapeno Nuggets - These were another very pleasant surprise. They are not exactly what they appear to be - which is smaller pieces of the Cheetos-like “Crunchy Kurls”. They have instead the unusual consistency unique to dehydrated or freeze-dried products (the “marshmallows” that are the raison-d’etre of Lucky Charms come to mind). Combine the outside-of-the-box texture with the left-field charm of the jalapeno flavoring and you’ve got a snack that really brings something new to the table. Fortunately, they come in a very small dosage (imagine a sleeve of peanuts) as I’m sure their novelty would lose its appeal through an amount usually associated with mass-market snacks. Grade: A -
Day 14 - Kosher Dill Pickle Potato Chips - Rejoice. Frito-lay does not distribute a pickle-flavored potato chip nationally so it is up to regional brands to pick up the slack on one of the most indispensable treats for discerning snackers. I’m happy to report that Vitner’s, while not quite as complexly flavored Louisiana-based Zapp’s (or even as texturally satisfying as the formerly Chicago-based Jay’s boutique line Krunchers) still do a fine job of bringing the goods. I’ll give it a solid B+
Thanks for reading and
Happy Snacking,
Seth
