http://blog.shadyproject.net/articles/tag/chips?tag=chips en-us 40 Stuff. And Things. <p> We have been royally gypped when it comes to chip flavors. In Thailand, the Lays company makes some of the most astounding flavors of potato chip possible. These include, but as far as I can tell may not be limited to: <ul> <li>Nori Seaweed</li> <li>Spicy Seafood</li> <li>Seafood Mayonnaise</li> <li>Barbecue Sparerib</li> <li>Bacon and Cheese</li> <li>Cheese and Onion</li> <li>Sweet Basil</li> <li>Thai Chili Paste</li> <li>Korean Pork Bulgogi</li> </ul> Okay, so, the first two I can understand not bringing stateside. But cheese and bacon? I mean, is there anything that americans love more then that combination? Maybe guns? I dunno. </p> <p> We'll start with the flavors that don't disappoint:<br> Bacon and cheese tastes like, well, bacon. And cheese. Delicious, and nutritious. Well, at least as nutritious as bacon and cheese flavored potato chips are capable of being. The barbecue sparerib flavor is not, as I initially reckoned, the same as the barbecue flavor we have in the U.S. You can actually taste a hint of meat and barbecue in the chips, thus making them actually worthy of the name. The nori seaweed flavor (which I am eating as I write this) taste like a regular potato chip, with a hint of seaweed. Obvious, one might say. However, these chips are the pinnacle of seaweed-as-snack. I've tried the plain old seaweed strips, and they're okay but a bit over powering. Seaweed crackers are nice, but lack some of the punch of seaweed flavor. These chips strike the perfect balance. Seaweed flavor, and potato chip. In harmony. I wonder if I can ship these stateside in bulk... </p> <p> Now, on to the flavors that, while delicious, really don't live up to their full potential:<br> Korean Pork Bulgogi tastes nothing like real bulgogi. It pretty much tastes like barbecue, with a hint of a spicy aftertaste. The same can be said of the Sweet Basil flavor; simply replace spicy aftertaste, with sweet aftertaste. Spicy seafood is an odd one. It's definitely different then the sweet basil and bulgogi flavors, but it's still not much different then a standard barbecue chip. Shrimp crackers taste more like seafood then spicy seafood chips do. They're not even particularly spicy. </p> <p> I haven't had the chance to try the thai chili paste or seafood mayonnaise flavors yet, but I will be sure to record my observations on them for posterity. </p> <p>Shadyproject. Where only the most important issues are ever discussed.</p> Sun, 27 May 2007 20:33:00 -0700 urn:uuid:a740109a-4f9a-4c20-8324-1cc2570252e9 Shady http://blog.shadyproject.net/articles/2007/05/27/my-fellow-americans Travel Thailand food thailand chips crisps