A Blog About Crisps

Packet #61 King Gold Standard Traditional Salt & Malt Vinegar

2012-02-24T21:10:00.000Z

I was hungover. A very Dublin, hangover. Many pints of Guinness had me in need of fixing, and I decided the only rational way to solve the problem was to eat a bag of crisps. So I did, and I ate a very Dublin style crisp. King Gold Standard Traditional Salt and Malt Vinegar (feat. Leo Burdock's).

So I sat down and ate. Opened the bag and had a good whiff, I have now decided that smelling your crisps before you eat them is acceptable. The smell was good. And off i went, the only word that's adequate for my style was scoffing. Pure scoffing. But was it a good scoff? (excellent question) They were simply outstanding, the flavour was punchy and exciting, and the texture was luxurious. An amazing crisp, infact they are an outstanding crisp and, if I may be so bold, they are the nicest Salt and Vinegar crisp I've ever tasted.

King Gold Standard Traditional Salt and Malt Vinegar (feat. Leo Burdock's) are a great bag. It's like when Queen and David Bowie got together to release Under Pressure, the results were outstanding and highly entertaining. But we're talking crisps, and the results were outstanding, highly entertaining and delicious. And by that reasoning these crisps are better then Queen. Although in fairness, no one ever tried to eat Freddie Mercury. Did they?

Mark.

Packet #60 - Mackie's Crispy Bacon

2012-02-16T17:01:00.000Z

Eating afew hours before dinner time is risky. You'll ruin your dinner. But when you are a perfectly sensible adult you can also choose what time your dinner is at on any given day, it's great being an adult. So yes, I had crisps only 90 minutes before regulation dinner time but it's grand I'll just adjust my eating plans accordingly, no big deal. I mightn't even have a dinner! (I'll have a dinner)

Bacon flavour crisps - Mackie's of Scotland Crispy Bacon flavour crisps no less. They came in a big bag, so I thought it best to share them (Deano was playing FIFA). I popped my serving in a bowl and ate away. Mackies teamed up with some lads called Taypack who know a lot about tatties (Scottish slang for spuds which is Irish slang for potatoes) and Mackies know alot about flavour. The combination works very well indeed, you have a regulation smokey bacon style flavour with an added bit of mild spice thrown in for good measure! The crisp itself is a beautiful heavy texture, not too greasy either which is great. Overall a highly delicious bag, and because I ate responsibly I have plenty of room left for dinner.

Result!

Mark

Packet #59 - King Gold Standard Vintage Cheddar Cheese and Spring Onion

2012-02-06T19:49:00.001Z

The bag is gold. The brand is King. And the name is enough to get a crisp lover in the tizziest tizzy a crisp fan could ever tizzle - Gold Standard Vintage Cheddar Cheese and Spring Onion. A far way from the humble Cheese and Onion flavour in a lovely red bag, innit?

It's quite the statement to make, and rarely does a crisp induce such excitement before the bag is opened. So enough razzle dazzle and fancy bags, crisps are what's important here not bags. Although a blog about bags might have an audience.

The crisps! One of the first things you'll notice is the colour, very bright, in fact the crisps are golden, which might of given rise to the name. And with the texture you do get that heavy texture that you'd associate with the premium crisps that you might purchase in a up market off-licence. But taste is what makes a crisp is it not? And these lads are full of it, bouncy cheddar cheese (from Wexford of all places) and a nice onion balance give you a sense that these crisps mean some serious business. But are they better then the regular King C&O (cheese and onion) I'm going to say no. BUT! It would take an amazing crisp to trump such an icon of the crisp aisle and these King's come fairly close.

Fair play King, keep up the work.

Mark.

Packet #58 - Tesco Bacon Rashers

2012-01-22T21:25:00.000Z

Sunday night and snacks are neccessary. It's the perfect time for some crisps, but what kind. Rasher flavour? Bacon flavour? It's too hard to choose! Luckily Tesco have decided that there is no point in having to make such tough decisions and have made Bacon Rashers (see pic).

Basically, Bacon Rashers are Bacon Fries but are called Bacon Rashers and are cheaper (79c, I think) and come in a massive bag. First thing I noticed was the smell, it's a strange one. So strange that the other people in the room also noticed the odour, Deano deemed it to be a 'funky' smell, that's the perfect adjective. Initially it [the smell] is a little off putting. Taste wise they have a lovely bacon intensity about them, a very deep woody taste that leaves a lovely smokey tang on the palette post eat. I reckon they are a fantastic alternative to the more famous Bacon Fry and the fact they come in big bags mean that they'd be perfect for entertaining guests during a party scenario - stick 'em in a bowl, maybe?

Well done Tesco, you've done a sterling job.

Mark.

Packet #57 - Walkers Meaty Flavour Potato Crisps

2012-01-19T15:52:00.000Z

January can be a tough month. Everyone is broke after Christmas and everywhere you look people are throwing health and fitness in your face. Well here at the blog we’ve a top tip, instead of spending money on expensive olive oil or rapeseed oil why not use crisps as a healthy, cheap alternative. Anyway enough of the health tips, on to the positives of January. Crisps. New crisps. Walkers to be precise. They’re called What’s the flavour? Walkers have launched three new flavours and are asking people to guess what they are. The particular bag I tried was covered in question marks and known only as Meaty Flavour Potato Crisps. Exciting!

So the blogs first bag of mystery crisps had me puzzled for a while. Lots of tantalising flavours were flying about filling my nostrils with strong meaty type spiciness. At first it was a familiar flavour, one which I knew I had tried before but exactly what that flavour was escaped me. I was thinking spicy chicken or some kind of meat ravaged pizza. Whatever it was I liked it. They’re kind of sweet but with a little kick of spice and that elusive mystery meat... The texture and crunch of the crisps are much the same as previous Walkers which works well for a nice post lunch munch and will please consistency lovers.

Overall a very enjoyable experience. I liked the fact the packet was plain with just a sticker on it with a few mysterious question marks. If it were me I'd release crisps in bags like these all the time. Every time you went to buy crisps it would be a massive lucky dip! Watch out marketing teams of the world. Anywho I look forward to trying the other flavours Walkers have on offer when they're out (Mark ate the other two).

Deano.

P.S. I figured out what they remind me of, Hunky Dory Buffalo Flavour.

Packet #56 - Keogh's Dubliner Irish Cheese & Onion

2011-12-16T15:29:00.000Z

We're a Crisp Blog. A Crisp Blog from Ireland - Dublin - Northside. And we've tasted crisps from all around the world Poland being the farthest flung location (I think). And we've tasted all sorts, Haggis? But it's not all about exotic locations and looney flavours. Home is where the heart is n'all that, so when a pal of mine gave me a bag of crisps from North County Dublin with the instructions "eat these, they're delicious" what was I meant to do! [eat them]

So I did [eat them] this very afternoon while enjoying Only Fools & Horses on the telly - a random episode on BBC 1, it must be some Christmas scheduling of some sort. So it seemed the stars had aligned, one of my favourite comedies on the box and local crisps in my hand. Nothing could go wrong! Or could it?

As Del boy tried to figure out how to get gold chains back from some dodgy bloke, I began eating. And it was a tasty eat. The flavours were big, bold, brash and an awesome experience from the start. Keogh's haven't backed away from the cheese and onion standard in fact they have embraced it and made the old combination even more enthralling. The crisps themselves (I'm reliably informed from the back of the back) were from a field called "Sheepshill" the variety: Lady Rose and had been cooked by: Tom. I don't know where that field is, definitely don't know what variety of potatoe Lady Rose are and have know idea who Tom is, but I do know at least two people called Tom. But I'd be mightily impressed if one of them had cooked these - super crisps!

Mark

Packet #55 Perri Thai Rings

2011-11-28T23:20:00.000Z

On my last trip to the cinema I decided to grab a couple of different bags of crisps to munch on. Partly so I could review them and partly because I don't really like popcorn. I decided to go for a larger than normal bag which Perri seem to sell all of their rings in these days. Perri offer a nice choice of rings with Onion, Thai and Spicy all available in most shops. I plumped for Thai as they were recommended to me months ago.

As I sank into my home for the next 102mins I joined in the rustling of packets to pop open my oriental flavoured delights. A nice sweet smell greeted me as the cartoon phones reminded the audience to switch off their phones. Each bite provided a strong Perri crunch as I noisily added my own sound affects to George Clooney's latest offering. However they were not as flavoursome as the earlier signs had promised. A slight hint of spice and then a veering off into mushy goodness.

A grand snack for the cinema but not one I would be searching for if I was in a rush. Having said that I will definitely be trying the Onion and Spicy Rings some time in the future. In summary picking rings out of my teeth was much more enjoyable than picking kernels.

Deano.

Packet #54 - Wotsits

2011-11-16T17:49:00.000Z

This very day I perused the crisp aisle of an up market supermarket looking for something special. In Ireland for some very strange reason Wotsits aren't as readily available as they are over in the UK. So when I saw a six pack of Wotsits I was simply delighted, so then, I bought them and cycled home.

Settling down with a sausage sambo, Sky Sports News and a pack of Wotsits I felt a sense of Buddha like zen, everything at that point was in place and I was happy. And yet, I had to remain calm, I hadn't Wotsits in ages - what if they'd changed? What if, because they are now 95 calories they'd lost some sort of deliciousness that only extra calories can give?

Post sambo, I opened the bag. And had a peek in, not as many as I would like but then again it was part of a multi-pack (of six) so that's allowed, I suppose. And so I began to gobble. Every curvey cylindrical Wotsit held the flavour very well, the flavour being cheese. Very strong cheese, nothing like any real cheese I've ever had. And yet, this simple cheese flavour is amazing, it could be said that it's even better then actual cheese. I munched and munched enjoying the bag so much I didn't even notice that Georgie Thompson was on the box - now that's the sign of a proper crisp.

Mark

Packet #53 Tyrrell's Worcester Sauce & Sundried Tomato

2011-10-28T17:16:00.000+01:00

It's Tuesday, it's lunch time you've managed to avoid being flooded but you're still freezing cold and starving. What to do? Buy a massive bag (150g) of crisps of course. That's the easy part. The hard part is choosing which crisps to buy. I've found myself going for the usual staples recently, King, Might Munch, Meanies. All fine choices but not very helpful when you're trying to review every crisp in the land. So I found myself in a fancy supermarket and became indecisively engrossed in the selection of crisps, that was until my eye caught the bright orange pack of Tyrrell's Worcester Sauce & Sundried Tomato. Decision made.

A massive bag means massive crisps. The majority here were in tact and provided a good mouthful. I even plucked out a bunch of crisps which were trapped together by one monster crisp.The crunch, the flavour, the sensation. Amazing. Tyrrell's have made the decision to leave the jackets on while they hand cook their crisps, this adds an extra bite to the crunchiness. The crunch is strong and firm leaving you with the option to eat the pack crisp by crisp if you so wish. This pack however is all about the flavour. The sweetness of the sundried tomatoes blends brilliantly with the sharpness of the Worcester sauce. The subtle hints of pepper and spice draw you back in for more of the sweet tangy tomato.

Overall a delightful experience and a fine choice of snack for any time of the day. You can see at the end of the pack it says 'excellent with a chunk of cheddar.' I didn't try that but I was thinking how good it would be as I devoured the bag. I'm really looking forward to trying some of their ten other flavours and three different types of vegetable crisps. Well done Tyrrell's, England's greatest export since John Aldridge.

Deano.

Packet #52 - Mc Coy's Salted

2011-10-18T17:45:00.000+01:00

Sandwiches, like crisps, are a highly important aspect of any diet. A crisp sandwich is obviously a treat you can rarely pass up. But on occasion crisps serve as an accompaniment to a nice sandwich. As I rushed out the door this very morning I was faced with a difficult task. I had a multi-pack of Mc Coy's staring back containing three flavours - C&O (cheese and onion), S&V (salt and vinegar) and of course - ready salted. I opted for ready salted as I thought, as a side dish to my packed lunch they'd be perfect. The Peter Taylor to a Brian Clough, if you will. Or the Nigel Barker to a Tyra Banks.

As it was a multi-pack there wasn't the regulation amount of crisps available, that's okay I paid €3 for twelve bags of crisps, overall I win. The crisps themselves were well packaged in sturdy foil, keeping the crisps inside nice and fresh. The flavour, if I'm honest, wasn't up to much. Although getting the balance right when it comes to Ready Salted is quite difficult - too salty, horrible, too little, well just a bit bland. The latter was the choice that came to mind with these lads, not up to much in the tickling taste buds department. But with ready salted that's not necessarily such a bad thing. The texture of the crisps were fantastic though, nice and thick, full of spud like goodness.

Overall I'd say they're an adequate crisp. Would I buy them on their own? No. Will they be the last flavour left in the multi-pack? Yes.

Mark

Packet #51 - Monoprix Crackets - Goût Cacahuète

2011-10-13T11:33:00.000+01:00

Hello cripsisseurs. After a brief jaunt to France I am bringing you a rare foreign report.

France

is not known for its crisps. Yes the cousin of the potato crisp, the French fry, bears the nations name but I have been reliably informed that the Belgians invented these thin chips and the French stole it. Or perhaps they were rebranded because “Belgian Fries” sounds weird and boring. So how would this nation of gourmands fair when it comes to a snack of the salted variety?

I was gagging for a bag of msg laden goodness after excessive consumption of salad the previous night. I stumbled upon a “Monoprix” supermarket and grabbed a packet of their own-brand “Crackets”. I didn’t know what flavour or type of crisp they were at the time but, Google Translate has since informed me that they are peanut flavour and that they are crispy. Two things I worked out pretty fast. Underneath it bizarrely says they are “for the evening light with pirouettes” (or maybe Google Translate failed me on that occasion). I ate them walking down the street in the late morning.

Crackets have a slightly sticky and crunchy texture. Definitely not organic, hand-crafted fair here. The flavour was unknown to me and the closest thing I can compare it to, is peanut butter. After an initial cautious first few, I found myself loving these odd shaped delights. So much so, I am not ashamed to say, that I consumed all 90 grammes and didn’t share one with the homeless looking hippy who asked for a handful. These are definitely a case of strange but strangely addictive.

Rory.

Packet #50 - Hula Hoops - Original

2011-10-04T17:41:00.000+01:00

The Hula Hoop has been sampled twice before by the seasoned crisp eaters who run this exquisite blog. "Very intense" they said about the BBQ Beef flavour, "ok" they said about the Salt and Vinegar variety, but what of the classic (and some would say most popular) red bag?

First we have to get something out of the way. Hula Hoops have a distinct advantage over other crisps, and that is that you can put one on each finger and wave your hands around pretending that you're partially made up of potatoey goodness. But, in this, my first crisp review, I'm going to try not to be distracted by the aesthetic and focus on flavour and texture.

Flavour: It's good, but not great. I know there are those who enjoy the standard ready salted flavour, which these deliver, but frankly I'm looking for a little bit more. Having said that, if you are having these as an accompaniment to a sandwich or something, they lend themselves to almost any combination of flavours (cheese/chicken/ham/egg mayo, not so great with jam though). In summary, solid salty flavour, so if that's what you want you're in luck.

Texture: This is where the Hula Hoop comes into it's own as far as I'm concerned. You can sense the potato, the denseness means you get a proper chew, and if you want to you can even suck them for a while until they get soggy then mush them up with your teeth (or maybe that's just me).

The Original Hula Hoop is a solid crisp, fantastic for filling you up when you're hungry and adaptable which makes them a good accompaniment to many other things. Perhaps this is why it's so many people's favourite. I think they're hard to beat on texture, but I'd like a bit more excitement in terms of flavour.

Louise

Packet #49 - Mackie's Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper

2011-09-20T23:22:00.000+01:00

The joys of writing a crisp blog. Firstly, we get to eat as many crisps as we want, whenever we want. Secondly, we get sent crisps from exotic places such as Scotland and Cambridgeshire. This particular selection came to us thanks to fellow crisp lover Rónán and his travels to Scotland.

This is the first time I've tried any of the Mackie's brand. They made their name as an ice cream manufacturer after generations of dairy farming at Westertown farm. Now calm down. I can hear you screaming, "What the hell are they doing making crisps!?" It's OK though Mackie's have teamed up with potato producers Taypack in attempt to make “the perfect Scottish crisp”.

Anyway enough of the history lesson, onto the crisps. I was impressed that they were all in tact as the pack had been posted to me. There was a strong meaty smell arising from the package and I couldn't wait to get stuck in. The first flavour to hit was a powerful peppery punch. The more I munched the more flavours came through finally leaving a spicy white pudding like flavour tingling my taste buds. They were good and crunchy which enhanced the intensity of the delicious spicy meatiness. Having these delights wrapped up in a strong wax like paper ensured that the crisps were kept fresh for my consumption.

Mackie's use the tag line... taste one and the rest just disappear! Well that didn't quite happen. It was a big 150g bag and even though I was sharing with a friend it was still too much. Still a delicious treat and I'd love to try some of there other flavours, namely Flamegrilled Aberdeen Angus and Scotch Bonnet Chilli Pepper. The one flavour I would like to see Mackie's try, seen as it's their history, is ice cream. That would truly make them the perfect Scottish crisp. Get on it Mac!

Deano.

Competition Time!

2011-09-15T18:44:00.000+01:00

When you arrive at this blog, do you think "yes! I love crisps! But these guys don't know nothing about them." Well you have some attitude, but now is your chance to set the record straight! We want you to review your favourite packet of crisps! Send in your review and a pic of the pack to ablogaboutcrisps@gmail.com the winner will be notified via an electronic mail and published next week! So get munching and get writing! One thing though, make sure we haven't reviewed them already!

Mark & Deano

Packet #48 - McCoy's Bacon Sizzler

2011-09-15T16:31:00.000+01:00

Rashers. Rasher sandwiches. Not Irish? Bacon. Bacon sandwiches. These things are absolutely delicious, however the only thing that could possibly be nicer than a Rasher sambo are Rasher Crisps. Or Bacon Crisps if you will.

It seems McCoy's agree, and therefore came up with the plan of making Bacon Sizzlers. They're not the first crisp company to attempt a bacon flavoured crisp and hopefully not the last. But are they any good? Are they better then their main rivals in this particular genre? Packet #32

Well yesterday I attempted to find out. I got the pack from a vending machine, I was starving, so the part where the machine begins to "vend" as it were, was particularly nerve racking. Fortunately for me, this was a class machine and the crisps arrived promptly. And off I went.

There was plenty of crisps in the bag which is always a sign of confidence. The crisps were all of a decent size something you'd come to expect from McCoy's. On the back the packet ensures you that because they are "Ridged" crisps the hold the flavour better, this particular claim may have no scientific grounding but it seems to work all the same as each crisp was jammed with a nice smokey flavour. The whole experience left me highly satisfied, I even shared some with friends one of which was so happy with them, he went and bought a packet himself (90c fyi). The only thing I would say though, is that my fingers were left with a bacon scent to them for the rest of the day. Not necessarily a bad thing though, in fairness.

Are they better then Hunky Dory's Smokey Bacon? I'm going to say yes.

Mark.

Packet #47 - Meanies Hot & Spicy

2011-09-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

When perfection is achieved, why change what you've been doing? Many crisp companies are constantly trying to tweak and change the flavour of their crisps to enhance it. Often when the pack in question is quite fine just the way it is. The same goes for bringing out new and EXCLUSIVE flavours. These new flavours are always going to be compared to what has come before. ALWAYS. That's why I was skeptical, worried even, when purchasing this latest pack of Meanies, Hot & Spicy.

Meanies are probably my favourite anytime crisps. So automatically I was going to be extra harsh on the new boys. However, as Peter Falk would have put it, there was just one more thing, they were absolutely DELICIOUS! I've ranted before how crisps mascaraed as hot & spicy so now I'm going to focus on the positive. The balance between the hot and the spice was perfect, it allows a nice flame like sensation to develop in your mouth as you contemplate shoving the next handful of deliciousness into your mouth. The heavy crunch and corny texture we all know and love from the pickled onion bunch carries through here to add even more delight to the pack.

I'm not sure what else I can say. I'm delighted with Meanies Hot & Spicy. So delighted in fact I think I'll go out and buy enough boxes of them to make a new bed for myself. And yes, I will be making bed covers out of the empty packs.

Deano.

Packet #46 - Corkers Sea Salt & Black Pepper

2011-09-03T17:36:00.000+01:00

Sneaking things out of pubs is great fun. Last night I successfully smuggled a fancy mojito onto the street. As I swayed towards the Nitelink I couldn't help but feel I had achieved some sort master stroke, a drunk Robin Hood or something.

This morning however I thought otherwise and the only thing that could possibly make me feel better? Crisps, of course! I came across a pack that had been lying around the house for some time, Corkers! Sea Salt & Black Pepper Flavour. They promise a 'Natural British Crunch' I'm not sure what an un-natural British Crunch is, but it's not here and Corkers seem delighted with that fact.

It's rare to come across black pepper flavoured crisps, usually in posh places that sell all sorts of home-made organic stuff. But let's not dwell on poshness, it's all about the crisps. And there are plenty of crisps inside the bag (which is a lovely bag btw - it provides a great weight). The crisps vary in size which is also nice and the flavour is epic, quite spicy overall. Before chilli's and jalapeno's came about pepper was the defacto spice monger in town, and so it carries on in these lads. A great bag of delights, texture wise it's quite heavy but once you get over that you'll be guaranteed some tasty treats! Also, they're from 'East Anglia' - I don't even know where that is.

Mark.

Packet #45 - O'Donnells - Sweet Chilli Flavour

2011-07-21T16:29:00.000+01:00

A tip to begin with. While on the way to work, think ahead. Think ahead to circa 11 O'Clock when you're starving. What can you do? The answers is, buy a bag of crisps mid commute. Which is exactly what I did only days ago. The crisps I went for were O'Donnells Sweet Chilli Flavour.

These are the newest addition to the O'Donnells family and is something of a left of field choice. After the two other flavours in the O'Donnells stable (Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar) I was quite surprised to see this bright green packet staring back at me. A lovely shade of green it is too.

I gave them a little smell to begin with (is that unusual?) all smelled well. A nice blend of sweetness and erm, crisps. Then I went for it. It was 11 O'Clock, which is scientifically proven to one of the hungriest times during working hours. I went for it with amazing gusto, three/four crisps at a time making plenty of munch noises. The crisps were great, fairly heavy and alot of crunch. Flavour wise initially I was a bit put off from the 'sweetness' of them but then a lovely mild chilli kick comes into play, it's like waking up with a hangover but finding a fiver in your jeans from the night before. Initially worrying but then brilliant.

The recipe for this sweet chilli 'kick' as they call it on the packet comes from The Scullery restaurant in Tipperary. They describe it as "blending red chillies together with a secret blend of exotic spices". Whatever way you put it O'Donnells Sweet Chilli Flavour crisps are absolutely grand.

Mark.

Congrats To Our Competition Winner!

2011-07-19T17:13:00.000+01:00

We've had some great times on the blog over the last few months. We've also had some low points - Packet #34 I'm looking at you.

But one of the clear highlights was our 200th Twitter follower! Mr. Rory Conolly! He could have had any packet of crisps he wanted! And he chose King Cheese & Onion (Luxury) a man of fine taste, I think we can all agree.
Not only that, we packed him off to Berlin too! The picture to the left shows Rory next to The Reichstag, no less! A serious place to have some serious Crisps.

You too can get in on this Crisp action by following us on Twitter! If you don't Tweet, give us a 'like' on Facebook.

Mark & Deano.

Packet #44 Estrella Crusty Pizza

2011-07-18T21:55:00.000+01:00

Firstly, a big apology from myself and Mark for the lack of crisp related activity. It's summer (kind of) and holidays have been getting in the way of our writing. But don't worry just because we've been on holiday doesn't mean we haven't been stuffing our faces with delicious delights from the continent. First up we've got a selection made in Sweden, purchased in Bulgaria (thanks Clembini) and eaten on Inis Meain.

This was a massive bag of crisps so good thing there was a lot of us tucking in. There was a slight whiff of sweet tomato from the bag and the crisps seemed as though they were lightly fried. They tasted a lot like the mini pizzas you'd get as a kid. It's good that they slightly resembled pizza but left an after taste that was a bit tangy. I countered this with some cold beer, which seemed to work. There was a light flaky crunch to the crisp which did actually work well with the flavour.

Even though they weren't' the best crisps in the world, the bag was of course finished. I'm eager to try some more from the Estrella brand, especially the fragrant dill flavour. Keep your peepers peeping.

Deano.

Packet #43 Jonnie Onion Rings

2011-06-29T23:51:00.000+01:00

So it's the day after the first day of a festival and you're dying. There's a long day ahead of you, what do you do? Go to the shop and buy several packs of crisps of course! So on the way to the bus I stopped in and decided to put Jonnie and his Onion Rings to the test.

There is a lovely aroma as soon as you open the bag and I noticed a good helping of onion rings too. I got stuck in, not letting the strange orange colour put me off. The flavour is a delightful sweet fried onion that gets stronger with each munch, which turned out to be a good thing this particular morning. There was a good crunch from each ring and not too much sticking to the back of my teeth. Another positive that morning.

There are many onion ring style crisps on the market and Jonnie has his boys right up there with the best of them. Overall a very pleasant experience. One which carried me through the day with a skip in my step and a stink in my breath.

Deano.

Packet #42 - King Salt & Vinegar

2011-06-25T15:29:00.000+01:00

King Salt And Vinegarare (sorry about this) crisp royalty here in the Emerald Isle. I’m not too surewhy we love them but we do. Looking at the packet I think it’s down to the King himself. His zen like calm on the front ensures each consumer thatthey’re in safe hands. If it’s good enough for the King then surely it’s goodenough for us.

When I was a lad, saltand vinegar were by far the worst crisp flavour available and I would onlyconsider eating them after I was absolutely, 100% sure there were no otherflavours left in the multi-pack from the Saturday shop.

Now I’m older, mytaste-buds if not necessarily me, have matured. And Salt and Vinegar are upthere with the top flavours. Here’s a tip if you’re out on a hot date (in thepub) buy some Salt and Vinegar, it’ll show that you’re willing to take risksand a free thinker! Cheese and Onion are a bit predictable, I’d imagine thatMr. King went down this route while trying to impress the prospective Mrs.King.

Now! To the crisp! KingSalt and Vinegar are an epic eat. They really do live up to all expectations,jammed full of all the goodness you’d want. Every crisp has the same balance offlavour, King haven’t tried to hide these fantastic flavours. The bag I boughtwas jammed full of crisps too, something which should be applauded, you couldeven think about sharing them. But in fairness, maybe that’s more of a seconddate thing.

King Salt and Vinegarare an absolute must for any crisp lover! Are they the best S&V crisps inthe world? Quite possibly.

Mark.

Happy Crispmas!!!!

2011-06-25T15:20:00.000+01:00

My oh my, is it that time of year again!? Where does the year go eh? Today, the 25th of June is Crispmas Day for those of you who didn't know. So to celebrate go and buy your nearest and dearest your favourite bag of crisps, it couldn't be easier.

All the old Crispmas Day favourites are on the box, Wimbeldon, Glasto, they never get old do they! So settle back with the family and have a really peaceful day.

Go easy on the Cheese and Onion!!

Mark and Deano.

Packet #41 - KP Mini Chips Salt & Vinegar

2011-06-17T16:44:00.000+01:00

Choosing a bag of crisps is difficult when you're undecided. Especially when you're in a shop that doesn't really have that much of a choice, I wanted something I hadn't had before and so I opted for KP Mini Chips. Chips? We aren't in America, so what are KP up to? Trying to convert us? No, KP have thought of an ingenious plan, they're like a bag chipper chips, but they're crisps! Smart? Let's find out.

The bag itself is smaller than other bags on offer, something I was immediately dubious about. Surely a bag this small couldn't contain anything worth talking about. Oh, that's where I was wrong. Opening the bag up you're confronted by loads (possibly close to one hundred) tiny little crisp sticks. Think of 'crinkled' crisps, but the crisps are only the crinkles, understand? These tiny sticks vary in length, but are definitely packed salt and vinegar tastiness. If you're not a big fan of S&V I'd advise some caution, the flavour is big but still tastes natural, which is good.

Obvious comparisons will be made with Chip Sticks. Are they better than Chips Sticks? Not even near, but they're a little different. Chips Sticks are corn based whereas these are made from 'real potato' I've never seen a fake potato, but I'm sure they're about. All in all I don't think I'll be returning to KP Mini Chips, if I want Crisps like Chips I'll have Chips Sticks, they're way more fun. But if I want potato style Salt and Vinegar Crisps I'll have some King. And if I want something that's like a bag of chips, I'll get a bag of chips. Eating these I kept on thinking, what exactly are these crisps trying to achieve? Was I actually thinking that? No, I was actually thinking, who will I sign next in my Pro Evolution Master League.

Mark

Packet #40 - Monster Munch Flamin' Hot

2011-06-10T12:15:00.000+01:00

Whoa whoa whoa, don't throw that! Watch my head please. I know we Irish love to have a good debate about what happened Monster Munch and why we now have Mighty Munch. Well I'm not going to go into that here, you'll have to attend our next seminar for that nugget (generally held when we're eating crisps).

On to the crisps. Flamin' Hot, they say. At first munch they're not bad. Obviously you don't expect crisps to blow your head off like you've been eating handfuls of habaneros. But after a couple more you start to get a delicious spicy after taste in your mouth. Not many crisps can give you that. It's a wonderful sensation that will keep you coming back for more. You get a lovely, stick to the roof of your mouth, chunky crunch from each crisp. The kind which makes people in the cinema turn around and look at you. Which just adds to the delight.

I was surprised by how much I liked these Monster Munch and quite happily taken in by the marketing campaign of ~~new~~/OLD. But really I'm just glad Monster Munch have brought back the old monsters.

Deano.

Twitter & Facebook - INFORMATION

2011-06-08T16:49:00.000+01:00

If you REALLY love crisps. And want to stay up to date (sort of) with all the latest news from the ever changing world of Crisps follow us on Twitter or if that's not for you 'like' us on Facebook.

Yours faithfully,

Mark & Deano.

Packet #39 Tayto Snaps

2011-06-07T16:58:00.000+01:00

We get all sorts of requests to review crisps here in Crispland. So when I was out for a friends birthday it came as no surprise when he whipped out a pack of Snaps that his housemate wanted reviewed. Now some people might feel a bit of pressure when handed crisps and told they're delicious but we don't. We're well used to it at this stage and that's why we'll always give our honest opinion.

Tayto make some fine crisps and have recently introduced a range of crisps 100 calories and under. Snaps fall into this category and I don't think it does them any favour. They are competing in the pickled onion flavour market and it's always going to be hard to beat Meanies. They're not a bad crisp, they're grand. A good crunch you'd expect from Tayto but the flavour is weak compared to other pickled onion flavoured snacks.

A decent choice if you're looking for a low calorie option but if you want the full pickled onion treat there's bigger players in the market. Namely Meanies and Monster Munch.

Deano.

Packet #38 - Crunchies - Prawn Cocktail Flavour

2011-06-02T14:19:00.000+01:00

It was a cold day around three in the afternoon and I was on my way home. I needed something that would make my journey on the 78A (a dodgy bus) feel a bit more special. Although every journey on that particular route is always 'special'. Standing in the shop I opted for Crunchies, Prawn Cocktail flavour.

Apparently "Crunchies" are an old school crisp (can anyone confirm this?) but I'd never had them before, so I wasn't swayed by any child hood affiliations. I went to the top deck, up the very front of the bus (the safest place on the 78a) and began my munch.

When I think of Prawn Cocktail I immediately think of Skips, the only crisp I'm aware of that kind of has a "fizz" to it. So I was slightly dubious of Crunchies. But I'm pleased to report that I wasn't too disappointed. They're called Crunchies, but do they actually "Crunch?" Yes indeed they do. Do they honour the Prawn Cocktail flavour? Excellently. But, and I know this might sound little odd, considering they're crisps, they were a very dry crisp. And by the end of the packet I was pretty bored of the flavour, and very very thirsty, so thirsty in fact I considered asking one of my fellow passengers for a quick gulp of some their afternoon cider, but that would of been taking the 78a experience a little too far.

All things considered, Crunchies are fine, but they won't be taking the place of my Skips any time soon.

Mark

Packet #37 - Boxer Chips - Crackpot Pepper & Salty Salt

2011-05-27T14:24:00.000+01:00

Nothing I love more than being on a plane, will I have a beer with my lunch? Yes I will thank you very much, looking out the window is also a thrill that you should always appreciate. Humans aren't supposed to be up here! And yet here we are! Crisps aren't meant to come in boxes and yet, on Aerlingus (other flying companies are available) they do! Oh the wonders of aviation!

Browsing through my inflight menu, my attention was immediately drawn to "Boxerchips" I'd never even heard of these! So when the flight attendant asked me what I wanted, the answer was simple "Boxerchips Crackpot Pepper & Salty Salt please" a moment later and the box of wonder had arrived.

Opening them up was an absolute joy to behold, once the initial wrapping had come off you have a rather smart looking cardboard box to contend with. Unfold that and you have a small open box filled with crisps.

All this hoop-la better of been worth it you're thinking. Well you're quite right sir/madame it was! The flavour of the pepper is indeed "Crackpot" it's very strong and delicious, and the "Salty" salt, is salty! Combined they make for an absolute brilliant crisp! Plus your fellow passengers will look at you enviously as they munch away on their boring old ready salted Pringles. Note to fellow passengers "you're on your holidays - live a little!"

Overall Boxer Chips are an eating experience you won't forget in a hurry from taste to packaging everything is of top quality! Plus they're a new Irish crisp company so you're on to a winner there too! A great crisp.

Mark

Packet #36 - Crunchips - Kebab & Onion

2011-05-24T19:04:00.000+01:00

Travel broadens the mind is a common phrase that is used by many people throughout the world. I didn't want to forget that phrase as I traveled from Berlin to Poland recently. It was with this sense of abandon that I chose Kebab and Onion flavoured Crunchips. I bought them in a truck-stop type place, that was a little bit 'funky looking' to say the least.

I bailed back into the mini-van and ate away. I had a good smell before I began my new crisp experience. The smell was grand very similiar to any meat based snack. The individual crisps themselves were all fine. Taste wise, if I were to equate them to any crisps in the Irish market I would say they reminded me very much of McCoys Steak flavour, I reckon McCoys Steak 'Lite' would be more accurate though. Not quite as intense as McCoys but still fairly decent overall. Also it's worth mentioning that the bag they come in, is absolutely huge so it might be worth sharing them with a group of companions.

Honestly, I was expecting something a bit more unusual from a Kebab flavoured crisp, I wasn't exactly disappointed by the flavour it was just lacking that sense of excitement that the lovely packaging indicates.

Mark

Packet #35 - Cheesy Puffs

2011-05-22T14:17:00.000+01:00

It's Sunday. Your slightly hungover from your 15 rum and blacks and you ask yourself, "How will I ever get through this day?" Well us kind folk here in crispland have the answer. Cheesy Puffs.

I must admit that I was a bit wary buying own brand crisps. There's always the nagging feeling that they will be somewhat inferior. I took a big risk and bought a six pack. I was expecting a pungent cheesy whiff from the bag but it was actually quite pleasant. They are very similar to Chickatees in shape and texture and even have the same light crunch. That's where the similarities end however and the cheesy goodness takes over. The cheese flavour is strong, cheddary and addictive! It's hard to stop yourself eating them after just one crisp. There's something there that draws you back again and again until you find yourself licking the inside of the bag while getting strange looks from fellow humanoids.

In my opinion they are worth being declared temporarily insane for. You also get the bonus of picking delicious cheesy chunks out of your teeth for the rest of the day.

Deano.

Twitter & Facebook

2011-05-17T20:07:00.000+01:00

Hello. If you want to have A Blog About Crisps in your life even more! Follow us on Twitter here and Like us on Facebook right -----> here. Also check out old Mark talking about his love for crisps here.

Mark and Deano

Packet #34 - Frisps Ready Salted.

2011-05-17T19:31:00.000+01:00

Picture the scene crisp fan. I'm sitting in my favourite arm chair with only 20 minutes to go until the FA Cup Final kicks off! Sausage Sambo? Check! Bag of Crisps??? ........

That morning I had opted for a multi-pack of Frisps. All the regular flavours were in attendance, S&V, C&O and some Ready Salted. So when I was making my final decision on which pack to accompany my Sausage Sandwich I opted for Ready Salted. My theory was "Ready Salted are a nice neutral flavour and won't interfere too much with the Sausage Sandwich" I was really looking forward to the Sandwich.

So decision made and off I ate. Sambo, top notch! Crisps, they were only okay. Frisps are a strange type of crisp and ready salted are a strange flavour (in my opinion) combined, they make for one of the most awful bags of crisps I've eaten in a while. Plain and tasteless at the start, then when you reach the end of the bag they taste extremely salty! You know the taste when you put way way way too much salt on your chips or spuds? That exact taste.

To put it in some context - Frisps Ready Salted are manky.

Mark

Packet #33 - Walkers Extra Crunchy Cheddar & Sour Cream

2011-05-16T20:48:00.000+01:00

We're spoiled for choice in the Irish crisp market and it's not often I turn to Walkers while making my choice. Well it was a friday night and I was feeling adventurous when I walked into the crisp aisle. My mind was made up as soon as I saw the Cheddar & Sour Cream flavour.

Days before, a friend was talking about this particular flavour only in Pringle form, so I thought I had to try them. The crisps were a lovely full crunchy texture. They're thicker than your average crisp and it tells in the bite. While they packed a punch in the crunch factor, I was let down by the flavour. There was no consistency. Some crisps tasted of potato, others of cheddar and then some just of sour cream. I felt let down by Walkers. So much so I didn't finish the bag.

There are many fancy crisps in the market these days and if Walkers want their name to be up there they will have to improve the consistency of flavour.

Deano.

Packet #32 - Hunky Dorys Smokey Bacon

2011-05-10T17:00:00.000+01:00

Thirty Two, not only the amount of packets we've reviewed so far, but also one of my favourite bus routes!

Few words really excite us here at the Blog, crisps are one. Hunky. Dory. Smokey. Bacon. Are four others, put them all together and you've got something so exciting you really should have a sit down. I was in a shop the other day and glanced around the crisp section and saw them, the answer to all my prayers! I could hardly contain my excitement and immediately purchased them. And then waited for the perfect time to consume - during The Late Late Show.

As Ryan waffled on about a car I could win, I got stuck in. And boy oh boy did I get stuck in. These crisps are brilliant. Packed full of smokey bacon goodness, each crisp is like a small little taste adventure. The weight of the individual crisp is something to marvel at too - you know this is one snack that means business.

Polishing these lads off was easy, plus the broken crisps at the end of the bag was alot of fun too, much more fun than a brand new Volkswagen Jetta. Hunky Dorys Smokey Bacon are an superb achievement - congratulations Hunky Dorys!

Mark

Packet #31 - Jawz Cheese & Onion

2011-05-04T21:44:00.000+01:00

The recent good weather saw an increase in barbecuing in my house. Naturally this led to an increase in crisp purchases and consumption. I had heard a lot about KP's new crisps Jawz so I decided to take the plunge and buy a pack.

I have to admit, I was expecting a lot from Jawz. The pack itself adding to the hype by suggesting I go for the "Big Bite". So in I dived (last water pun I promise). They certainly were a big bite, offering a nice triangular crunch and a corny texture. The flavour however, is where I was let down. There was no great cheese and onion flavour. Mainly just onion. What they started to taste like after a couple of crisps was a big bag of onion rings.

A little let down to say the least. If I want onion rings I'll give Johnnie or Mr. Perri a call. Lets hope the bacon flavour can salvage something for Jawz.

Deano.

Packet #30 - Transform-A-Snack (Spicy)

2011-05-03T23:31:00.000+01:00

When you're in a foreign land you some times get confused by all the new crisps. I was highly confused, but excited at the same time by all the different types of crisps available in London town this weekend, my friend Medb chose some crisps for me, Transform-A-Snack, the spicy variety.

There was something about these crisps that looked exciting, mainly the spaceman on the front of the packet, I new it was going to be an adventurous munch. First thing that will strike upon opening the pack will be that there are two different shaped crisps involved - circles and what can only be described as a oddly shaped space craft, more crisps should have such ambitious shapes (imho).

However these crisps were not quite as exciting once you start to chow down, yeah they're spicy but it's nothing new really. Plenty more spicy joy can be found elsewhere in the crisp department.

The main excitement comes from the back of the packet - where you get a comic strip telling you about how 'Barron Von-Scoffalot" is about to take over the Transform-A-Snack factory, and Captain Crunch needs to come along and save the day - my guess is, he does.

The aul Transform-A-Snack's are great fun, but only because of the packet. My advice? Give 'em whirl you're on your holidays.

Mark.

Packet #29 - Tayto Bistro Crushed Sea Salt & Aged Malt Vinegar

2011-04-27T11:49:00.000+01:00

My goodness, what a name 'Crushed Sea Salt & Aged Malt Vinegar' names don't get much fancier than that if you ask me.

There I was standing in a Spar looking at the vast array of crisps staring back at me, I saw these lads and thought, why not? Tayto have rarely failed me in the past so I'll give 'em an aul whirl.

First thing you'll notice about these 'artisan crisps' is the weight of the packet, they're surprisingly heavy! Then, when you open them up you'll notice something else. The packet isn't nearly full enough! 'I've been had' is what I thought when I opened them up. But I'll keep munching and see what happens, quality not quantity is what they say.

So off I munched, and my word what a munch! The crisp itself is fantastic, a real good feel to it in the fingers, each one feels like an event. Flavour wise you really do get a nice vinegary taste of them too! Not too much wrong with these at all. My joy was complete with an announcement by the end of the packet to my girlfriend 'these are a truly excellent crisp!' to which she replied 'that's nice'.

Mark.

Packet #28 - Red Sky West Country Bacon & Cream Cheese

2011-04-26T23:15:00.000+01:00

I know, I know. Fancy, wha!? I wouldn't be normally lured into buying these new luxury crisp brands but it was bank holiday Friday, the sun was out and friends were coming over for a barbeque. So I was treating them really. And a treat it was.

This was the first time I ever saw Red Sky crisps. I had never even heard of them before, so it was a bold choice to supply them to my hungry guests. The first thing you notice is the quality of the potato and a nice crunching to the crisp. Then comes the subtle flavour of west country bacon and cream cheese. I can see some readers turning away in disgust but believe me, they're delicious and not overpowering. Kind of like a bagel, in crisp form.

They went down a treat, with everyone munching away on them while I charred the hamburgers. So if you're looking for something to wow your guests this summer pick up some Red Sky. I did (twice).

Deano.

Packet #27 - Chickatees

2011-04-19T11:28:00.000+01:00

Surprisingly there aren’t really that many chicken flavoured crisps on the market in Ireland, so Chickatees pretty much have it sewn up. But maybe other crisps are just too “chicken” to take on the mighty Chickatee! (groan).

Chickatee’s are pure flavour from the word go. You get a waft of chicken as soon as you open the foiled pack, it’s a bold flavour that tastes as delicious as the smell.

Looking at the shape of the crisp it might leave you wondering as to why Tayto (the makers of Chickatees) chose this strange curly cylindrical shape, and not something more obvious, like an actual chicken. I suppose the flavour fits it better in a tiny solid corn based cylinder, I’m no crisp scientist but I reckon that’s the reason.

Taste wise - it’s everything you’d want, strong, vibrant and full of intensity and yet will disappear off the pallet with one sip of water, plus there is a tremendous amount of finger licking to be had during the eating experience.

They are clearly never going to win the award for our favourite crisp of all time, but Chickatees aren’t out to win any awards they’re just part of a delicious team. If they were a footballer they would be John O’Shea not the most stylish or refined crisp in the world, but always dependable.

Mark

Packet #26 - Wheelies

2011-04-18T16:23:00.000+01:00

I’ll let you in on a little secret, when I was younger I wanted to be the bloke on the packet of Wheelies, to me being on a motor bike on the front of the best packet of crisps in the world seemed like the coolest thing ever. In fact now that I wrote that down, I realize I still want to be Mr. Wheelie.

Enough messing! We’re here for the crisp alone! Wheelies are bacon flavour, and recently have become quite rare, as far as I know they’re only available in multi-packs. The shape of the crisp is highly ambitious, it’s a wheel! But the shape doesn’t mean that Wheelies lose any of the bacon goodness, if anything it adds to the fun. Wheelies are a rollercoaster of a crisp, some are jammed with taste and vibrancy and some are a little less intense. It’s this random flavouring that makes them so brilliant. You’re never quite sure what taste sensation is coming next! Wheelies have attitude and that’s what I love about them.

If you have the pleasure of recommending a crisp to Tourist in Ireland over the Summer, my advice would be to avoid the old Tayto Cheese and Onion yarn and get them a packet of Wheelies. Mr. Wheelie, I salute you.

Mark

Packet #25 McCoy's Flame Grilled Steak

2011-04-18T15:00:00.000+01:00

Ah steak. The king of all meats. So tasty that I'm sure if cows were carnivores there would be none left for us humans. We'd still have McCoy's though.

It was always an obvious choice for McCoy's, positioning themselves as man crisps, to choose steak flavour. It was a risk however to lower the saturated fat by 30%. Thankfully it actually takes nothing away from the great taste. Each crisp was a delight, full of flavour, as if lifted straight from a barbecue. You could really taste the potato along with the flame grilled goodness. They stand true to the famous McCoy's crunch factor too. So crunchy in fact you can savour the pack eating it one crisp at a time.

Definitely one of the favourites and something I go back to for a regular fix. Truly the real McCoy.

Deano.

Follow Us!

2011-04-18T10:59:00.000+01:00

Don't forget to check us out on Facebook and Twitter and tell us what your favourite crisps are and what you would like reviewed.

Deano

Packet #24 - Walkers Crinkles Cheddar & Onion

2011-04-14T16:57:00.000+01:00

Today I received a free packet of crisps. “Result!”, I hear you cry. Being a fan of crisps and also being a fan of free things I was also pleased at the prospect of free crisps and decided to have them with my lunch. On the menu was soup and a sandwich and sure crisps are obviously a perfect accompaniment. It was all set up to be an epicurean delight but alas, my free crisps were destined to disappoint.

My free crisps were a packet of “cheddar and onion” flavour Walkers Crinkles. They promise to deliver “more flavour in every crinkle”, and while they are admittedly full of flavour, the flavour in question is almost entirely cheese. There’s a small hint of onion but it’s hard to detect and if I was blindfolded I could be eating a flat potato crisp version of a cheesy wotsit or cheeto. Crinkles have that same overpowering artificial cheese taste – a flavour which is not for everyone – but even as a cheesey crisp/snack fan, they just weren’t that enjoyable.

The texture was OK but Crinkles are no where near as crunchy as a Hunky Dory for example and nearly have the texture of one of those low fat, “healthy” crisps. I’m sorry but “healthy” crisps are useless. If you’re going to have a packet of crisps then commit, don’t have a crisp tribute. Back to the task at hand though; Walkers Crinkles also have a smattering of green flecks on them, presumably hinting at some kind of herb. It does nothing to improve.

These crisps aren’t disgusting and can certainly be tolerated but why tolerate them? In a crowded market of cheese and onion stalwarts such as King or Tayto, not to mention the various artisan variations, these Crinkles can be comfortably avoided. Apparently Crinkles are also available in different flavours but if they can’t get the basic cheese and onion flavour right, I wouldn’t have much hope for the rest of the range.

Obviously, I still finished them – they were free crisps! – but all in all, a poor effort.

Gordon

Packet #23 Tayto Waffles

2011-04-13T21:21:00.000+01:00

Whether it's coming out of our mouth or made of potato, us Irish love a good waffle. When I was younger I always saw Waffles as a luxury crisp. I think it's the cross-hatch waffle look and the fact the crisps are almost always fully shaped. In the current market however Waffles have taken a back seat to the newer luxury crisps available.

The fact the crisps are whole when eating them makes a great difference to the crunch. You get a lovely texture from the crisp sitting on your tongue, allowing you to truly taste the full flavour. The bacon flavour comes through good and strong, almost smokey. It all adds up to a very enjoyable stack.

Half way through the pack I thought to myself, "I should eat these more often." I think that's the snag with Waffles however, they're delicious every once in a while but you couldn't have them as your staple crisp. In my eyes they're still a luxury.

Deano.

Congrats To Our Competition Winner!

2011-04-13T15:10:00.000+01:00

Big love to Mr Keith Kinsella who became the 100th person to 'like' us on our Facebook page yesterday! Keith could choose any bag of crisps he wanted! He's clearly a crisp connoisseur and went for Buffalo Hunky Dory's! Remember to "like" us on Facebook or "follow" us on Twitter!

Mark

Packet #22 - Hula Hoops Salt & Vinegar

2011-04-12T13:59:00.000+01:00

Put simply Hula Hoops are a staple of the Crisping industry. Red, Blue, Brown and Green (sometimes). They're a good fun crisp. A friendly crisp.

When I bought Hula Hoops blue this afternoon I was delighted with myself, the one thing I love about Hula Hoops (of any colour) is that you can really taste the potato. So off I delved inside. One thing I noticed straight away is that there is quite a few oddly shaped Hula Hoops in the packet, plenty of big Hulas, thrown in. Bonus I thought!

But then a strangeness came over me. The S&V (salt and vinegar) flavour was there alright, but that lovely potato taste had been diluted! It just didn't have the same punch as they used to. I checked the packet "NO MSG" it said. The MSG must of been the secret ingredient making the Hula Hoops so delicious all these years! I was highly disappointed.

So all in all, Hula Hoops blue are okay, but they were way nicer with a bit of MSG thrown in.

Mark.

21 packets in!

2011-04-11T23:28:00.000+01:00

We're growing and growing, literally! Don't forget you can follow us on facebook and twitter and thanks to all you folks for comments and suggestions. Please keep 'em coming.

Deano.

Packet #21 Hunky Dorys Buffalo

2011-04-11T22:51:00.000+01:00

So today I was heading for lunch armed with just a ham sandwich, a pretty pitiful sight. I decided to jazz it up with a pack of the mighty, Hunky Dorys Buffalo. The Americans were nearly successful in wiping out their own buffalo but I for one am glad the lads up in Ashbourne, Co. Meath are keeping their herd strong and safe.

The Hunky Dory crisps are normally reliable for a good strong crunch and even though this pack was a little broken up it didn't take away from that fact. The buffalo crisp has a strong sweet and spicy flavour running throughout. It's a powerful combination which keep you coming back for more. A good selection if you're looking for filler in between your meals or after a good workout. I decided to add a few crisps to my ham sandwich and it spiced it up no end even managing to enhance the flavour of the ham.

So for a break from the norm, nothing too exotic or outrageous mind, I would highly recommend Hunky Dorys Buffalo. Yum!

Deano.

Packet #20 - O'Donnells Mature Irish Cheese and Red Onion

2011-04-11T12:31:00.000+01:00

Mature Irish Cheese and Red Onion? Mature Irish Cheese and Red Onion? Cheese and Onion, I think is what they meant to say. O'Donnells is an Irish crisp! From Tipperary to be exact. AND they're "Authentic Hand Cooked" quite what that means, I'm unsure.

Anyway, onto the crisp. Delicious, nice and chunky with plenty of flavour. I gobbled them up with a sambo and a cup of tea, everything went according to plan. O'Donnells are new to the Irish crisping scene, and I'd imagine it's quite a high risk industry, to be releasing such a high end crisp into an already saturated market (pun intended) but O'Donnells Cheese and Onion are grand. To be honest with you reader, I ate these crisps ages ago and haven't returned to the packet since. Should Sam Spud and Tony Tayto be worried? Probably not, but they're definitely worth a nibble.

Kind Regards,

Mark.

Packet #19 - Rancheros

2011-03-31T10:16:00.000+01:00

Ah classic Rancheros, bacon flavour. None of this fancy BBQ flavour for me, oh no. Sure isn't change bad? It's getting to the stage in the blog now where people are asking for specific crisps to be blogged about and that's exactly what happened here. I didn't even have to buy the crisps. Friend of the blog, Ross, supplied the pack I consumed last weekend. So apologies for the late post.

Now I hadn't had a pack of Rancheros in years. They're another one of those crisps that you see around shops, say, oh they're nice and never buy them. So I was only delighted to be handed a pack. They haven't changed a bit. A lovely crunch from the mini bacon shaped crisp. The kind of crunch that one crisp at a time would satisfy. Leaving you to enjoy the packet in a reasonable manor. Packed full of a delightful bacon flavour that would remind you of a packet of bacon fries, only not as greasy.

While eating them I was in the pub, only drinking cordial but it dawned on me that they would be perfect with any kind of beer or lager. Why don't more pubs serve them? Maybe if we all demand them from our publican they will start to stock the lovely Rancheros. They're about a million time nice than Manhattan's attempt at bacon fries.

Deano.

Packet #18 - Crusti Croc Cheese & Onion

2011-03-04T14:32:00.000Z

Ahhh, the life of a crisp blogger. Who wouldn't love filling your day up eating delicious crisps. It's great, because when you're in the position to choose your crisp, you always try and experiment, all for the love of this very blog. Sometimes the results can be tremendously gratifying.

Crusti Croc Cheese & Onion which are available in Lidl, were an interesting crisp. Upon opening the crisps there was a very strong smell coming from the bag. So much so, that people near by commented on the odour!

Regardless, i munched away. The weight of the crisp was decent, so I was quite optimistic. First few crisps not too bad. But then, half way through the bag the everything just got way out of hand. The flavour was just so intense it was almost unbearable. Way way way over seasoned and they just tasted truly appalling. In fact for the rest of the afternoon I had a slight headache, I blame Crusti.

So, to conclude, Crusti Croc Cheese and Onion Crisps are absolutely dreadful. STAY AWAY.

Mark

Packet #17 - King Jackets

2011-02-28T19:34:00.000Z

Aren't pubs great. You can get all sorts in them. Beer, spirits, wine, music, quizzes, darts, pool, snacks. That's right, snacks. It's always a interesting seeing what different snacks you can get in pubs these days. King seem to have a few different types of crisps only available in the pub. There's the King "Pub" crisps, Luxury crisps and now, Jackets crisps.

I'm a big fan of the King range and this was the first time tasting Jackets. I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Some may think that all cheese and onion crisps taste the same. They're wrong. To the connoisseur the slightest change in flavour makes all the difference.

This is where Jackets come into their own. Just a hint stronger than your regular King with the consumer feeling the full flavour of the cheese and indeed the onion. The crunch is mightier than you are used to due to the jacketed outline of the crisp which also adds it's own little kick to the flavour.

I don't often need an excuse to go to the pub but Jackets have just given me a great one. So next time your mates ask you to pick them up something to eat at the bar go for King Jackets, a perfect mid session snack.

Deano.

Packet #16 - Banshee Bones

2011-02-22T14:16:00.000Z

It's been a mixed bag of results with the old school crisps so far. Meanies are still great, Hot Lips are not. However I was still cautiously optimistic when I purchased Banshee Bones. There's just something about crisps when you make them a funny shape, it almost as if the flavour is forgotten about. Fear not that's what we're here for.

Despite being baked, Perri seem to have retained the "screaming" salt & vinegar flavour of old. Sometimes with salt & vinegar crisps the vinegar can be over-powering and destroy the enjoyment. BB have the balance just right and it doesn't really matter that you've no idea what shape the crisps are. I suppose if you think about it, no one actually knows what real Banshee bones look like so Perri can shape them as they like. Good work Perri!

So if you're having a terrible Tuesday and need some S&V to pick you up, why not treat yourself to some reasonably priced (.35c) Banshees Bones.

Deano.

Packet #15 - Roysters T-Bone Steak

2011-02-22T13:13:00.000Z

It's a rare and joyous occasion when me and my fellow crisp blogger, Deano, get together and review crisps at the same time. But it happened! Last Friday evening. When our friend informed us that he had some crisps available for consumption. But! He warned us, eat quickly, because they go out of date in half an hour (it was 23:30).

So we went for it. Roysters T-Bone Steak, were a crisp that neither of us were familiar with. We were told they had been bought in Tesco as part of a 12 pack, for only €1.09! That's less than 10c a pack!

Surely these cheap, almost out of date crisps would be a disaster. Well, we were both happily surprised when these crisps turned out to be completely delicious. Proper good fun, made by the same people who make Nik Naks and Discos. Indeed the texture really reminded me of Disco's, but with "bubbles" in the texture to keep you excited.

Flavour wise they hit all the right notes, not so intense but definitely packing a meaty punch. These lads did leave the fingers smelling for a few hours after, but think of the smell as a happy reminder of these spectacular crisps.

Yes, they are cheap, yes you might be nervous about having a big 12 bag variety pack taking up space in your cupboard, but don't be! These crisps are what this blog is here for! Buy Roysters! They're a little gem!

Mark

Packet #14 - Tayto Smokey Bacon

2011-02-16T23:24:00.000Z

14. Cruyff. Ginola. Modric. Henry. Will Tayto Smokey Bacon live up to these footballing genius' ?

Smokey Bacon crisps were always the first to go in my house when "variety" bags were bought. Those two packets were like gold dust after my parents got home after a Saturday grocery shop. They were that delicious.

These days Tayto honour the flavour tremendously well, everything about the crisp is perfect. Lovely flavour perfect texture. Yet things have changed, the foil wrapping has taken over from a cheap plastic style, but this works well, keeping the crisps inside nice and fresh.

I've heard some people look down upon this flavour, when compared to the legendary Tayto Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar flavours. These people clearly need to have a good look at there lives, Tayto Smokey Bacon are an absolute joy whether you're six or 66. Long Live My Smokey Bacon!

Mark.

Packet #13 - Snax

2011-02-16T22:29:00.000Z

Another pack from the Tayto stable. I'm sending a fair bit of business there way it would seem. Snax, the potato puffs, as they like to call themselves. Often found in multi packs around my house as not too many would eat them.

Snax were always a little lighter than your average crisp. Always a decent crunch and a nice mild cheese and onion flavour. Now however, Tayto seem to have brought it a step further into the light market. Not as puffy as they once were, there's a strange condensed flavour seeping out of each crisp. Still a decent crunch mind. Perhaps it has something to do with them being less than 100 calories a bag.

This seems to be happening a lot to certain products these days, now we're in a much more health conscious world. It doesn't really fool anyone and it's definitely not helping the flavour. Anyway these new low calorie crisps wont be finding their way into my shopping basket anytime soon. Adios Snax.

Deano.

Packet #12 - Chipsticks

2011-02-10T14:04:00.000Z

Another old classic here. I asked my good friend Sprouts to treat me when he was going to the shop last Saturday. And treat me he did, to a lovely pack of Chipsticks. I hadn't had a pack in years.

The thing about Chipsticks is they're packed full of flavour and also provide a satisfying crunch.They do what all good corn based crisps do, stick to the roof of your mouth. The salt and vinegar flavour carries through strongly. I was never a big fan of salt and vinegar but I always liked Chipsticks. I'm glad they haven't changed.

A forgotten gem in my eyes. I'll definitely be purchasing this delightful selection from Tayto in the near future.

Deano.

Packet #11 - Hot Lips

2011-02-07T18:13:00.000Z

Whenever you talk with your mates about crisps you used to eat as a kid, Hot Lips always come up. So when I came across them in a local shop last week I had to buy a pack to see if they brought back any memories.

The packaging looks enticing. With the promising sounding flavour of Nice 'N' Spicy and the little devil in the foreground, you expect a treat. What a shame it was when biting into the crisps only to note a distinct lack of flavour. Not very spicy at all, a slight tinge of spice. I suppose I have to consider that these crisps are aimed at children so they shouldn't be too spicy but come on, to lack any is inexcusable.

There's much better variety of corn based crisps available. Good for a bit of nostalgia but they wont be hitting my lunch box any time in the distant future.

Deano.

Packet #10 - M&S Flame Grilled Beef & Onion

2011-01-31T21:31:00.000Z

"Hey! It's the weekend! Treat yourself to a bag of REAL posh crisps"

This what I thought on Saturday, so I descended the escalators of M&S to buy some high end crisps. The flavours were unusual, I opted for Flame Grilled Beef & Onion. OKOK - everything going well so far.

DISAPPOINTED is one word to describe my feelings as I munched my way down Grafton Street. The flavour was simply delicious at the start, but it quickly vanished as if by some sort of crisp magic (it was a very lovely meaty flavour btw).

The crisp itself, was, in a word, heavy. Not the greatest texture by a long shot. Overall a major disappointment, brilliant at the beginning, but boring by the end, and EXPENSIVE! If it were a footballer, it would be Michael Owen.

Mark.

Packet #9 - Skips

2011-01-27T21:56:00.000Z

Skips are the one and only prawn cocktail flavour crisps in my eyes. Any other shape or form just seems wrong. I wouldn't be one for an ordinary prawn cocktail so I get my fix from skips.

Skips can be crunchy if you're looking for a good munch. Or like me if your mouth is tired from shouting all day you can just sit them on your tongue and they'll fizzle away. Perfect!

I've kind of covered the flavour all ready but you really do get a different flavour depending on how you eat this lot. It's much stronger if you let them melt a little first.

This particular pack came to me with 20% extra free. Bonus! My advice would be to take advantage wile you can. There's also no MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) and they've kindly added the GDA's (Guidline Daily Amounts) to the front so you know exactly what you're getting.

Deano.

Packet #8 - Kettle Chips - Salt & Vinegar

2011-01-19T21:35:00.000Z

When you buy a packet of salt and vinegar crisps, you expect the manufacturer to be attempting that classic chip-shop flavour! Why bother? You'll never beat real chips, so why try?

Those clever folks at Kettle Chips have realised this, and in admitting that they'll never be something they are not, they have succeeded in creating the best Salt and Vinegar Variety (S&VV) crisp I have ever tasted.

They've gone with SEA salt! I've no idea how they have harvested the salt from the sea but it offers a distinct and coarse coating to the rugged thick crisp. Crunchtastic!

BALSAMIC vinegar! It might sound like it arrived from the West Indies, and maybe it did, but regardless of how it ended up on the crisps, it delivers a fantastically sweet after taste to the assembly.

The geometry of the crisps can be entertaining - with many of the crisps looking tortured into an impossible contortion - perhaps this is an effect of their hand cooking methods!? Sometimes 2 or 3 of them will be stuck together! Ultimately, they deliver an almighty crunch.

The packaging boasts "absolutely nothing artificial" so that'll please the ethical members of crisp-club.

In summary, if you are a fan of the S&VV, I think you've found your new favourite C (crisp).

Gaffo

Packet #7 - Meanies

2011-01-19T21:13:00.000Z

Ah Meanies, a childhood favourite if ever there was one. Mainly because they were 5p and you could usually pick up a bit of chocolate with your 20p too. Or there was Mega Meanies if you were feeling flush for 15p.

Well the size of the pack and the price has changed now. 30c will pick you up a mid sized pack of Meanies but they still pack the same pickled onion flavour we all love. A good strong crunch can be expected from these demon shaped crisps. A simple version of the corn based crisps as they don't get stuck to the roof of your mouth.

The pickled onion flavour is as delightful as ever. I wouldn't be big on eating pickled onions normally so I get my fix through Meanies. Not too strong of a pickled flavour but I would advise caution to anyone with any mouth sores. Perfect for a day in the park when you want to feel like a kid again.

Deano.

Packet #6 - Mighty Munch

2011-01-17T23:59:00.000Z

Packet 6! And we reach the crisp that has created quite a stir in the crisping community. Mighty/Monster Munch. Are they better or worse then before? To be honest I didn't even notice they'd changed.

But enough politics, let's deal with the crisp in hand. Mighty Munch could so easily be thrown in with the "wheelie" or "chickatee" brigade, in that they're an odd shape and have the same stay in the back of yer mouth for a while texture. But they seem to bridge the gap between wheelies and chickatees to the more grown up S&V (salt and vinegar) C&O (cheese and onion) gang.

The taste is "hot and spicy" but they never really got too hot or spicy, but certainly have a bit of oopmh about them regardless. They're a great fun crisp, would I recommend them as an accompaniment to a nice sandwich? I'd have to say no. Would I recommend them to accompany a hangover? Most definitely.

Mark

Packet #5 - Walkers Sensations - Balsamic Vinegar & Caramelised Onion

2011-01-17T22:51:00.000Z

After tasting the previous pack of Sensations I was a wee bit cautious about this lot. But it was a Friday night I was hungry so I thought why not give it a go.

And I'm glad I did. Same great crunch and texture as before only this time, packed full of flavour. First the onion hits you then comes balsamic vinegar. Neither flavour is too strong or over powering. I feel Walkers got the mixture just right here.

A massive improvement on the Thai Sweet Chilli pack which was evident by the speed in which they were eaten. They disappeared well before the start of Cranium and I look forward to taking on some more Sensations sometime in the future.

Deano.

Packet #4 - Walkers Sensations - Thai Sweet Chilli

2011-01-17T21:35:00.000Z

Well I had the pleasure of eating a crisp, I would normally never buy, last Friday night. They were Thai Sweet Chilli flavour from the fancy Walkers collection called Sensations.

At first bite I thought they were going to be magnificent. A good solid crunch and a nice thick crisp. Unfortunately for all they held in substance they lacked in flavour. A slight whimper of sweet chilli kicked in after the crisp had been eaten.

Overall, a little let down by this so called "sensation". I wont hold it against the rest of the Walkers family as there's still many a crisp to get through. The pack was still devoured in quick fashion so they weren't the worst.

Deano.

Packet #3 - Hula Hoops - BBQ BEEF (brown) Flavour

2011-01-13T23:19:00.000Z

Oh, you do have to be in a funny mood to go for these don't you? I wanted a full on meal but didn't have the time for any of that lark so I opted for Hula Hoops brown. It tastes like a meaty meal, but it's not.

VERRY intense beef flavours with these bad boys. But truly delicious, although I could also see why such a crisp would divide the crisp community.

Overall, an absolute joy to eat and you get to put the Hula Hoops on your fingers for a bit of a laugh! Although your fingers will smell fairly unhealthy for a while after that. But then again, when have you ever noticed your fingers smelling healthy?

Mark.

Packet #2 - King Cheese and Onion

2011-01-13T22:12:00.000Z

I had the pleasure of eating a pack of King cheese and onion this afternoon accompanied by a ham and cheese sandwich. Too much cheese flavour you might say. Oh no cheese is delightful so it was just the right amount.

Cheese and Onion, one of the very first crisp flavours. King, a classic staple of the Irish crisp market since 1963. Put them together and you've got a winner. Good with a sandwich, good in a sandwich and good with a cup of tea. You know what you get with a pack of King. Quality.

Flavour wise they were just right. A nice mix between the cheese and the onion. With a taste leaving you wanting more.

Deano.

Packet #1 - McCoy's Cheese and Onion

2011-01-12T21:26:00.000Z

These crisps were consumed late in the afternoon and I was absolutely starving at a bus stop in mild (but not warm) weather.

The big thing about this particular crisp was the thickness, indeed McCoy's make a big thing out of the ridge's and the chunkiness of the crisp itself. And well they might! There was a real substance to the crisp, something you won't find with too many other brands.

Flavour wise, not too strong not too weak, a lovely balance that left the pallet with a lovely sense of achievement.

The packet was devoured quickly and even had some finger licking at the end too. Overall a highly recommended alternative to the regular Cheese & Onion brigade.

Mark.

First post.

2011-01-12T21:16:00.000Z

Hello fellow Crisp lover.

This blog should last until we run out of Crisps to taste, or die from eating crisps.

It will be updated as regularly as possible with one simple rule, to give you our honest opinion on Crisps in Ireland.

Enjoy the blog and enjoy crisps!

Love,

The Blog about Crisps.