Packet #72 - St. Bernard Salt And Vinegar Flavour Sticks

A pal called round armed with 15 packets of crisps. This (bringing gifts), is the correct procedure when entering a house as a guest, especially when you're calling around to one of Dublin 7's premier Crisp blogs HQ. He knew his audience, and for this reason it should be noted that he is sound.

The lad who brought over the crisps seemed very happy with himself, because he made a shrewd move by buying a whopper 15 bag multi-pack for only €1.60. I opted for the Salt & Vinegar Flavour Sticks. They were a simple affair. And what I did like about them was their simplicity in packaging. Former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs was (he's dead) a big fan of simple beautiful design, which must of been what the designer of these crisps had in mind when creating the packaging. Or else, they simply weren't bothered. Either way, I very much like the bag. The flavour, is a little weird to be quite honest, quite a strong vinegar thing going on, and not a whole lot of salt. Texture wise, they are also a little strange, very light and powdery once you really get into it - and not in a good way. But, I suppose when you're getting involved with 15 bags of crisps for €1.60 these things can be expected.

I know what you're thinking. Are they better then Chip Sticks? No.

Mark.

Packet #71 Hunky Dory's Sour Cream And Onion

Eating on the go. Difficult. Sandwiches. Messy. Fruit. Boring. Sushi. Too posh. No, Crisps it seems are the perfect snack while walking. You can munch freely in the knowledge that you look perfectly normal while on the street, which is the place that it's most important to be normal. Last week I picked up some Hunky Dory's Sour Cream and onion, and ate them - while walking!

As I strolled along the high street sporting my latest accessory, which comes in the most tremendous lime green bag by the by, the taste struck me as something really quite special. The sour cream balances perfectly with the (at times) almost agressive onion flavour. These flavours balance and go together perfectly. And Hunky Dory's have captured this marriage with scientific precision. The crisps themselves are the standard Hunky Dory affair, but that's not to dismiss them, they are as usual a delightfully chunky and crinkled attempt. I did find however that some of the crisps were ever so slightly a little too greasy, but that could well be put down to eating them outside. Maybe the oxygen has had some sort of chemical reaction with onion or sour cream. I don't know if that's the case, and to be quite frank, I doubt I ever will. Okay?

Mark.

Packet #70 Brannigans Roast Lamb & Mint

This particular pack was purchased in Stansted airport. I think the choice of flavour may have had something to do with seeing all of the lovely little lambs bouncing about the fields and having no time to stop for dinner. Sure isn't a pack of crisps a meal in a bag?

This was my first time trying the Branningans brand and the bag was kind enough to inform that they are proper thick cut crisps. I must admit I didn't really believe them, LIES, I screamed in my head. However they are in fact nice chunky, crunchy crisps which help to hold in the strong flours throughout the bag. Now the flavour was something very new to me on a crisp but somehow Mr Brannigan has managed to transfer the lovely lamb taste successfully. Along with a wallop of mint and a bang of parsley it certainly made interesting munching.

The more I ate the more unconvinced I was that this flavour should actually be in crisp form. You get a strong meatiness followed my sharp sweetness and you're left with a puzzled face. One thing I was no longer puzzled over was Brannigans integrity, they do indeed sell proper thick cut crisps, so apologies for doubting your packaging. I'm also very much looking forward to trying some of their more traditional flavours.

Deano.

Packet #69 Tesco Cheese & Onion

It wouldn't be an economic cycle if we, as a race of humans, didn't find ourselves in something of monetary pickle now and then now would it? And so it is, that in the year 2012 we're scraping around for cash in every situation we find ourselves in. Be it our democratically elected governments asking big banks for loads of money or people like you and I pacing up and down the crisp aisle of supermarkets looking for deals on crisps. And so it was, with the weight of the world on my shoulders, I bought six packets of Tesco Cheese& Onion Crisps for €1.34. 

Every day for the next six, I proceded to pack one of these bags in with my lunch. But do these crisps taste like actual austerity? Excellent question. Well first off there aren't a lot in the bag, so that's not a good start, but the actual crisps themselves are quite the surprise indeed. Not overly cheesy or salty, but not under seasoned either, they're sitting on the taste fence as it were, and that's a fine place to be. Texture wise they are a little brittle, but that's fine too. They taste just fine, but when you add the secret ingredient of value you're looking at a real winner. These crisps are great, cheap and come in a funny looking bag. What's not to like?

So Tesco Cheese & Onion then, one of the tastier aspects of the credit crunch! ....... oh dear. 

Mark.