Where are the best Potato Chips?
 

I saw a show on the food channel about potato chips which made me realize that there are still small factories all around the country still pumping out these snacks. I admit, I am a chipaholic. Do you know of a particular place that had locally made chips that are extraordinarily good?

Cape Cod potato chips - you can tour factory in Hyannis. Sadly, though, they were bought out by one of the big snack food manufacturers. Still, they maintain their own character.

I also am a chipoholic. I agree that Cape Cod chips are good. I really love "Grandma Utz" because they are fried in LARD! My favorite is Middlewarth Chips. They are made in Middletown, PA. I can't get them where I live now, but became addicted to them while attending Penn State.

Sterzing's potato chips. Made here in Iowa, and not very widely distributed.

Better Made, made in Detroit...the best!

I second Schmerl's advice on Middleworth potato chips. The barbeque flavored ones are fantastic--my favorite. You can buy them in a big, round cardboard tin. I, too, discovered them while attending Penn State.
But their distribution doesn't extend far, at least westward. I've tried repeatedly over the years to find them in western PA, in the area north of Pittsburgh, and have had no luck. (From that area and visit frequently) I'd be happy to hear from anyone who does find them there. Kathy

There are chips made here in Virginia with a name I can never remember. Rt. something, 60 I think. They have a jalapeno chip that is incredible. Also a very good dill pickle chip.

I will try almost anything that says "kettle cooked." The favorite I can buy here is Poore Brothers habanero flavor. The heat provides a bit of portion control, also.

Burdie is refering to the Route 11 potato chips made here in the Valley in Middleton,VA. Middletown is just south of Winchester and north Strasburg offI-81. You can watch the chips being made,sample them, and purchase them at the plant.

Birdie, did you ever ride with Bull Run Hunt?

No, never been much of a rider. I can take blood from a horse, pick their feet and could probably even anesthetize one if I had to but I haven't ever had the time to put into riding. I did live in the Radnor Hunt area for a few years.
Route 11!!! The BEST chips.

I find the Cape Cod chips to be so hard and crunchy that you can tear up you mouth if you're not careful.

It's not likely that anyone will agree with this choice but I like a store brand from Market Basket (NH and MA) which sells salt-free ridges chips. Real potato flavor.

mm

Love the Cape Cod Reduced Fat - not for diet reasons, they are just a bit less greasy. Hate that the company was bought out but love that I can buy them at home stores.

I actually am not a fan of the thick cut crispy chips. For me, the best are still Wise Potato Chips - they are very thin, salty and cooked a bit darker than most.

Middleswarth bags fill my van when I come back from PA -- sometimes I think all the air inside those bags will make the vehicle levitate! That's for the central PA bred kids -- I'm partial to UTZs but also have great memories of picking up Martin's chips in York County by the tin can, which you could later refill.

B/

Mike-Sells potato chips.

www.mike-sells.com

They claim to be the oldest chip maker in the US with their original location of Dayton, OH and a second plant in Indianapolis, IN.

Their "Groovy Potato Chips" are an incredible, classic chip. Just the right amount of salt, grease and crunch. Fried in 100% peanut oil. Nut allergy people beware.

Central PA is the best area in the country for potato chips. Within about a 75-mile radius from Harrisburg, you can probably find a dozen or more chip makers.

A couple of hints: The regional supermarkets will have the best selection. The chain 7-Eleven-type stores will not (limited space.) Walmarts (the ones with food) seems to have one or two regional suppliers for chips, but it'll be big bags only.

I think Jim Leff and the guys at chowhound.com have done a paper/booklet on potato chips. There's a charge involved, but you might want to check over there if you're really serious about potato chips.

The Original Maui Kitch'n Cook'd Potato Chips are sublime.

According to chowhound.com: "Mail order (it's very expensive) directly from Maui Potato Chips Factory at 808-877-3652 [email protected]. This is a tiny operation that does mail order as a courtesy when not busy, so be patient (chips could be burning while you speak!).

Jim Leff's Notes: The many Maui and "Hawaiian style" chips on the market are all ripping off Mark Kobayashi, the genius behind Original Maui Kitch'n Cook'd Potato Chips. The imitators don't even come close. In fact, nothing does.

You'll never see this brand on the mainland (every GREAT once in a while they crop up in California, but such appearances are rarer than comets). You can hardly find it in Maui; the chips sell out as soon as they're delivered to stores. The brand, despite its legendary status among aficionados, remains scarce and obscure because they produce only in very small quantity, steadfastly refusing to expand. Instead, they do things as they've been doing them for decades, and the result is the world's best potato chip. They're like steaks - so huge and thickly cut, you'd think them comical if you weren't moaning in ecstasy. Massive roasty potato flavor, deep dark brown, snatched from the oil just in time by an omniscient hand."

Yum!
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I like all of the ones mentioned on here so far (although I've missed the Rt. 11 ones). We used to have a chip guy come to our office in Louisville & we could buy big tins of chips but I don't recall the name. Maybe someone can help ? They were awesome.

Was it Tom's?

Cape Cod chips are my favorite, too. Particularly the reduced fat. They're a bit better for you (no trans fat) and, like Starrsville, I think they taste better than the original. I love how crunchy they are. My DH likes the salt and vinegar variety.

SAnParis was it Charles Chips?

www.taquitos.net/snacks.php?snack_code=628

They used to do a home delivery like the Schwann's man or maybe they did come through Schwanns.

They were awesome when first delivered. For home use it was too many chips though. They'd lose quality as the tin aged a couple of weeks.

mm- I love Market Basket chips - its the only thing I like about the store! There is a local manufacturer in Lynn Mass whose name escapes me (Bob's Bill's, Tom's??) They sell them by the bucket in a white plastic bucket with blue printing. I'm guessing that they are the manufacturers of the Market Basket chips.

I also love Wise chips - but only the onion and garlic ones, the rest are too dark for me. They taste burnt.

Charles Chips! Thanks for the flashback indytravel! :)

I'm from South Louisiana so I admit I'm partial to Zapp's. Crawtator and mesquite bbq are my favorite flavors.

www.zapps.com

kamahinaohoku -

I remember very fondly those Maui Kitch'n Cook'd chips - the skinny little clear bags with the red lettering - I agree, they're the best.

When I was a kid, anyone going to Maui had to bring back the chips - but you hardly see them anymore. So now we make do with people bringing back mochi and manju from Maui - (but I'd prefer the chips).

However, even if you do find them, they are SO expensive. For my day to day Maui chip craving, the "Maui Style" ones will have to do.

chepar - we used to open up the bag and grind fresh ground pepper on them, close the bag and shake it. People used to look at us like we were crazy...but if you've ever put fresh ground pepper on your baked potato, you'll recognize how yummy these chips were.
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Acrylamides in potato chips?

DANGER!

http://www.mercola.com/2005/jul/7/potato_chips.htm

VIOLATION of PROP 65

http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html

Love love love Wise chips. And the burnt flavor is what I love the most about them.

No one eats potato chips to get healthy.

Best in my memory: Schuler's, in New England -- they came close in flavor to Cape Cod or kettle chips, long before chips were anything but a necessary garnish to hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, or FRIED CLAMS! ;-)

Are Schuler's, by any remote chance, still around? Or were they bought up by someone and turned into run-of-the-mill chips (agree about Wise, for example)?

Woops! Simul-post!

Meant to say gree with bennie about Wise regular chips tasting burnt (zootsi and Sharon can have mine, if I can have their parsley).

when in Hawaii, try the One-Ton chips-made from won-ton wrppers deep fried. ONO!

Utz! Didn't know about Grandma's Utz though.
I buy Utz because the 3 ingredients, potatoes, oil and salt are exactly what's required.

"buy Utz because the 3 ingredients, potatoes, oil and salt are exactly what's required."
That is good, but try Grandma Utz which substitutes the lard for the oil. Totally different flavor.
I am so surprised at the number of people who are familiar with my beloved Middleswarth chips.



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Count me as another Maui Maui Kitch'n Cook'd fan. When I was a kid, my classmate (who is RELATED to the owner!) used to bring back single-serve bags for the entire class whenever she went to Maui. What a treat! Oh, how I took those days for granted.

Another vote for Route 11 Potato Chips made in Middletown, VA (Shenandoah Valley), south of Winchester, VA!

What!! Are all you guys on some sort of an ego trip or what?! http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34684141 LOL

I was so surprised to see the chips we adored, (but thought it was just us) on other's lists as well: Cape Cod potato chips. We found them first in VT. Somehow the ones we are now able to buy in Texas don't taste quite the same--still good, but not "to die for". Maybe it was a matter of absence making the heart grow fonder?

If you like Cape Cod style kettle chips, there's one and only one true winner of this contest and it is V E G A S C H I P S ! Oh boy! Let me tell you, the salt and vinegar variety is for die-hard vinegar fans ONLY. I highly recommend the SALT & PEPPER version, the best chip I've found anywhere. ANYWHERE! Okay, I will leave some blank space below where all you chip-a-holics can thank me for introducing you to Vegas Chips!!!




www.vegaschips.biz

LOL OO I had the exact same thought when I read that other thread!

Now about potato chips, oh sigh, I try not to buy them because when I open the bag....well you know the story....I don't stop eating until the bag is empty. That is not a good thing. But a lot of potato chips mentioned here I have never seen in stores where I live.

Hmmm, that could be a travel related theme. Take a trip around the US to find all the best potato chips. You think?

I have to say that growing up part of my life on the east coast, I fell in love with Wise Potato chips. On the west coast, I have found a few places that actually stock them. I know I shouldn't eat them, but its a piece of heaven. The next best I've found are in Maui, but they don't travel well. You have to eat them there.

Definitely love those Maui Kitch'n Cook'd chips. From the supermarket I am partial to Tim's Potato Chips, I believe from the Pacific Northwest, Seattle maybe? It's close to pau hana time now, this is making me crave a cold brew and some pupus.

<i>&quot;...they don't travel well. You have to eat them there.&quot;</i>

Well! I think that may just add to the magic of the Kitch'n Cook'd chips! They taste great on their own, but I bet they taste extra good while drinking, say, a Kona Pale Ale and watching the sun set over the Pacific....