Most classic summer sides involve potatoes: french fries, potato salad, baked potatoes and potato chips. I'll concede that the french fries won't always be on the menu at a picnic, but I think they're included quite often at backyard BBQs. The real focus here is on potato chips. They're portable, require no cooking and are extremely addictive, what with all the grease and salt that goes into them. They go with burgers, sandwiches and make an excellent snack all on their own. I have to say that I prefer corn or tortilla chips most of the time, but sometimes the situation just calls for potato. The real question is: Which chips are the best?
I liked Pringles best when I was little, probably because they are very crispy and very salty. They're made of shaped, extruded potatoes rather than sliced, whole potatoes, so they're very light in texture. Technically, they're "crisps" and not "chips" at all. Traditional Lays are a bit greasy, but somehow the oily flavor works in their favor. Kettle Chips are much more substantial than thinner chips and have a more authentic potato flavor. Ruffles have those neat edges that trap salt. The list goes on and on, especially if you start including flavored chips, low fat chips, foreign chips...
Let's forget the flavors and concentrate on the plain chips. Low fat is fine, too. I want to know what the best chips are. Will I be missing out if I return to my childhood love (using the term very loosely, of course) of Pringles? What's your favorite chip?
10 More Dirty Restaurant Tricks
5 Things You Didn't Know About Turducken
10 Catchiest Food Jingles We Love to Hate
