Whenever I leave for Paris, I pack one bag full of American snack food to share with mes amis, because that is one food group where we easily eclipse the French. On this last trip, I introduced my friends in the City of Lights to my favorite potato chip in the world, the Chicago-made Jays Jalapeño “Krunchers!” (The exclamation point is actually and appropriately part of the name.) They are an evolution of the original Jays thin, crispy chip: crunchy, kettle-style, and seasoned liberally with piquant spice. The company catch phrase has long been “Can’t stop eating ’em!” but we Midwestern snack-food connoisseurs might just have to, because our beloved munchies are currently endangered. Jays went bankrupt last year and was sold to Snyder’s of Hanover, the pretzel people in Pennsylvania. No word yet on whether they’ll continue to make my Jalapeño Krunchers!, but there’s talk that they might take the brand national. The chips’ bold texture and flavor also pair perfectly with cool and refreshing absinthe—as we discovered when my expat pal David Lebovitz couldn’t stop eating ’em and brought the bag I gave him to our gang’s absinthe night out.
Jays Jalapeño Krunchers!, $1.99 for a 7-ounce bag
The Spice House, Nueske’s bacon, and Jalapeno Krunchers! are the only things I miss about living in Milwaukee.
On the other hand, in the EU they get “Chicken, Lemon, Thyme” chips, and “Rosemary Garlic” chips which we don’t have here…
I had Lay’s roast chicken and thyme potato chips in Paris recently and they were damned good.
I don’t know if they’ve made it as far west as Chicago, but you should check out Art and Mary’s Tater Chips (that’s right, not “potato” but “tater”). They’re made in Wichita, and they are so, so good. Especially the Jalapeno (”hot ‘n’ zesty”) and the cracked pepper. I can’t buy them any more because I will literally eat them until I make myself sick.
RI Swampyankee – Nueske’s BLT and Jalapeno Krunchers! – heaven. But you’re not a butterburger or custard fan?
leek and lacerise – I brought the Lay’s Saveur Poulet Roti et Thym back on the flip side of my last trip to Paris.
heatherkay – have not found Art’s and Mary’s in Chicago. I once ordered a whole case of Jalapeno Krunchers! when I lived in LA – 12 bags – didn’t get sick but went through a bag a week.
JALEPENO KRUNCHERS! I became obsessed with these babies like 18 years ago in high school. LOVE them. Keep the milk handy because they are HOT. Anybody know where to get them in Boston? Mail-ordering potato chips seems ridiculous.