Double Dutch Calamari & Tzatziki Chips

I knew it was coming. An emotional foodie blow-out. I am a self-confessed chipaholic so I rarely buy them. I get a small bag from Reg in my stocking at Christmas and if I am lucky a company will send them to me to review.

With the stress of getting the house ready and with being on a super-tight budget, I have been more of a foodie nun than hedonist. Same healthy dinners at night with smoothies. Cutting back on baking because I just do not have time. Mother’s Day coming up and missing my mom with all my heart. Yes, a chip meltdown was imminent.

The Product

Then I saw them: Double Dutch Calamari & Tzatziki Chips. I could not take my eyes off them. Reg thought I was crazy. I took out my camera and took a photo. Then, when I started walking away, I turned around and picked up a $3.49 package which seemed like total extravagance for junk food.

My brain could not stop asking, would they really taste like calamari? How come nobody has focused on garlic flavour in a chip before? Will they be creamy like tzatziki? How thickly cut are they?

The Meltdown

With my health issues, I can only take on one project a day which usually means no kitchen or crafting therapy. This has been an eyesore in our den since the day we moved in. The former owners painted AROUND a massive waterbed leaving this dark purple splotch.

The night before I primed the area and then the next day I got out our carefully reproduced colour-matched paint that we got at Canadian Tire.

It was not until I finished painting that I realized the paint dries a darker colour than when it goes on! Colour-matched my ass!!! That was a $50 tub of paint and yes, the purple menace is gone but WTF?

I then tried having a Skype call with my sister Shannon and the computer went haywire and I lost internet connection completely. Also my phone was dying so we have to talk on the phone with me sitting on a cold kitchen floor. After our talk I went to make an iced coffee and my milk frother wouldn’t work! I knew I was pushing my luck but I made blue cupcakes too which were way harder to make than I expected.

Bring on the Chips

It was time! I tore into the bag and poured myself a bowl of chips. I was greeted with a waft of the scent of seafood, calamari in particular! I could not believe it.

And damn, those chips are thick! So crunchy and almost meaty. No wonder they call them “thick ripple appetizers”. They are also slathered with the creamy flavouring on top. No holding back on flavour here.

But did I like the flavour? At first, I admit, it kind of freaked me out. I mean it really did taste like creamy calamari. How the hell did they do that?

On the front of the package it says “simulated flavours” but when I look at the ingredients it seems as though the calamari flavour may be a “natural” flavour but according to the company’s site they are Kosher (and gluten free).

INGREDIENTS: POTATOES, VEGETABLE OIL, MODIFIED MILK INGREDIENTS, SUGAR, SALT, DEHYDRATED GARLIC, DEXTROSE, SOUR CREAM SOLIDS, SODIUM ACETATE, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, NATURAL FLAVOUR, ACETIC ACID, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CITRIC ACID, PARSLEY, LACTIC ACID, HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL.

Yes, these chips are weird but I LOVE weird! When products fail me, it is usually due to disappointment or even worse: BOREDOM. These are not boring. Tons of flavour (albeit a little odd) and super crunchy, these chips do not disappoint.

Will I buy them again? Perhaps if I get a serious calamari craving that can not be stopped yes but, now that my curiosity is satiated, probably not. They gave me what they promised and it inspired and freaked me out. Love it These are not boring chips. In fact, I am having them for breakfast. I need some serious chip therapy and they deliver. But then it is back to the chip wagon I go!

I give this product four out of five wooden spoons if you are an adventurous foodie who likes calamari. If not, these are not for you.