Junk Food Nation, my readers are the best. While reading about moron Ray Rice and the idiot Atlanta Hawks basketball organization made me shake my head, getting a package from one of my UK readers was a welcome distraction. Inside: CHIPS…I mean, CRISPS (gotta get into the British spirit here).

Walker’s, or the UK counterpart of Lay’s, is having their own “Do Us a Flavour” contest, and they have SIX varieties out: Chip Shop Chicken Curry, Hot Dog with Tomato Ketchup, Ranch Raccoon, Sizzling Steak Fajita, Cheesy Beans on Toast, and Pulled Pork in a Sticky BBQ Sauce.  The UK does six flavors, while we only have four here in the US??? DAMNIT, LAY’S!

I was already a huge fan of Walkers from my trip to Ireland, and have reviewed some flavors on this site. But I’m even MORE of a fan seeing that Walkers offered these flavors in large bag sample packs – you could try ALL SIX flavors in two six packs that contained two little bags per flavor.  That is WAY thoughtful for consumers…as opposed to the party size bags that were the only option early on here in the US. DAMNIT, LAY’S!

Anyways, because of the two-per-flavor nature, reader Brit, who sent me the goods, agreed to help me review these flavors side by side – she’ll bring the UK perspective (in italics), I’ll provide the US perspective (in non-italic). I’m stoked, hopefully you are too! SO, without further ado – the first two flavors of the day are Chip Shop Chicken Curry & Hot Dog with Tomato Ketchup!

BRIT: These chips were almost impossible to find. Despite having launched at the end of July, it took me 4 grocery stores and countless corner stores to find them. This was even more frustrating considering they are advertised on every multi-pack and single pack of Walkers chips in every store. I asked so many sales assistants if they had some in stock and most had never heard of them despite the advertising. Great job, Walkers, your incredibly annoying tv ads are not helpful.

I have to admit that I very rarely eat potato chips, like maybe once a month. My all time favourite are Phileas Fogg “Tastes From Around The World” which are incredibly accurate and crazy-delicious. I’m not sure if this will affect my judgement here?

I tried these without checking what they were supposed to taste of online, although in a couple of instances I looked them up immediately after.

FIRST UP: Chip Shop Chicken Curry!

BRIT: These smell pretty accurate to chip shop curry sauce, no chicken scent though. Taste is pretty similar; weak curry-powder flavour, no spice at all. I still can’t pick up any chicken here, even though there is chicken powder. I’m not a fan of curry sauce but it is really popular over here so people might like these. Inoffensive but nothing special.

JFG: I’ve never been to a classic UK chip shop, so in all honesty, I have no idea what these Chip Shop Chicken Curry potato crisps are supposed to taste like. The Walkers website says: “Classic British chip shop curry sauce, almost like a rich gravy with curry spices, but not too hot!” so that’s no help. I know what chicken curry HERE smells/tastes like, but not sure if the UK version is different.

When I opened the bag up, I smelled a wonderful chicken curry smell – a classic Southeast Asian aroma profile. But when I put the chip in my mouth – the flavor was WEAK.  I dunno, when I think curry, I think BOLD cumin, etc.  This was not. I did taste all the flavors that would make you think curry, but they were EXTREMELY muted.  Is this how UK curry is?  Spice it up, people!  The chicken profile was there, and at times dominated the flavor profile. Walkers has, IMO, always been good at making chicken-flavored crisps, so that was unsurprising – but I wanted the curry to be bolder.  Meh.

SECOND UP: Hot Dog with Tomato Ketchup!

BRIT: Woah, these smell spot on. Definitely picking up ketchup and hot dogs; gross, cheap frankfurters though. The initial flavour is tart tomato ketchup which is great; it develops into a smoky, sausage flavour where I can almost taste the grease. Honestly I find these a little gross but I have to give them credit for such an authentic flavour. It’s weird that there’s no pork extract as these really do taste like fatty frankfurter sausages. Science, guys. I think these will probably be popular, they remind me of hotdogs you find at fair grounds.

JFG: So, I’ve HAD ketchup chips here in the US, and they are hit or miss. I’ve had some where the tomato is too strong, some where the tomato is too weak, somewhere they taste good – but not like ketchup, and some where the tang is JUST right. The flavor of these UK crisps, according to the website: “Imagine that first, satisfying bite of a hot-dog where you get a mouthful of salty, yet meaty frankfurter in soft bread roll, with lashings of sweet tomato ketchup. Yum!” Who’s writing this sh*t?

When I opened this bag and smelled – it smelled decent. I caught a general meatiness and some tomato smell.  Not sure if it was spot-on hot dog for me, but I did hint of some sort of meat.  Sort of a gross smell, to be honest.

When I placed some chips in my mouth, I knew that I did NOT like these.  Brit was right – there was a tartness to the tomato flavor, yet it STILL didn’t taste exactly like my favorite ketchup.  It was sort of a tart yet weak version of ketchup…didn’t have the lasting tang I’d expect.  The hot dog flavor? It was there but for me it was in the aftertaste.  There was a weird slight smoky flavor, and I didn’t like it.

As I tasted more, the best description I can give: ever have crock pot little weiner dogs in ketchup at some party or event?  That’s EXACTLY what these tasted like. The ketchup flavor was boiled through and the hot dog was only sort of there.  Yeah…like Brit said, if that’s the flavor Walkers was going for…I guess, good job?  These were yuck.

We’ll hit the other four flavors over the next two days. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

PURCHASED AT: UK!

COST: 1 pound per six pack.

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. I also have Google+!! Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy