“Actually Tastes Like Sriracha” — VOTE for my Lay’s “Do Us A Flavor” submission 

Was anybody else EXTREMELY disappointed with the Lay’s Sriracha potato chips that came from the last “Do Us A Flavor” contest? Formulated with sour cream, whey, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and Swiss cheese—among other mystery ingredients that aren’t in real Sriracha—it’s no wonder they missed the mark.

Well, here’s my solution: submitting “Actually Tastes Like Sriracha” as a flavor. But I NEED your votes to make this a possibility! There’s this whole rule thingy on the contest that says that new potential flavors must not “be the same or substantially similar to the original Do Us a Flavor finalists (Cheesy Garlic Bread, Chicken & Waffles and Sriracha)”… but my argument is that they were so far from a recognizable Sriracha flavor, that making something that does actually taste like Sriracha will be completely new!

But even if it’s disqualified on this little technicality, I’d love to send a strong message to Lay’s to let them know, “We who love Sriracha most thought your Sriracha chips were OK, but they tasted NOTHING like Sriracha!!” And the more votes I can get, the stronger that message is! And who could pass up an opportunity to win $1,000,000? Oh… did I forget to mention there’s a fatty prize for the winner?!? ;)

VOTE for “Actually Tastes Like Sriracha” in the Lay’s Do Us A Flavor competition [DoUsAFlavor.com]

Review: Lay’s Sriracha Potato Chips 

When I first heard about the new Lay’s Sriracha potato chips, I got pretty excited. In fact, I remember saying to myself, “Well, it’s about damn time somebody made these!”

Because they were released as part of the (potentially limited-time) Lay’s “Do Us A Flavor” promotion, it was a little difficult to find a bag to try. After multiple emails to the Lay’s PR team went unanswered and several unsuccessful trips to local markets, Mr. Brad Burgess (@jharm73) was kind enough to heed my cries on Twitter, sending me a few bags (along with some awesome Tröegs beer! w00t.) in exchange for a signed copy of The Sriracha Cookbook. Thank you, Brad!

So. The chips. In a word? Meh. Yeah, they were a little tasty, but the flavor was—sadly—NOTHING like Sriracha. A bit of nice heat, yes, but the sweetness and the fermented garlic you and I know and love is completely absent, and the flavor of the chiles is very nondescript. More like dried cayenne pepper than fresh red jalapeño in my opinion.

Know why? Because there is no Sriracha in these chips. They’re “Sriracha-flavored” which is techno-speak for “chock full of powders.” And one look at the label corroborates this hunch, and draws even more questions. Like why all the cheese? These chips for some unknown reason contain sour cream, whey, cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, and Swiss cheese… five ingredients that have as much to do with Sriracha as Vin Diesel has to do with the Oscars.

Tyler Raineri—homeboy who originally suggested the flavor as part of Lay’s contest—may get the $1,000,000 prize if Sriracha gets more votes than the other two chip varieties he’s up against: Cheesy Garlic Bread and Chicken & Waffles. Can’t be mad at him for that… but if I was him, I’d be a little mad at Lay’s for being so far from the mark with their formulation.

Who knows… maybe another company can step in and do it right? “Rooster Sauce Ruffles” certainly has a nice ring to it…

Radio Interview: “Why are Americans so smitten with Sriracha?”

After the recent release of the new Lay’s Sriracha-flavored potato chips, a producer from Los Angeles-based public radio station KPCC reached out to see if I’d be available to come on their “Take Two” program to discuss Sriracha’s popularity and all the little Sriracha-themed products popping up in its wake. Naturally, I was honored to chat with them about my favorite subject: the almighty rooster sauce!

[Related post: “Counterfeit Sriracha?” interview with The Dinner Party]

Lay’s debuts new Sriracha Potato Chips alongside two other flavors: Cheesy Garlic Bread and Chicken & Waffles

Well, it was only a matter of time before somebody introduced Sriracha Potato Chips to the world, and it looks like that time is now. Lay's—through its “Do Us A Flavor” promotion—asked consumers to submit new flavor ideas for consideration that would be voted on via social media. After sorting through thousands of submissions, the folks at Lay’s narrowed it down to three flavor finalists: Sriracha, Cheesy Garlic Bread, and Chicken & Waffles. 

The new potato chip flavors are due to hit shelves on February 12, and fans are still encouraged to vote for their favorite to ensure that they stay year-round.

Your trusty Sriracha Cookbook author hasn’t tried the Sriracha potato chips, but rest assured that I had an email out to the Lay’s media relations team four days ago! (Now, if only they’d answer it…) Once I find a bag to try, I’ll be sure to report back. In the meantime, I’m gonna go grub on some Sriracha Peas to curb my rooster sauce snack craving.

Have you gotten a hold of any of the new flavors? Whaddya think?

(via AP: Lay’s test-crunches 3 fan-nominated chip flavors)