One of the things that makes human civilization great is the capacity for invention. Where food is concerned, this results in an absurd number of variations on basic concepts, in an ongoing quest to find something new to sell to the consumer.
Thus, hot dog flavored potato chips.
Actually, to be precise, “Coney Island Hot Dog with Mustard” flavored potato chips.
This odd product is put out by a company called “Snyder’s of Hanover”, and appeared in one of the vending machines at my workplace.
Considering that one of the roles of vending machines is to use the buyer as a guinea pig for food marketing experiments, I am always wary of this kind of thing. It might be a trap.
But I had to know.
At the moment I type this, I have not yet tasted the product, but I will do so now. Upon opening the bag, the smell is a mixture of potato chips, mustard, and hot dog meat, which is not entirely surprising.
*chew chew chew*
Well…the strongest flavor at first is onion, and I note that onion powder is one of the listed ingredients. But there is, indeed, the flavor of hot dog and mustard. It’s as if you had been eating a hot dog with mustard on it, and then ate some potato chips; the hot dog flavors linger in your mouth even though it’s no longer present.
But overall, I think I’ll let my coworker Josh speak for me:
“Dude, I think I’m gonna vomit.”
UPDATE: Apparently this company makes a habit out of strange-flavored snacks. Their website reveals such weirdness as Creamy Caramel flavored pretzel balls, Spicy Chesapeake Bay Crab potato chips, and something called “Strawberry Yo~Zels”, which I’m guessing are yogurt-covered pretzel snacks. Bleh.
August 11th, 2003 at 9:18 am - Edit
Can’t be worse than my peanutbutter, jelly and egg sandwhch experiment. *G* Tastes great when drunk…later on, not so good.
August 12th, 2003 at 8:44 am - Edit
Has to be better than the time I put mayo on a raisin bagel.
August 27th, 2003 at 3:33 pm - Edit
I’m so glad I’m not alone in my fascination. I too have marveled at the Coney Island Hot Dog potato chips available in the vending machine at my workplace and set out to see who, exactly, was eating them. I could find no one to admit to it, although the decreasing quantity in the vending machine on a daily basis would indicate that someone had to be. Finally, curiosity got the best of me when a co-working I bought the last bag and gave them to me as a joke. Several of us tried them together. Our collective opinion–disgusting.
August 27th, 2003 at 3:52 pm - Edit
Along with my buddy Kelly, I too tasted the coney island hot dog chip. I am hoping that, with a few years of therapy and some understanding from my wife, I will recover.
September 25th, 2003 at 12:24 pm - Edit
ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!
As with your office, we one day found ourselves the participants of the Coney Island Hot Dog with Mustard experiment… Before I continue, one must ask… So why did all of you try it?!?!
These chips are culinary creations of nostalgic proportions that send the taster on trips down the boardwalk in the summer, whispers of breaking waves, the rumble of the statium and the crack of a homerun! So tasty, they’re a meal in themselves and thank you very much, I must get on the Snyder’s home page to order my case of chips since non-believers have ousted the vending gourmet champion.
November 19th, 2003 at 1:36 pm - Edit
My curiosity finally got the best of me. They indeed taste just like a bad hot dog. All the guys in my office went on and on about how horrible it sounds but I had a line form for taste tests. Granted nobody wanted more than one. Horrible stuff.
November 24th, 2003 at 4:30 pm - Edit
Coney Island Convert: nostalgia? Dude, you can get exactly the same flavor from a real hot dog with mustard and onions on it. And a real hot dog would taste better.
December 18th, 2003 at 12:53 pm - Edit
I found these chips under similar circumstances.. A friend tried them and noted, “I like how you can taste the bun.” Of course, now he’s known around here for that very quote, which is hilarious both in and out of context.
I’m actually trying to find a place to buy whole bags of these chips, instead of just the little vending size bags, for his Xmas present.
I haven’t tried the crab chips yet, but something about that sounds very wrong. Of course, hot dog chips sounded wrong too, but I tried them. I suppose I’ll try the crab chips when I finally run into them.
January 6th, 2004 at 6:39 am - Edit
those chips rule, you idiot.
January 7th, 2004 at 11:47 am - Edit
I just spotted these in my workplace vending machine yesterday & my curiosity got the best of me. I happen to like them, as did everyone else who sampled them. I was afraid they would be nasty & overpowering like ketchup flavored chips, but only had a hint of mustard & onion.
May 6th, 2004 at 1:25 pm - Edit
I found these “Hot Dog flavored chips” over a year ago in a vending machine at school. When I saw them I said to myself “WHAT THE HELL?” I really wanted some HotCheetos,but I was just too damn curious to see if they really tasted like Hot Dogs. I opend the bag,smelled them,and took a bite. I like the chips,I think about them everytime I smell a Hot Dog.
June 24th, 2004 at 6:28 pm - Edit
I NEED TO HAVE MORE OF YOUR CHIPS PLEASE SEND ME SOME ILL GIVE YOU MY ADRESS WHEN YOU WRITE BACK ILL PAY ANY PRICE PLEASE. I HAD THEM ONCE AND HAVENT BEN ABLE TO FIND THEM SENCE. ….ME VERRY VERRY SAD…. THANK YOU
MADELINE D.
P.S. IM ADICTED AFTER ONE TRY
June 24th, 2004 at 9:16 pm - Edit
Could someone please post the list of ingredients? I’m really curious to see what’s in these things.
By the way, if someone really wants to order these, they’re available from the Snyder’s website in a case of 60 single-serve bags: http://store.yahoo.com/snydersofhanover/flavpotchip.html
July 22nd, 2004 at 9:07 pm - Edit
OMG! hotdog and mustard chips!!!!!!! i love those, i found them about 2 years ago in the vending machine at school but havent seen them since! i love them!
August 22nd, 2004 at 10:51 pm - Edit
So, just like you all, I experienced the intrigue of coney island hot dog with mustard flavored chips. Late one night, my roommate and I decided that we were hungry so we wandered to the vending machine downstairs from our dorm room. Personally, I was looking for a bag of pretzels or maybe even some popcorn, but instead, I found myself starring at the bag of hot dog with mustard flavored potato chips. I just couldnt keep my eyes off of them because they just seemed so odd and out of place and all I could remember myself saying was “What the Hell?!?!” My roommate, being the clever one that she is, dared me to eat the chips and being so intrigued, I decided to go for it and not pass up on this daring venture. As soon as I opened the bag which had a giant hotdog on the front as if the name of the chips itself wasnt obvious enough, the smell of hotdogs and some other unknown smells which still remain unknown hit me in the face, literally. I took a bite of one chip and the only thing I can remember is feeling like I was going to throw up. now, every time i see a hotdog, i’m reminded of those chips! they were so disgusting and i havent seen them since!!!!
October 23rd, 2004 at 9:31 am - Edit
I had them the other day and liked them a lot. Now I’m online looking to see where I can find them.
BTW, my wife and son liked them as well.
A brilliant and well implemented idea. I’d like to see large bags available at Sam’s and Costco. If this were to happen I could see throwing up at some point if one were not careful.
November 15th, 2005 at 4:10 pm - Edit
I absolutely love them. I first tried them from a vending machine where I worked. I have been looking for them since in larger bags in grocery stores. I have not found any yet. Are you still making them and if so where can I find them? My husband ate green onion flavored potato chips years ago and he was wondering if you made them.
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:47 pm - Edit
Lol i really love them too! I want more colored potato chips:)
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:52 pm - Edit
Mustard chips?? I want to try that badly
April 4th, 2008 at 7:15 pm - Edit
I love all kind of chips so why not.
April 5th, 2008 at 4:45 am - Edit
Wow this truly sounds disgusting.
April 9th, 2008 at 4:06 am - Edit
Island Hvar
April 11th, 2008 at 3:21 am - Edit
I am ADdICTED AFTER ONE TRY
buat duit
April 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm - Edit
peace
April 28th, 2008 at 6:20 am - Edit
I absolutely love them. I have been looking for them since in larger bags in grocery stores.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:06 pm - Edit
I live in Rockford, Illinois. Where can I get Kelly brand potatoe chips in my area?
Thanks,
DeeDee