Herr's debuts three new limited-time flavors, inspired by Philly
We ask the Inquirer newsroom and local chefs to weigh in on the new chip flavors from Herr's.
Between celebrating the World Cup and gearing up for America’s 250th birthday, Philly is awash in limited-edition, patriotic foods, and the potato chip aisle is no different.
Herr’s beloved Flavored by Philly campaign is now in its fifth year. The Chester County company collated nearly 100,000 votes for flavors that best represent American ideals.
The winners are: Freedom Loaded Cheese Fries, Liberty Hickory Barbecue, and United Jalapeño Cream Cheese. They’ll be available through the summer.
“America’s 250th is an amazing time to be able to share potato chip flavors made by the people for the people,” said Ed Herr, executive chairman of the board of Herr’s, in a statement. “Flavored by Philly: Taste the 250 is our way of honoring the city that continues to inspire our flavors and our fans.”
The Inquirer conducted two taste tests: sending the chips around the newsroom and consulting several local chefs.
Here’s what the newsroom thought.
“On this hot day, hickory barbecue wins for me. It tastes like your regular grocery store barbecue sauce, which is weirdly refreshing,” said deputy features editor Evan Weiss.
Features reporter Earl Hopkins agreed. “The hickory barbecue one is the top dog. It has that perfect hint of smokiness that brands like Lay’s wishes they could duplicate.”
The jalapeño cream cheese also found superfans in the newsroom. “Jalapeño cream cheese is my favorite!” said intern Morgan Ritter. “Loaded cheese fries tastes like a hotdog to me. I don’t love it.”
Arts and entertainment editor — and self-professed sour cream and onion fan — Bedatri Choudhury said, “This flavor takes the best (sour cream) part and adds heat to it, which I loved.”
Food reporter Beatrice Forman said, “I had like 10 loaded cheese fry chips trying to discern whether or not I liked them, and I actually still don’t know. I love cheesy chips, but there’s a burnt aftertaste that I’m assuming is to mimic the bacon bits on loaded fries, but bacon shouldn’t taste burnt.”
As for the hickory barbecue, Forman said, “What makes this different than regular barbecue? This is lazy. I did not deign to try it because doing so would dignify it as a chip worthy of our country’s 250th birthday.”
Philly chefs also weighed in.
Amy Rivera-Nassar of Amy’s Pastelillos said, “Where’s the spice? Philly represents a melting pot of culture. I wish we could have seen a flavor that represents the exciting, ever-growing, and diverse culinary landscape that we’ve become. And the jalapeño cream cheese just tastes like sour cream and onion.”
Wichittra Phansaeng of Dara liked all three flavors. “The loaded fries chips are just like eating cheesy fries with bacon, and I like that the jalapeño cream cheese is a little spicy.”
Freya Joy and Dane DeMarco, the chefs at Gass & Main, devoured the chips. “The jalapeño cream cheese is like an angry sour cream and onion, but don’t you tell me a jalapeño was at all involved in this,” Joy said.
“I’m digging the loaded cheese fries. It’s like a TGI Friday’s loaded potato skin if the bacon was crispy — which it never was," said DeMarco. “I want to put all of these chips on a turkey sandwich.”
“These are all beach chips. Or poolside chips,” said Joy.
“Definitely chips to eat outside,” added DeMarco.
