Good morning Junk Food Nation. Watching Sportscenter this morning, I saw some of the replays of the NBA Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies last night. Since I personally believe that the NBA lockout will result in the cancellation of the entire season, and I refuse to watch European basketball (Sorry Ron Artest, Metta World Peace, whatever your name is), it was nice to have something US-based to enjoy. Dennis Rodman was inducted, one of the greatest rebounders I’d ever witnessed in my life.

Rodman was an amazing 3rd baseman, apparently...Nice work, ESPN

For the uninformed, Dennis Rodman was a character on and off the court, and he LOVED to stir the pot. My two favorite Dennis Rodman moments were not even game-related – the cameraman nut-kicking incident and the referee head butting incident.  Follow both Youtube links to enjoy – classic NBA moments. Where’s the 30 for 30 on that, ESPN??

Today’s junk food is another attempt at scorching my taste buds – Ragin’ Cajun Pringles Xtreme! XXXTRREEEEMEEE!

The Money Shot

Proctor & Gamble brings us another one of their laser-light infused Xtreme Pringles products with this flavor, Ragin’ Cajun.  What is cajun flavor, however?  From my extensive sampling of Cajun cuisine (and watching Emeril on Food Network), I know it usually is based in onion, pepper, celery, cayenne, and bay leaf.  BAM!  Time to deconstruct this Super Stack of crunchies of potato!

What is Ragin' Cajun?

I meant to comment on this last time I reviewed a Pringles Xtreme product, but the name of the flavor should be more prominently displayed. Look at the photo above, and the photo above it – you’ve got laser lights going, neon, the word XTREME is in gigantic letters, and you have colorful photos …. and then way in the corner is flavor, incidentally mentioned.  I dunno. This just bugs me.

The four major food groups

Showing off the flavor profile – cayenne peppers and onion. Ok, I guess that’s the route we’re following. So I’m going to assume this is going to have less of a creole flavor and just more of a savory spicy flavor. You ever have a good gumbo with shrimp? You know that wonderful brownish sauce the shrimp swims in, that is spicy, buttery and loaded with flavor?  Yeah, we’re not getting that here.

Purported hotness

What we are getting, apparently is SPICE!  Spicy Spicy Spicy…we’ll see about that, Proctor and Gamble. This is supposed to be a level 4 burn, the hottest on the cartoonish scale itself! I should need a fire extinguisher according to the photo. Hell, the pepper above the scale is smoking (or sweating or something). I welcome the burn, Pringles, WELCOME IT!  Do your worst.

A solid dusting

The chips themselves are standard Pringles – crispy, light. The powdery dusting of light orange and red flecks doesn’t SEEM to shout “SPICY HERE!” Then again, I doubted it on the last Pringles Xtreme snack I tried and was surprised then too.  Digging in…

That's what I like to see

MMMM. A few chips in and I could DEFINITELY feel the spice. The chips first had a wonderfully savory taste (not like the buttery gumbo sauce, but still a pleasant onion-y bell-pepper-y flavor). Then the spice hits immediately – not surprising as the ingredients include habanero and paprika extract. But even better, even after swallowing the potato in your mouth, the spice lingers and lingers and lingers! My tongue and lips felt that familiar tingle, that burn.  Awesome effect.

Was it the spiciest junk food in the world? No – I don’t think they are personally very spicy at all, certainly not to warrant level 4 burn status. (Note: if you’re not a spicy food person, I guess this would give you that level 4 kick).  But I give the junk food HUGE props for giving my tongue that familiar tingling feeling and making it STICK!

Two for Two on the Pringles Xtreme, Proctor and Gamble.  Kudos.

Sincerely, Junk Food Guy