Junk Food Nation, yesterday for the first time since I started this blog (I think), I had an unannounced absence of posting.  Well, I announced it on Twitter/Facebook, but not here.  Usually, even if I’m really tired, I’ll put up at least a small blurb, a paragraph, a picture – but yesterday, nada.  Nothing. I was beat from Election Night, beat from my job, and beat down in general.

Anyways, sorry. Whether your candidate won or lost, it was an exhausting election period, and coupled with the heavy backhand slap realization of, “Well, that’s over – oh crap, I need to work tomorrow!” I just wasn’t able to post something substantive.  But I’m back today!

Today’s junk food: Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax!

Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax: The Money Shot

Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax were found at Walmart, where I apparently get most of my junk food.  And of all the Stax reviews I’ve given – I actually think I’ve enjoyed ALL of them.  So when I saw Flamin’ Hot Stax on the horizon, I said giddyup.

Veggie central!

Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax look like they are flavored with tomato, peppers, garlic and onion – all of the four major food groups.  At least the four food groups that make my mouth smile.

13% fat content in one serving – woooo!

Malted Barley Four?

Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax has all the ingredients you’d thknk it’d have, but I want to focus on one: Disodium guanylate.  Per Wiki, it is produced from dried fish or dried seaweed and is often added to instant noodles, potato chips and other snacks, savoury rice, tinned vegetables, cured meats, and packaged soup.  And now you know!

Didn’t try very hard eh?

Usually you expect the backs of these cans to have some small contrived description of the flavor – “it puts the sizz back in sizzle!” or something like that.  But not here, on this can of Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax. Just neutral boring boilerplate language.  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

GREAT color

Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax had amazing color!  Every single chip was BLASTED with powder, very RED powder. Big thumbs up.  No skimping on the visuals here. The smell – basic, something savory, nothing clearly distinguishable.

Powder loaded

OK, I have to say it – I think I’ve really turned the corner on Lay’s Stax.  They might be better than Pringles.  I had originally killed them for being knockoff Pringles…but the more I’ve eaten them, the more I like everything about them!  Better flavor depth, better potato taste, better crunch.  AND cheaper????

These Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Stax were really really tasty. As soon as I chewed one, I got a slight tang that turned into immediate heat – nice and spicy.  But I also got plenty of garlic taste in addition to hot pepper.  In short, these tasted like sriracha!  These were sriracha potato chips, I swear.  DELICIOUS!  Not just hot to be hot, these chips had such great flavor, rounded out by the tomato and onion powder.

The flavor of this chip was so simple (pepper onion garlic tomato), yet was such a complex and well done flavor.  If you like sriracha, you’ll REALLY like these.  Unlike the Sriracha Popcorn I reviewed, which I thought tasted sort of like sriracha without the heat, these tasted SPOT ON like sriracha!  EXCELLENT.

PURCHASED AT: Walmart

COST: $1.50

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. Also, you can always email me at junkfoodguy@junkfoodguy.com.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy