Junk Food Nation, you guys know I do a podcast.  OH YOU DON’T KNOW??? Well, let me tell you about it. /begin shill

It’s called The Nosh Show, and it’s a podcast that was started by Marvo from The Impulsive Buy, and it features Ryan from GrubGrade, and Dubba from On Second Scoop, and, of course, me, your friendly neighborhood Junk Food Guy.  Here’s our latest episode that you can listen to RIGHT HERE:

Subscribe to The Nosh Show on iTunes. Or if you don’t use iTunes, you can use this link to subscribe using your podcast player of choice. /end shill

Anyways, I’m recording our newest episode TONIGHT, and Marvo sent the other hosts each a mystery box:

Marvo told us not to open them until the show, so I haven’t. BUT THE ANTICIPATION IS KILLING ME.  What’s inside, do you think? The box I got was very light, and when I tilt the box around, something inside that is smaller than the volume of the box keeps clanking around in there.  Like a large deck of cards, or something.

What do you think is inside the box, Junk Food Nation? Tell me in the comments below. You’ll find out what it is on Monday, when our newest episode releases.  Until then…MYSTERY! Grub Grade thinks it’s the head of Gwyneth Paltrow.  I really hope it isn’t.

Today’s junk food: Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips!

I first spotted these Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips over on my friend’s blog, The Impulsive Buy, and Chip Review looked at these too.  That was, like, four months ago.  Way to distribute quickly, Frito-Lay. These just reached my shelves this past week!

The Junk Food Gal makes a MEAN pico de gallo, with look of great red onion, tomato, lime, cilantro, jalapeño.  These Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips have a lot to live up to.

Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips were inspired by Samuel Oliveros.  What do you think he DOES in the company? My guess: brags about this flavor being inspired by him.

Oh, only YOUR part of the United States has people that enjoy pico de gallo? And where IS that, exactly, Sam??? I’m offended.

I like seeing Cilantro as one of the ingredients of these Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips, but wish it wasn’t mixed in with the general “spices” listing.  C’mon, now.  Plus, Sour Cream? Since when are you mixing sour cream into your pico de gallo? Answer: YOU’RE NOT.

I opened up this bag of Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips and sniffed DEEPLY – and all I smelled, VERY faintly, was a bit of onion powder and maybe a tiny bit of tomato powder.  Sigh.  No cilantro smell.  RED FLAG.

I munched on a small stack of these Lay’s Pico de Gallo Potato Chips, and I have to say, these were a BIG FAT LETDOWN.

Don’t get me wrong – the chips TASTE fine, but they do NOT taste like Pico de Gallo.  Instead, these wonderfully light and crispy potato chips (you’re still golden there, Frito-Lay) taste primarily of tomato powder, with a tiny bit of lime tang.

The Junk food Gal tasted them and noted that I hadn’t told her what the flavor was, she would have no idea.  Each chip was sort of sweet, as the tomato powder really took center stage.  The bit of lime flavor was nice, and helped bring the onion powder, dried garlic, and sour cream (????) together.  Still, the was NO burn AT ALL – my tongue didn’t even have a single tingle.

But most of all, there was absolutely NO cilantro flavor!  I mean, WHAT?? Cilantro is SUCH an easy flavor to get across and replicate – it’s a strong flavor even with tiny bits of leaves in real life, so how can that flavor not translate into a chip?  What are the green specks then, if not dried cilantro?  So confusing.  I icked each chip and searched for it, and while I probably did convince myself I tasted it once in a while, I shouldn’t have to work so hard.

No burn, no cilantro = no real semblance of pico de gallo.  Tastes good? Sure – but these are a tomato powder chip.  I’d avoid.

PURCHASED AT: Giant Food Grocery

COST: $4.29 (full price! OUCH!)

Thoughts? Please comment below or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. I also have Google+!! Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy