Since moving to Calgary nearly three years ago, I’ve acquired a soft spot for the Calgary Stampeders. While I find it hard to get worked up over sports in general, and I couldn’t explain the finer points of Canadian football to an American other than three obvious points – bigger fields, fewer downs and playoff games where ice, rain, wind and snow can all be factors in a single game – the Canadian Football League is a friendly league, with less bluster and ego than in many other sports.
It’s no surprise, then, that grocery store Calgary Co-op has produced a line of CFL-approved foodstuffs and party accessories that raises money for the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Treats in the line include Cornish RB-Q Chips, a wink-wink name considering the package features prominent player Jon Cornish, a running back for the team. (RB? Get it? It’s silly but I like it.)
My local Co-op had a huge display of these chips (along with Cornish Flakes, an accompanying breakfast cereal), so I put a bag in my basket and reckoned I’d give them a try.
The Pitch: “Mesquite Barbecue Flavoured Kettle Cooked Potato Chips.” “Game-Day Approved.”
The Look: Red, white and black packaging with Cornish going for a run with the ball. The chips are large and nicely curly and well coated in seasoning.
The Taste: The texture is crunchy without being mushy, with just the right amount of oil. Very salty, some unexpected sweetness, and a bit of smoky character. There’s just the right amount of seasoning. It’s like some sort of hybrid of the traditional Old Dutch barbecue chip flavour I remember from grade school mixed with the more modern mesquite barbecue flavour. For a store-brand chip, these are a hell of a lot better than I was expecting.
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RATINGS AND DETAILS
Cost: $0.99 for a 180-gram bag (on sale) at Calgary Co-op.
Value for cash money: At that price? Fantastic. Even at twice the price, they’d be a steal.
Availability: Calgary Co-op. Presumably for a limited time.
Nutrition?: Per 25 chips (50 grams): 250 calories, 14 grams of fat, 470 mg of sodium, 2 grams of fibre, 3 grams of protein.
The verdict: Great chips, especially for the price. A bit too salty, but in moderation they’re lovely.