The first time I traveled in the United Kingdom, I was a little in awe when I came across product packages that read, "By appointment to her Majesty the Queen...." How fun it would be to bestow your seal of approval on the products that please you most! Of course, that doesn't mean the queen gets those products for free. But maybe she gets the right to call some company C.E.O. on the carpet if they change a product formulation in a way she doesn't like. Ah, wouldn't that be lovely?!
On my blog, I created a category entitled "Simple Pleasures & Indulgences" that really functions a lot like a Royal Warrant of Appointment except that it carries absolutely no clout. (Sigh.) Still, it is fun to share happy finds with my friends.
"By appointment to her Majesty the Queen of JourneyLeaf"...
The charm of these chips is that they are different. They are baked rather than fried, so they are not greasy but have a great crunch. They are shaped like a cross between French fries and little baguettes, which somehow makes them fit nicely as a handful. And, most of all, they have a salty seafood flavor that is anything but run-of-the-mill. The down side is that they smell decidedly "wharfish" when you first open the bag. Two seconds later, however, that puff of pent-up shrimp fades, leaving behind a mild flavor that makes them the perfect picnic food for the beach but also a big hit at parties. Whenever I take these places to share, someone almost always reacts with, "Ohhhh, man. What are these?! Where can I get some?" The answer to that last question is "your local Asian grocery store." The chips are from Tokyo, so we first found them in a Japanese store called Ichiban Kan. They are popular enough, though, that most Asian stores carry them. Do be careful to look for the pink dots. Calbee Shrimp Chip bags with green dots are also yummy but contain a good bit of spicy wasabi.
So now you know a secret beach picnic snack to wow your buddies.
Go forth and enjoy!
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