Gyoza Chips
I like Japanese potstickers. (That’s 餃子 or ギョウザ or gyoza, guys.) I also like potato chips. (Or glazed crisps or whatever you want to call them.) But I was surprised to find them both in the same package: O’Zack ピリ辛餃子. The line on the front of the package reads 「ジューシーな肉汁感とにんにくのうまみ」or “Deliciousness of garlic and the sensation of meat juices.” (I think.) The back of the package says 「ジューシーな肉汁感とタレの風味をベースに、にんにくのうまみと唐がらしの辛みをさかせたおいしさが特徴です。」or “By combining a base of meat broth and (gyoza) sauce flavorings and the tastes of garlic and peppers*, the distinctive deliciousness was made to blossom.” *Peppers means capsicums like chili peppers, not bell peppers. Fun.
Basically, I could not help but imagine a very soggy, somewhat pungent, not particularly appetizing chip. Can you blame me? I’m not the first to blog about these chips, even though they first came out on the 14th of this month. Hajikopapa suggests that they may be a seasonal / limited time item due to the gimmicky feeling they have, but was quite delighted by the flavor of the chips. And, a good test for many a bag chips, they go well with beer according to him. 
He links to the official website for details about these chips. Strange, indeed.
So…I just finished the bag. I guess that means I liked them! Ha ha. They are really quite strange. When I opened the bag, the smell made me reel back a bit – but not because it was bad, but because it honestly smelled like gyoza. That is strange. Some flavors are completely different when compared to their real counterpart (virtually anything pizza flavored or grape flavored, for instance). This was actually an amazing analogue for gyoza. My reaction to it was similar to my reaction to the Dr. Pepper flavored Jelly Belly brand of jelly beans. I can’t help but wonder how they did it. Needless to say, they were not soggy. Pungent yes, but not soggy. The O’Zack brand of chips is always really crispy. The flavor tasted like real gyoza – it even had the slight vinegary hint that comes with the sauce. I kept eating them to make sure that the taste was right. Crazy.
I will say this – these chips are not good for parties. I cannot imagine trying to talk to someone after consuming them. You’d be causing people to drop like flies. Plants will wilt when you pass by. It wouldn’t be pretty. These are a good snack for a day by yourself. And I will warn you – the chips at the bottom of the bag are overwhelming. It’s your call. Ha ha. I just thought I’d share my weird snack experience with you all. Now, to go find some real food for tonight…
Culinary, Customary Drivel, Media, Photos, Unsolicited Commentary, 日本語
