All good Southerner’s have a particular food that, in an instance, will take them back to a special place. It’s the one Southern food, that when discovered, makes you feel you’ve found a lost treasure. Without a doubt Zapp’s Potato Chips are my favorite southern comfort food. Argue all you want, there are no better chips made in the world, end of story. These chips are so amazing, and valuable to me, that we served them at our wedding. What other chip brands can claim Hotter ‘n Hot Jalapeno, Cajun Dill, Sour Cream & Creole Onion, Mesquite BBQ, Spicy Creole Tomato,Voodoo or (my personal favorite) Spicy Cajun Crawtator and really recreate those familiar southern flavors?
These are not your average potato chips. With their extra thick, extremely crunchy texture, and strong cajun seasonings, Zapp’s feel like a meal unto themselves. They come in a very distinct metallic bag, with each flavor having its own dedicated logo and stripe color, making it stand out amongst other brands. Without a doubt Spicy Cajun Crawtator is a flavor from home. Each bite tastes like a fresh crawfish that has just been boiled in a pot of Louisana cajun seasoning. You almost believe that these chips came from someone’s previous crawfish boil and somehow made their way into Zapp’s kettle to be fried and shared. My other favorite is the Cajun Dill, which tastes amazingly like an old southern recipe for fried dill pickles. Each bite has the same Zapp’s crunch, but just the right amount of dill, spice and salt to really make your taste buds believe its a batter fried pickle. Try a bag of Zapp’s with some fried catfish fillets, or a shrimp Po-B0y, maybe a sweet tea , and you’ll have a comfort meal from my youth. These dishes bring back memories of salty air, and watching the shrimp boats come into the South Mississippi harbors at sunset.
Zapp’s can usually be found throughout the South, and I always stock up, out of habit, when I find ’em. There is nothing greater than that moment when I spot those silver and red stripes, which I immediately recognize as Crawtator’s, and end up buying 2 or 3 bags. I haven’t brought myself to order Zapp’s over the internet; not knowing when I’ll find them, adds to the feeling of discovery and delight when I least expect it. It’s funny how a simple thing like a potato chip, can remind you of your childhood, in the south, or how a flavor brings back a certain memory. Zapp’s are an amazing example of how a simple southern food, and its distinct cajun flavors, has become a unique part of my own culture. In the South, food is culture, and culture is life. We give it a 4.5 out 5 Strips of Bacon, best chips in town, but only if you can find ’em.
Tell us about your favorite southern comfort food. What story does it remind you of? Where can we find it, or what is the recipe? We’d love to hear about it. Stay Hungry Y’all!
-The Hungry Southerner
Zapp’s Potato Chips http://www.zapps.com
Agreed on the Spicy Cajun Crawtator. That’s a unique flavor that really makes an impression.
There are great chips all over the country, but the South’s chip prowess is truly world class.
Now if The Hungry Southerner could just get up to Nashville to hang out with the Book Fools, and smoke some ribs our life would be complete. Thanks for stopping by Luke.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Zapp’s and similar chips. However, I recently had some “Dirty” Potato Chips (http://www.dirtys.com/cgi-bin/dirtys/index.html) at the Blind Pig here in Oxford and thought they were very good.
Haven’t heard of Dirty Pototato Chips but we’ll try it out next time we’re in Oxford.
Zapps and Dirtys is the same company!!!!!!!!!!! Gramercy, LA
An ENTIRE blog post devoted to Zapps…I LOVE IT! Vinegar and Salt Zapps are the best! Love, love, love the blog:) Love the writing, love the pictures, and love that you are sharing our culture with all of those darn Yankees!
I’m thinking that it is homemade fried (skin on) or smoked mullet. Both are scrumptious.
Growing up on the Coast in Mississippi, I have to attest that Zapp’s are one of m favorite tastes from home that I can get in Atlanta. Gawsh, My tummy misses the coast!
Glad to hear I’m not the only Coast person transplanted to Atlanta, that Zapps reminds me of home. Now if I could find a decent poboy in Atlanta.