April 21, 2010
Armenian Potato Chips
Potato chips (American English, Australian English and Canadian English: chips; Irish English and British English: crisps) are thin slices of potato that are deep fried or baked until crispy. Potato chips serve as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. Commercial varieties are packaged for sale, usually in bags. The basic chips are cooked and salted, and additional varieties are manufactured using various flavorings and ingredients including seasonings, herbs, spices, cheeses, and artificial additives. Chips are a predominant part of the snack food market in English-speaking countries and numerous other Western nations.
There is little consistency in the English speaking world for names of fried potato cuttings. American and Canadian English use “chips” for the above mentioned dish—this term is also used (but not universally) in other parts of the world, due to the influence of American culture—and sometimes “crisps” for the same made from batter, and “French fries” for the hot crispy batons with a soft core. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, “crisps” are the brittle slices eaten at room temperature and ‘chips’ refer to the hot dish.
Potato chips were originally fried and seasoned without concern for trans fats, sodium, sugar, or other nutrient levels. As nutritional intake guidelines were created in various countries and the nutrition facts label became commonplace, consumers, advocacy groups, and health organizations have focused on the nutritional value of so-called junk foods, including potato chips.
Some potato chip companies have responded to the criticism, both informal and legal, by investing in research and development to modify existing recipes and create health-conscious products. Kettle Foods was founded in 1978 and currently sells only trans fat-free products, including potato chips.
You can find authentic Armenian Potato Chips on many Armenian Restaurants in Los Angeles.
