Snack Chat

Get Your 'Flavor Fix' Just in Time for Super Bowl... It's a Twitter Party! #FritoLayFlavorFix

It's that time of year again -- the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. If you've been to a supermarket lately, you couldn't miss the tasty snacks and beverages on display, just waiting to be part of your gameday spread. Since we know it can be overwhelming to host the family Super Bowl get-together ANOTHER year in a row -- or if you're just looking for some new and flavorful ideas to bring to the party you're attending, we're here to help!

We've partnered with Mom It Forward, a popular network of lifestyle bloggers, for this week's "Girls Night Out" Twitter party (#GNO), details below. Our very own executive research chef, Stephen Kalil (pictured at left), will tweet, along with the ladies from Mom It Forward, offering tips and answering questions about food, flavors and fun -- all centered around Super Bowl parties. So, start making your list of questions for chef, and I'm sure you'll be impressed with the fun, flavorful food ideas -- and chips, of course! -- he brings to the party. I'm lucky -- I get to ask Chef Stephen cooking questions all the time. Now it's your turn!

Check out the Mom It Forward blog for details on how to enter for a chance to win one of the prizes we're giving away at the Twitter party on Thursday night!

What? #FritoLayFlavorFix Twitter party with #GNO and @MomItForward

When? Thursday, February 2, 2012; 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Central time

RSVP & Enter to Win Prizes Here

Don't forget to use the hash tag: #FritoLayFlavorFix

- Kristin

 

 

Last Call - Crash the Super Bowl Voting Ends Jan. 29

Over the past few weeks, fans have voted for their favorite out of five finalists in this year’s Crash the Super Bowl contest. On Sunday, Jan. 29, voting will end, and two commercials will be selected to air during the Super Bowl and win the grand prize -- the opportunity to work with The Lonely Island on upcoming Doritos projects, and a chance to take home million-dollar bonus prizes! 

As an incentive to fans, the Doritos brand is also putting cash sweepstakes prizes on the line for those who vote. Check out the details here, and vote for your favorite of the videos below before it's too late! Just one day left!

• "Bird of Prey" by Joby Harris
• "Dog Park" by Tyler Dixon
• "Hot Wild Girls" by Brad Scott
• "Man's Best Friend" by Jonathan Friedman
• "Sling Baby" by Kevin T. Willson

- Joe

Dorm Dinners Get Remixed With Rockin' Ramen Fritos Pie

Recently we came across a fun food blog called The College Culinarian. Created by Katie, a grad student at the University of Missouri, the blog is full of great recipes geared towards the thrifty college co-ed who still wants a tasty home-cooked meal. 

We were so impressed by Katie's blog that we offered to create a custom episode of Fritos Pie Remix for her and her readers. Katie challenged Frito-Lay Executive Chef Stephen Kalil to create a take on the classic Fritos Chili Pie that incorporated a staple food for many college students: ramen noodles. The end result was an easy and savory Asian-style dish sure to satisfy eaters of all ages -- Rockin' Ramen Fritos Pie!

Check out the video below, then visit The College Culinarian to see Katie's take on the classic Fritos Chili Pie. As always, you can go to the Fritos Pie Remix website and submit an idea for the extreme ingredient you'd like to see Chef Stephen use, and you might just see it on a future episode!

-- Joe

Introducing our Fan of the Month: Fritzie Kidder!

Every month, we’re highlighting a new Frito-Lay fan and sharing the fan’s fun facts and snacking tips. If you would like to be part of our fan program, sign up here, and you just might be featured as a Fan of the Month in the future!

We’d like you to meet January's Fan of the Month, Fritzie Kidder (pictured below)! Fritzie, a dedicated fan of Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips, is an avid collector of many things and loves snack time with her family. Learn more fun facts about Fritzie in her Q&A below! 

• Favorite Frito-Lay snack: Lay’s Kettle Cooked Jalapeño flavored potato chips 

• Favorite dip recipe or way to enjoy your chips: I love a good, old-fashioned ranch dip. (If you’re a fan of ranch like Fritzie, you’ll love this recipe for Creamy Ranch Cucumber Salad!) 

• If you could be a Frito-Lay chip, which would you be and why? Cheetos Crunchy snacks because sometimes it’s fun being cheesy ;)

• What extreme ingredient would you like to see our chef use in a Fritos Pie Remix recipe? I’d like to see him use chipotle peppers. 

• Which chips would you pair together to make a new snack mix? I’m a big fan of Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips, so I think it would be fun to pair contrasting flavors like Lay’s Kettle Cooked Jalapeño & Lay’s Kettle Cooked Harvest Ranch flavored potato chips together. 

• What are some tips you can share for snacking smarter or living healthier? I like to pack pre-portioned snacks in small snack bags or containers in advance so they’re ready to go for the next day. I also like to have lots of fresh cut veggies – red bell peppers are my favorite!

• If you could work at Frito-Lay for a day, what role would you want to be in and why? I would love to be involved in the market research department. I’m fascinated by how products come to exist, and how things like packaging and design are decided. Of course, I’d also love to be a taste tester for a day, too! 

• Give us 3 fun facts about yourself: 
  • I traveled around the United States from coast to coast full-time for several years when I was a kid. I feel so blessed to have had many amazing experiences!
  • I’m a proud, long-time Joplin, Mo. resident.
  • I love collecting and have lots of great eclectic collections as a result, including a big rock collection with rocks from every state, countless books, Smokey the Bear items and, yes, I even had a Chester Cheetah collection in my younger years!  

• Most memorable Frito-Lay snacking moment: Hmm, it’s too hard to pick a single moment. I’d have to say my favorite moments are when I’m simply snacking with my family. We love Frito-Lay! 

• Tell us why you are a Frito-Lay Fan: I am a fan because Frito-Lay snacks bring back great childhood memories, and remain consistently great over the years.

A big thank you to Fritzie for being our January Fan of the Month and for being a lifelong fan of our snacks! You can learn more about Fritzie on her blog, Frugal Fritzie, and by following her on Twitter. And, come visit us again in February to meet our next Frito-Lay Fan of the Month right here on Snack Chat. 

- Joe

You Wanted It? You Got It! Two Doritos 'Throwback' Flavors Now Available

Around this time last year, Frito-Lay announced the return of Doritos Taco in response to feedback from snack fans. Now, to kick off 2012, I'm happy to say we're doing it again! Loyal fans have let us know -- through phone calls, e-mails, tweets, fan pages and comments on Facebook -- how much they want to see back on store shelves not just one, but two "Throwback" flavors of Doritos: Doritos Sour Cream and Onion and Doritos Salsa Rio.

These new "Throwback" snacks are a nod to flavors from the past that evoke fond memories for many of our fans. Whether you're looking to take a trip down memory lane or to try one of these classics for the first time, be sure to check our product locator to see if stores near you carry these limited-time snacks. Just don't wait too long, as they will only be available through February!

Have you tried Doritos Sour Cream and Onion or Doritos Salsa Rio before? Do they bring back any special memories?

- Joe