FRANK – Korean BBQ Chips
I’m a sucker for limited edition things. That isn’t to say I will instantly buy or consume something simply because it’s “for a limited time only”. I still exercise judgement and discretion when making purchases. It’s just that if it’s limited edition, my primitive brain, much like many of us, will go into fight or flight mode at the drop of the word “limited”. Something primal activates in us and the concept that something isn’t in abundance or will be restricted to a set number kicks our brains into high gear and makes us want to buy more. I guess you don’t need a degree in economics to understand the basic supply and demand curve. Companies of course know this, and love to toy with us by releasing limited edition items. Oft times it’s a great way for them to test the waters without fully committing to a product, or seeing how well they can make consumers froth at the mouth by slapping a special tag on something. Obviously there are certain products that companies have been peddling the “limited” time concept long enough that it’s more of a seasonal thing. Think McRib. For some reason people go crazy for yoga mats, as long as you restrict it to a tight time window each year.
Today’s flavour is limited edition, if you haven’t already gleamed that from my opening tangent. I was less drawn in by the limited edition label (which I didn’t notice until I brought the bag home), and more by the flavour. I have tried one of the other limited edition flavours, and that was known as the turkey stuffing flavour. It was….actually not bad. I do hope they intend to bring it back closer to thanksgiving.
Korean BBQ is not a flavour I see very often to begin with, much less by a brand that tries to go for a more western audience. That being said, I don’t expect too much from this. I’m guessing their just trying to go for a sweeter version of the standard BBQ flavour that big brands like Ruffles and Lays do. Other than that, I don’t see how you can really do a Korean BBQ flavour. Unless they scraped the char off a grill top and used that as seasoning. Note to self – sustainable, zero waste idea for a chip.
Unlike eating at a Korean BBQ restaurant, the smell doesn’t get everywhere and stick to your clothes to the point that you have to both shower and do laundry that day or risk getting the smell everywhere. The smell is faintly reminiscent of Korean BBQ I guess? Again, the smell is mild, but any smell is mild compared to the real thing, honestly. I can’t fault them for that. Don’t want to kill your consumers with sodium and flavouring right off the bat.
I’ve been trying to figure out where FRANK sources it’s chips from, because the texture on their ripple chips is delightful. It’s firm without being too hard, and still has a nice taste of potato, unlike the stuff that’s overly processed these days. In terms of the BBQ flavour, it’s their but it’s not super salty or overpowering, which I can appreciate. That being said, it’s got enough flavour to make you want more, and before you know it you’re halfway through the bag. Not that I would do something that irresponsible. Maybe.
This bag was priced as their normal bags, so about $2 bucks a bag. Not bad price for what you get. While this flavour isn’t bad, it’s nothing too spectacular. Would I go out of my way to purchase or find this? Probably not. Would I grab this if I saw it at my local Canadian Tire? Yes. Yes I would. So there you have it folks, another day, another bag of FRANK chips.
