While shopping at the horribly chaotic Target at the Atlantic Center several weeks ago, I noticed something strange in the freezer aisle. Maybe I was just oblivious before, but there was a good number of frozen entrees based on Chinese takeout. Yes, frozen egg rolls and dumplings have been around for a while, and Trader Joe’s is no stranger to frozen-foodifying Asian dishes. Now it seems PF Chang’s has a shiny new line of “Home Menu” dinners, including Orange Chicken, Beef with Broccoli, and Shrimp Lo Mein, just waiting to be taken home and zapped in the microwave. (These are apparently for all those times late at night when the Golden Panda around the corner is closed, or when 15 minutes of waiting for the delivery guy is too much to handle.)
From an anthropological standpoint, I was dying to buy a package of P.F. Chang’s Sweet & Sour Chicken to try in my own microwave. What a great blog post that would make! Then I read the ingredients, became dizzy with complex chemical terms, and turned my cart away from the frozen food section.
That was when I stumbled on a huge display of Archer Farms products, and an entire row of “General Tso’s Thick Cut Potato Chips” at eye level. It seems that after exhausting all the possible barbecue and chili flavors on the market, the potato chip industry may have pinpointed Chinese takeout flavors as The Next Big Thing.
(I was also reminded of Lay’s Potato Chips in China. Lay’s in China is a whole different beast. At some point the chief flavor scientist must have had a field day, thinking up such exciting and perplexing flavors as Red Wine Chicken, Italian Red Meat, Blueberry, Lychee, and Numb & Spicy Hot Pot. A walk down any the junk food aisle at any Chinese Carrefour, or other big grocery store, is something to be experienced.)
I bought a bag of the Archer Farm chips, went home, and did some research. Apparently Terra Chips also made a General Tso’s flavor. Whole Foods didn’t carry them but the Fairway on Broadway and 74th did.
Several weeks later I held a mini taste test, appropriately right before a meal of leftover Chinese food (which sadly did not include General Tso’s). Here are the results from the commenters:
Archer Farms’ ridged General Tso’s
Characteristics: Vinegary, with a lot of garlic powder and preservatives. Artificial flavors are very “in-your-face”. Not very spicy.
Tastes like: “A barbecue potato chip but with Asian flavors.” “Bad hot and sour soup with lots of MSG.” “Something I’ve had many times in Chinese restaurants but can’t put my finger on.” “The chili sauce you get with spring rolls.”
Would buy again? Mixed
Terra Chips non-ridged General Tso’s
Characteristics: Immediate lime taste, a tinge of sweetness, followed by a slight chili powder kick. More subtle, good for long periods of snacking.
Tastes like: “Tom yum goong.” “Pad thai dusted with some chili flakes.” “Makes me really want a Thai iced tea.”
Would buy again? Yes
Conclusion: Neither really tasted like General Tso’s chicken, but both are good snacks while waiting for your Chinese food to reheat.
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a good snack food.
Haha. I think Kettle makes a spicy Thai flavor. I’ve seen it in the stores but haven’t tried.
I think that PF Changs is overly seasoned, but still tasty. I was tempted to try their frozen meal since they keep putting out coupons for it, but the price was still too high. At a recent trip to a warehouse store, they were giving away samples of the orange chicken and that quickly quenched any desire to buy some.
That was another thing. Target was selling each frozen entree for $6.99. That’s about what you would pay at a takeout restaurant, except you get two or three times as much food and, well, it’s not a frozen dinner.
You didn’t review president’s choice?!, It’s a store brand, but by far the best!
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I checked out the store locater on the President’s Choice site and there’s no store in New York that carries their products. According to Wikipedia, there are a few US supermarkets that do, so maybe I’ll pick up a bag of "General Tao Chicken Chips" the next time I’m in western New York or Chicago. It got 4.5 stars out of 56 reviews…probably a lot better than the ones I reviewed!
i haven’t had the guts to try the blueberry or lychee flavored potato chips yet, but i’ve had a go with the tomato, cucumber, and lime. However, I really wish there was salt and vinegar potato chips here (I’m in Xiamen), miss those a lot.
Perhaps the General Tso’s chips are best accompanied by Kung! Pow!! malt beverage.
Weird. Although they may be right that China is up and coming in many ways (including tastes), I’m downright terrified of the Tso potato chips. They crunch in my nightmares.
I can’t even picture what this would taste like. But I guess you’ve confirmed that it doesn’t actually taste like Chinese food.
Hmm…I’m not familiar with "Kung! Pow!! malt beverage". Is it found in China or the US or somewhere else?