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Writer's pictureJace Shoemaker-Galloway

National Potato Chip Day


Let the chips fall where they may. Whether you prefer yours au natural, all-dressed or smothered in dip, today is all about chips. Potato chips, that is! March 14 is National Potato Chip Day, an annual food holiday that celebrates those crispy and salty treats that are fun to eat.

Folks have been munchin' on chips for over one hundred years. Legend has it that a finicky customer was dining at a Saratoga Springs restaurant in New York back in 1853. Unhappy with his meal, he kept sending his fried potatoes back to the kitchen because he didn’t like the way there were prepared. They were too thick for his liking. As a joke, Chef George Crum sliced the potatoes paper-thin, fried 'em up, added some salt and sent them back to the table. But Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt loved them and the “Saratoga Chip” was born!

Potato chips were only available in restaurants. But in 1895, chips hit the grocery stores and were available in cracker barrels and glass display cases. In 1926, the chips were sold in paper bags sealed with an iron! And finally, in the 1950s, all sorts of flavored chips were created.

Ever since that first chip was served to that finicky eater, folks have been unable to eat just one! In fact, potato chips are Americans favorite snack. Sales worldwide are over $15 billion a year!

Best & Worst Potato Chip Flavors

Today’s potato chips are available in almost any flavor imaginable. Depending where you live, the more “traditional” flavors include:

  • Plain/Regular

  • Sour Cream and Onion

  • Barbecue

  • Cheese

  • Jalapeno

  • Salt and Vinegar

  • Pizza

  • Ketchup

  • All Dressed

  • Dill Pickle

  • Ranch

  • Poutine (Canada)

And for those folks who are tired of the same ho-hum chip, check out these unusual or downright disgusting flavors:

  • Chili and Chocolate

  • Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

  • Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper

  • Crispy Duck & Hoisin

  • Cherkees (Beef Jerky flavor)

  • Peking Duck

  • Salmon Teriyaki

  • Hot & Sour Fish Soup

  • BBQ Chicken

  • Herb Roasted Chicken

  • Roast Chicken

  • Turkey

  • English Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding

  • Chilli Beef

  • Steak & Onion

  • Sausage & Tomato

  • Ham & Mustard

  • Baby Back Ribs

  • Big Bit Hot Dog

  • Crab Chips

  • Greek Chips

  • Curry Chips

  • Mayonesa

  • Fries & Gravy

  • Mushroom

  • Garlic Mashed Yukon Gold

  • Beer Chips

  • Cajun Squirrel

So what about you? What’s your favorite and not-so-favorite flavor of chips? Today is also, Pi Day, National Children's Craft Day and Genius Day.

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