In the snack world, there are few companions as loyal as the humble potato chip.
Delicious and dependable with all kinds of seasoning, chips are like the reliable best friend of every midnight binge. But like all good things, chips are beginning to evolve. For some, gone are the days of pecking at greasy crumbs while chugging Mountain Dew. Over in London, ‘eating chips’ (or crisps as our English friends call them) has received a classy makeover, with a full-on custom experience complete with fancy artisan sodas and flavourful dips like wild garlic and chocolate mousse.
In other words, this is a far cry from your a regular bag of Lays.
HipChips is a London eatery that opened its doors late last year to bring a new look to the common potato chip – a hipster makeover if you will. Dishing out fresh, customized chips to a munch-happy clientele, they pride themselves on a customized experience that gives you final control over every aspect of your chip, from whether it’s seasoned with salt or cinnamon sugar to yes, even the potato itself.
Apparently, spuds come in a variety of fun shapes and sizes. HipChips is proud of its selection of ‘Heritage Potatoes’, which all offer differences in terms of texture and colour. Feel like diversifying your potato portfolio? Why not go for chips made from “Red Emmalie” potatoes (supposedly long, fluffy and purple) or give the super red “Highland Burgundy, 1936” a whirl?
Besides the expansive potato selection though, according to devoted fans of HipChips, what sets the shop apart is the stellar variety in dips. The choice is plentiful between both savoury and ‘pudding’ (dessert), with droolworthy dips like Katsu Curry, Smokey Cheese Fondue and for sweet tooths, Campfire S’mores, which lays it on heavy with chocolate, salted caramel and marshmallows.
And while these ‘custom crisps’ don’t come as cheap as their supermarket cousins, HipChips is still proving to be a pilgrimage location for chip enthusiasts around the world. The only question is: how long would it take to try every possible combination? I think for that task, I’d happily volunteer as tribute.
To learn more about HipChips, visit their website.
