I don’t have to tell you that restaurants are suffering. In the beginning of the pandemic many launched GoFundMe style campaigns to try and stay afloat. Restaurants also keep pivoting from offering pantry staples to meal kits, cooking classes, take out, delivery and more to make up for the loss of their normal business.
Independent restaurants numbered 500,000 before the pandemic and employed over 11 million people according to the Independent Restaurant Coalition and some industry analysts believe 2/3 of restaurants will not survive the crisis in the US. Yelp data shows 26,160 restaurants have closed as of the end of July. Restaurants are pushing for a $120B Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund. You can ask your representatives to support this initiative.
Since 2104 Lay’s has offered limited edition “flavor icon” potato chips that honor classic dishes. In past years there’s been Everything Bagel and Cream Cheese, Fried Green Tomato, and even Crispy Taco. This year they honor four restaurants and dishes, and in light of the pandemic, they are giving a $25,000 Gratitude Fund to each of the Flavor Icons restaurants to put towards the various relief efforts that will help them recover from the impact of the pandemic. The potato chips contain no artificial flavors.
I got a chance to try four flavors:
Wavy Carnitas Street Taco flavored inspired by El Torito
Notes of bacon, onion and corn, which is interesting in a potato chip. Good for dipping.
My favorite of all the flavors.
Kettle Cooked New York Style Pizza flavored inspired by Grimaldi's
I get a combination of tomato sauce and cheese.
They would go great with a grilled cheese sandwich.
Philly Cheesesteak flavored inspired by Geno's Steaks
Very beefy, umami notes not as much cheese flavor as I expected.
I would actually like to try these with or in a roast beef sandwich.
Nashville Hot Chicken flavored inspired by Partry Fowl
Spicy! Not very chicken-y though.
These will be popular with barbecue potato chip lovers.
So what’s iconic where you live? If you can, support the restaurants you love, for many of them, it’s now or never.
Disclaimer: My thanks to Lay's for providing samples for me to try.
