The Food Chain

Flavour: The potato chip story

Sep 10, 2025
Join a crisp enthusiast on a flavorful journey through the origins and innovations of potato chips. Discover how fine dining in 19th-century New York sparked their popularity. Learn about quirky pairings with wine and how Asian flavors are reshaping the snack scene. Hear from experts on the impact of climate change on potato production and the industry's push for sustainable practices. Plus, savor the vibrant stories behind unique snacks like Mexico's Toasty Loco. It's a crunchy ride through taste and culture!
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ANECDOTE

Wine And Crisps Origin Story

  • Mark Huff invented a wine-and-crisp tasting after discovering a cheap snack paired well with wine during a late-night tasting.
  • The event aims to demystify wine and make tasting fun by matching inexpensive crisps with fine wines.
INSIGHT

Crisps As Comfort During Stress

  • Jolene Ng explains crisps moved from snacks to comfort food during the pandemic as people sought frequent, smaller meals.
  • Potato chips became emotionally important amid stressors like climate change and economic uncertainty.
INSIGHT

Crisps Began In Fine Dining

  • Natalie Whittle traces crisps to 19th-century Saratoga Springs where fine dining chefs popularised thin fried potato slices.
  • Flavour variety emerged later, accelerating after supermarkets and post-war retail shifted sales away from delis and bars.
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