In December of 2023 I changed my eating habits. While it limits me in what I eat it has also come with benefits.

I have lost 100 Lbs.

And I feel a whole lot better.

I have had to rethink what I eat. Pickles are an item I can eat and I like to snack on them. I have found that the spicy varieties seem to satiate my hunger quicker than the “normal” flavors. To that end I recently picked up a jar of the Nathan’s Famous Hot & Spicy Kosher Chips at a local grocer.

Once I arrived home I took the obligatory blog photo and shot some video to play with in Final Cut Pro (see below) and put all of the groceries away for the night. I couldn’t wait to taste them but it was late and they would have to wait until the next day.

The next day at dinner, I opened the jar and inhaled. It just smelled like pickles. No hint of the spiciness promised on the jar’s label. I fished one of the chips out with my fingers and popped it into my mouth.

To say I was disappointed would put my experience mildly. Which is also the word I would use to describe the pickles.

Mild

If this is what Nathan’s Famous considers “Hot & Spicy” I can’t imagine the flavor of their garden variety pickles.

The pickle chips do have a nice crunch and tart pickle flavor but even though the label states there are crushed red pepper flakes in the jar and red bits/chunks can be seen through the glass, there is NO spice or heat to be found in the pickles. A person would need to eat nothing but boneless/skinless boiled chicken breast and white bread to even consider these chips to be spicy.

In my humble opinion, if you like Nathan’s and want to buy their pickles, just purchase the regular variety and save yourself having to experience the disappointment involved with hoping the “Hot & Spicy” variety would be HOT & SPICY.

If you want pickle chips that come with a nice, flavorful kick pick up a jar of either the Famous Dave’s Spicy Dill (a mild heat) or the Devil’s Spit variety that comes with a medium kick. Your desire for flavor will thank you.

So, while there is nothing wrong with the pickles themselves, it’s the disconnect between what they claim to be and what they actually are that I find disappointing. For that reason I cannot recommend these pickle chips.

Enjoy the Famous Dave’s.