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Martin's Kettle cook potato chips are thick and good.

Well, since I can't eat sugar ice creams any more, it's all about the politics for me. I still haven't forgiven Pillsbury/Haagen Dazs for declaring war on little ol' Ben & Jerrys. I also like weird ice cream, so flavors like Phish Food and Chunky Monkey charmed me.

Hmm, I'll have to experiment with my Bamix, some cream, and some xylitol. Mango Chutney/Pecan, anybody? Avocado?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Downey's myself, but as I live in Canada, I have a hard time finding them whenever I am in Michigan, in fact, my friend and I drove around the other day in Pontiac looking for some. When I can't find Downey's, I love Shearer's kettle chips, they're not as tasty as Downey's, but they'll have to do!

If anyone knows where I can find Downey's, please let me know, I am going thru cravings, lol!

Jules

I'm all about Haagen-Dazs myself! They have more interesting flavors. Truthfully, I've never had anything of Ben & Jerry's before.

HD, HD, HD.... the whole spectrum from Rum Raisin to Vanilla Bean to "extra rich light" Dulce de Leche. Personal favorite is the discontinued Chocolate Turtle: chocolate with caramel and SALTY pecans. Damn that was good.

Now, i've heard that the B&J pistachio kicks butt for its whole and enormous pistachios, but I've yet to try it. And like the Cherry Garcia guy above, I think nothing on earth can compare to Chunky Monkey when it comes to a really brilliant combination.

Which leads me to HD's Black Walnut.... mmm. And then that leads me back to B&J's Oatmeal Cookie - a wonderful "junk" flavor.

And finally I finish up with B&J's recent (and discontinued?) most brillant flavor, simply because it was CHUNKLESS: Black & Tan. Boy, that was good - chocolate, malt, and stout ice creams with no other crap added. Anyone try that flavor and agree?

To choose one over the other for ever and ever, I'd still lose my bananas and go with Haagen Dazs.

Am I the only person who thinks HD ice cream to be too much? Too fatty, too sweet... but the raspberry sorbet on the other hand, good god.. I've been living off that stuff in the midst of this tropical heat.

B&J on the other hand is loads of fun, but I find myself only scooping out the fillings.

I think Zapp's (in New Orleans) is pretty good, although they have artificial flavors in the crawfish variety.

I totally agree about Cape Cod Dark Russets being the best. Maybe they didn't make the grade as they are not as widely available as some of the others. To me, they have the best flavor, and the right amount of salt and oil. The only problem is the bag is too small! But then again, I'd finish the bag no matter how big it was!

Emeril aside, Zapp's are fantastic. I like Cape Codd and Ms. Vickie's chips but the Zapp brand does it a bit better ... a little thicker and crunchier. Their flavored chips are even better.

I just tasted Tim's for the first time yesterday. I loved 'em! Only one better, but like Tim's, not widely distributed: Martin's Kettle Cook'd. Absolutely incredible. Zapp's also makes a fine variety of chips.

For me, it's a toss-up between Tim's Cascade Chips and Bob's Texas-Style chips. Both brands are kettle-cooked chips, loaded with grease and salt. Yum.

As a Detroit native, I was always a Better Made girl, but I've recently become addicted to North Fork chips. They have really nice potato flavor and good crunch.

Jeni's in Columbus, OH. Amazing.

I would also say Grater's from Cincinnati, OH. It is made in the French pot method with homemade chocolate chips.