Bobby's Burger Bites

Now, I was very anxious to try this crispy snack because the flavour is "classic cheeseburger". At least that's what the packet says. And Graffiti Artist taste tester who first recommended me to try Bobby's snacks, particularly spoke of this flavour.

So I asked the Bobby's website where my nearest stockist was and in no time at all I received an email giving me a list of shops. The nearest wasn't too far by car (which was lucky because it would have been 2 buses and a longish walk by public transport, maybe 3 buses).

Obviously any crispy snack that claims to be cheeseburger flavour arouses my interest.

The reluctant taste testers were excited to try another snack from Bobby's (me too). We've tried several of their crispy snacks and been impressed. So imagine our disappointment when we found these Burger Bites didn't have the fantastic texture and bite we were hoping for. And worse, they don't really taste of cheeseburgers. Oh yes, and they really don't look anything like the image on the packet.

I can't help wondering if I didn't obsess over cheeseburger flavour (see the name of this blog!), and if we hadn't been so super-impressed with previous Bobby's offerings, the reluctant taste testers and I might have been less disappointed.

If you spot a packet please do try them with an open mind.

Bobby's Spirals Salt & Vinegar

As you can see the reluctant taste testers and I have been working our way through the Bobby's oeuvre and this is what came next.

Salt & Vinegar can be a really harsh flavour but not this time. Quite mild. Tall taste tester, while taking a spiral,  said the flavour was vinegar followed by vinegar, quite vinegary. I asked him if he liked vinegar? He didn't seem quite sure, but he took another spiral anyway. So not poisonous then.

No, no. The reluctant taste testers quite enjoyed this crispy snack; the texture is good and a spiral shape is always fun. The packet was finished by lunchtime. Yes, I know it's a small packet and that's about 4 hours. But we keep the bowl of crisps in the kitchen next to the coffee machine, so you have to get up from your desk to graze. I'm sure this must be a healthier option than crispy snacks al desko. I've never been a calorie counter (I come from an annoying slender family with small appetites) but I imagine that getting up from your desk and walking to the kitchen probably counteracts a couple of spiral-shaped snacks.

Anyway, not their top product (in our opinion) but another tasty snack from Bobby's.

You know, it's rather distressing. The local Post Office sells most of the Bobby's crispy snack selection except the one I am particularly keen to try: the Burger Bites. The cheeseburger flavour Burger Bites. How sad is that?

Bobby’s BBQ Sauce Potato Snax

Yes, you’ve guessed. I went back to the Post Office to look for another crispy snack from Bobby’s.

Another fun extruded snack made with potato starch, wheat flour and rice flour, it has a lovely light crunch. And a great gentle BBQ flavour. Very nice indeed. The reluctant taste testers and I liked this crispy snack a lot.

It’s nothing fancy, but the taste and the texture are great. Top marks. You just don't get all that many of these latticework cushions in the packet because they're quite a bit bigger than you think.

Actually I don’t think the packaging design does this snack any favours. Or any of the Bobby’s snacks. I think the ones we have tried are top quality, which is what the Graffiti Artist told me, and what the man in the Post Office who sells me these snacks think too. I think the packaging might put off crisp connoisseurs.

But then, perhaps those who fancy themselves crisp connoisseurs don't eat crispy snacks anyway. In this case it's definitely their loss.

Bobby's Big Snack Onion Rings

Following the amazing success of Bobby's Curry Sauce Potato Snax, what could be a better snack to tempt the reluctant taste testers than another offering from Bobby's? Bobby's.... best taste around! says the packet. And this is a pretty tasty onion flavour snack.

Obviously not much could rival the Curry Sauce Snax but this was reasonably popular. The rings are quite big and fairly orange... but that's OK. The aroma and taste are properly oniony but I thought the texture a bit dry.

Noble Friend said she's had better onion rings and I think she's probably not wrong. But if this is all you can find don't turn up your nose. Give these onion rings a try.

Bobby’s Limited Edition Curry Sauce Potato Snax

It’s a well-known fact that I’m a very fussy eater. So guess what? I really don’t like curry or curry sauce.

Having said that, I saw one of those silly lists on Facebook the other day. You know: “50 books to read before you die - how many have you read?” (usually about 6 as I'm a very picky reader - what? no point in starting a book I know I won't enjoy) or “most people have been to at least 37 of these countries...” and in this case “how many of these 50 foods would you refuse to eat?” Let’s see... erm... 9. That seemed pretty picky to me. And then I noticed that my friend Alan had posted 43. He wouldn’t eat 43 out of 50 foods! Amazing. Impressive.

So maybe I’m a bit less picky than I thought. But still the flavour of this crispy snack was not for me.

However... I have to tell you that this was probably the single most successful snack I have ever taken into the office. So successful that I had to revisit my supplier (the local Post Office) and buy six more packets that very same day.

Cliffs of Moher and Jam Maker taste testers, Slightly Red Haired Bristolian and Noble Friend were all mad for the flavour while Tech and Senior taste tester commented very favourably on the texture. Jam Maker taste tester comes from the North and has curry sauce on her chips so she is something of a connoisseur. A great success. 

And I must confess that the lovely 3D lattice design is rather fabulous. In another flavour perhaps I’d be a fan myself.

Bobby's Spirals Prawn Cocktail

Back in the summer the Graffiti Artist recommended Bobby's crisps to me.

Graffiti Artist tells me Bobby's are big in the North (he's a professional Mancunian so perhaps not in the real North) and top quality. I thought he might have forgotten he promised to parcel some up for my Christmas present, and it turns out I was right; but I wasn't certain of that when I saw some packets in the local Post Office (first time I've ever seen them) so I bought a couple to see what all the fuss was about.

Prawn Cocktail. And spirals. I love a spiral crispy snack so despite not being a mad keen prawn cocktail fan I bought these anyway.

They're twisted! says the vribant pink packaging and Big Name Snacks... they're class acts! Well, I hope I manage to track down some Snax or Beef Grills as shown on the back of this packet. They look interesting.

There is nothing fishy about this tasty crispy snack (a point in their favour thought Tall taste tester), more of a sort of vinegary tomato ketchup flavour. A little bit too much vinegar perhaps but I think most of the reluctant taste testers rather enjoyed this spirally snack.

Pretty good we thought.

One of the taste testers asked me who owns Bobby's?  Apparently Bobby's Foods plc of Bromsgrove. A proper British company then. Family owned perhaps?