The Chicago Traveler » snacks

Dip and Pop

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:21 +0000

I have seen some strange food combinations out there. A friend of mine likes to eat his French fries with tartar sauce. And a girl I know puts Ranch dressing on just about everything… even pizza. But what about ice cream and gourmet popcorn?

Dip & Pop is a tiny Loop spot (just west of the Chicago Athletic Association building) that offers 24 ice cream flavors, including coffee-toffee and apple cinnamon mingle. (Don’t worry; they have vanilla and chocolate, too.) Pick a flavor, and enjoy it in a malt, float, or shake. Then take a gander at the popcorn choices, which come buttered, cheesy, caramel-coated, or Chicago-style (cheese and caramel blend).

Now, are you ready for this? Put the popcorn on the ice cream. Don’t give me that look, just do it. You’ll be surprised at just how good this cream-and-crunch odd couple is. And with all the flavors available, you’ll have a plethora of possibilities at your sticky fingertips.

Photo credit: Dip & Pop

Dip & Pop: 63 E Madison St; 312-629-1777
Sun – Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 12 midnight
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 10, 14, 20, 26, 29, 36, 56, 60, 62, 124, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151, 157
Orange/Pink/Green/Purple/Brown Line train (Madison)
Red Line train (Washington, Monroe)
http://www.dipandpop.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Jays Factory Closes

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:00:05 +0000

Jays Foods, Inc. is a local manufacturer of snack products, including potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn. It was founded in 1927 right here in Chicago and distributes its products in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. There are distribution centers in fifteen major cities throughout these states. Unfortunately, Jays filed for bankruptcy this past October and is permanently closing its Chicago manufacturing plant today.

Just seeing Jays on the shelves brings back memories for me. As a kid, I was often sent to the corner grocery store (or even the corner pub) for a bag or two of Jays. The potato chips were also my first comprehension of what a regional product was, and I found it absolutely fascinating that Jays were not available everywhere in the U.S.

In 1927, Leonard Japp started a snack business here in Chicago that came to feature local favorite Mrs. Japp’s Potato Chips, made from his own wife’s recipe. After surviving the Wall Street stock market crash of 1929, Japp took on a new partner and business continued to flourish. However, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the name “Japp” had a negative connotation and nearly drove the company out of business. The chips were quickly rebranded to “Jays Potato Chips.” Before long, Jays became the premier potato chip in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.

Jays manufactured and distributed more than just chips though. It provided a full line of snacks, including O-KE-DOKE popcorn, Hot Stuff “cheezles,” mini-pretzels, and tortilla chips. My fave was the cheese-covered popcorn, which of course resulted in cheese-stained lips and fingers.

The Jays brand will probably survive, continued on by its buyer (which is very likely to be Snyder’s of Hanover, a Pennsylvania-based snack-food maker). However, the South Side production plant that has churned out potato chips for decades closes its doors today, abandoning 220 jobs.

http://www.jaysfoods.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Kim & Scott’s

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite on-the-go snacks is a giant, doughy, chewy pretzel. Mmm… Kim and Scott have managed to perfect this salty treat, producing a stuffed-pretzel line that includes flavors like grilled cheese, cheddar jalapeño, chocolate cheesecake, stuffed pizza, mixed berry and cream cheese, and twisted omelet. You can have a lot of one type or one of everything. They’re sold in several stores throughout Chicago, but if you can’t find the flavor you’re looking for, you can order online and have them delivered right to your door. Heat them up right away, or keep them in your freezer for up to nine months. However, something tells me you won’t be able to keep your hands off them for that long.

But don’t feel too guilty for gobbling down these tasty treats. Kim and Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels are all-natural and have no preservatives, trans fats, or hydrogenated oil. They’re also 100% vegetarian, and for those of you with allergies, they’re nut-free. They also offer dairy-free and egg-free options.

So next time you’re feeling unraveled, kick back with one of Kim and Scott’s twisted pretzels.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) daxiang stef

Kim & Scott’s Gourmet Pretzels: 2107 W Carroll Ave; 800-57-TWIST (89478)
http://www.kimandscotts.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler