Adrian Chiles' Crisp Journey: A Personal and Historical Exploration
Adrian Chiles, a Guardian columnist, shares a deeply personal and engaging account of his relationship with potato crisps, reignited by reading Natalie Whittle's book Crunch. This exploration delves into the human endeavour behind crisps, blending nostalgia with newfound appreciation.
The Spark: A Book on Crisp History
Chiles describes Crunch as both nourishing and comforting. It reveals the science and effort involved in crisp production, making him feel less alone in his strong emotional connection to this humble snack. He reflects on how crisps are a universal topic, noting that a phone-in on favourite flavours could run indefinitely due to widespread personal stories.
A Childhood Memory: The Roast Chicken Revelation
Chiles recounts a pivotal moment from his youth. As a child, his mother restricted him to ready salted crisps due to concerns about artificial flavourings. This changed during a day trip to Portsmouth with the West Bromwich Albion supporters' club. On the train, his grandmother offered him crisps in an orange bag—unlike the red ones he knew. They were roast chicken flavour, and tasting them for the first time was a life-altering experience, opening his eyes to a new world of flavours.
The Downside: Increased Crisp Consumption
Since reading the book, Chiles admits his crisp intake has escalated from an occasional treat to near-gluttonous levels. He humorously justifies this as research, but acknowledges it has gone too far. For instance, at Leigh Delamere services, he used pickled onion Monster Munch as a palate cleanser after oily junk food, praising its effectiveness.
Chiles concludes by recommending both the book and the crisps, highlighting how this journey has enriched his understanding and enjoyment of a simple snack.
