If there’s one thing in life I hope I never learn it’s the amount of tortilla chips I’ve consumed.

After years of study around the world, I think I’ve found the perfect chip. Light, crispy, just the right amount of salt and oil, able to hold salsa and/or cheese dip easily. Ahhh.

This may sound like a description of any chip from Doritos to the best Mexican restaurant chip you’ve ever had. Semantically, yes, but to a true tortilla chip aficionado, these words have a much deeper meaning.

On a good day, the finest chips I’ve had are from Pappasito’s Cantina, who are also the purveyors of the finest Margaritas this side of the Rio Grande, but that’s another post.

Typically I have 2 favorite supermarket brands of chips, Mission and Santita.

- Missions are a “gourmet” -read expensive-  tortilla chip; medium-thick chip, can be heavy, good crunch, oil and salt, about $4.00 a bag.

- Santita are the best chip for the price; medium-thin crispy chip, slightly dry, slight salt, $2. per bag.

However, today my friends, I will share with you Holy Grail of tortilla chips. Restaurant taste and quality right in your supermarket.

Xochtil, Totopos de Maiz (white Corn Chip) by Salsa Xochitl.

Xochitl {so-cheel} was queen of Tollan, lived in the 11th century Mexico. She was the daughter of Papantzin, a noble in King Tepacaltzin’s court. Xochitl, whose name means “flower”, is credited with inventing pulque, the fermented juice of the agave plant, and and an early forerunner of tequila.

I was all set to buy my usual Santitas, when I saw the Xochitl. They were new to my Publix store since the new reset. Being the aforementioned “chip aficionado” I felt it my duty to check them out.

I opened them as soon as I got to the car. Manna from heaven. Just like my beloved Pappasito’s chips.

The downside is that they are not cheap. They are priced up there with the gourmet chip- $3.99- $4.25. But they are worth it.

Don’t waste them on amateurs. Save them for yourself, when you can enjoy every last snappy CRUNCH!

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 10:53 am and is filed under critiques, cucina, daily diva. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.