Junk Food Nation, I’m on a neighborhood list-serve, and it’s used for a whole host of things – yard sales, people wanting to discuss zoning, and people looking for goods or housing.  Recently, an email came across the list-serve that I found curious – it was a girl looking for housing because she was starting a job in the Fall in DC. She began the email:

“Hello! I am an attractive, personable, reliable, fun, neat 25 year old (female) teacher moving to DC for a job starting August 27th.”

It just made me raise an eyebrow because I immediately wondered “Why did she feel the need to throw the adjective ‘attractive’ in there?”  I mean, am I crazy here? That’s weird, right?  Usually the qualities I look for in a roommate are, in this order: 1) CLEAN, 2) WON’T STEAL MY SHIT, 3) LAIDBACK.  Is it a plus if the person is personable? Sure.  Do I like looking at attractive people?  Yep.  Do I care if my roommate is attractive? Hmmmmm nope.

Not only that, but she STARTED THE LIST with “attractive” like that was the most important quality!  And this is a roommate search, not a Match.com ad.  So…..yeah.  Personable, reliable, fun, neat…I’m down with it?  Attractive?  Weird.

Plus, WHAT IF SHE ACTUALLY ISN’T ATTRACTIVE?  The prospective roommate opens the door, looks at her, and says, “Awh, you said you were attractive!  Why did you lie!?” Awkward.

I dunno.  I’m over-scrutinizing, like I do.  But what do you think, Junk Food Nation? Let me know in the comments below.

Today’s junk food: Kurkure Masala Munch!

Kurkure Masala Munch: The Money Shot

Kurkure Masala Munch was found at my local Asian grocery store.  The website for Kurkure is here (WARNING: SURPRISINGLY LOUD INDIAN ELECTRONICA MUSIC). They made other wacky flavors, like Green Chutney and Hyperabadi Hungama…yeah, I don’t know either.  Anyways, I saw these and knew they needed to be reviewed.  Love the Indian snacks!

Indian Cheetos!

Kurkure is the name of a brand of cheese puff line in India.  The word “Kurkure” means “cheesy poof.” Ha, no, it actually means, “crunchy.”  I’ll just come right out and say it – Kurkure Masala Munch looks like Indian-spiced Cheetos.  They do!  Just blasting out of this bag with their familiar shape…c’mon now.

yeah….I still don’t know how to read these labels

Kurkure Masala Munch has 561 kcal per 100 grams.  Yeah, I don’t know either.  Someone better than me at math explain what this means in terms of ….er…US calories.

SPICY CHATPATA!

Kurkure Masala Munch gives you a crunchy bite of CHATPATA with every mouthful!  Chatpata is “hot-and-sour flavor” according to Google.  Ok….”for when straight and simple is not good enough.” Oh lordy – what have I gotten myself into?

Spicy spicy spicy

Kurkure Masala Munch contains so many spices…with so little time.  Fenugreek leaf powder is intriguing.  According to Wiki, “Fenugreek seeds are thought to be a galactagogue that is often used to increase milk supply in lactating women.” So….wow.  There’s that.

The best flavors ever

I think Naughty Tomato might be the best flavor of a chip I’ve heard yet.  Need to find those the next time around!

Wait…this is Frito-Lay India again!?

Kurkure Masala Munch IS made by Frito-Lay India!  These ARE Indian Cheetos!  VICTORY!

(Sidenote: I guess if I’d done my research, I would’ve SEEN that these were made by Pepsico India, Frito-Lay’s India branch.  Woop.)

OMG they look just like Cheetos

Kurkure Masala Munch smelled like…well, a whole host of spices.  When I opened the bag, I got a whiff of onion powder, chili powder, I smelled coriander, black papper, and a little turmeric.  Just a general spice-heavy savory smell.

I popped one in my mouth and OMG these crunched just like Cheetos.  Same familiar rice meal / corn meal blend.  But the taste? Well, quite frankly, they tasted like FIRE.

Where’s Chester Cheetah?

Kurkure Masala Munch was spicy.  Not buffalo wing spicy, not burn your mouth hot, but exactly what the word means – full of spice.  You ever have a piece of meat that is just DOUSED in chili powder and black pepper, etc., and when you eat it, you actually feel like there’s TOO much spice coating?  That it blocks the flavor of the meat, and all you taste is spicy powder? Yeah, that’s how these were.

It wasn’t an unpleasant taste, per se, but SO POWERFUL. My mouth immediately filled with every single spice listed: onion, turmeric, coriander, black pepper, chili powder.  Whereas the chips smelled savory, they didn’t taste like it – just lots of spice that made me cough. After a few, I got used to the flavor, and I could taste a little more ginger and coriander which made the whole thing a LITTLE more savory, but there was still a spicy burn that lingered and brought blood to my cheeks.  There was a little tanginess to it that I’m not sure where it came from.

Wooo.  Maybe I’m a spice wimp, but I don’t think so. These were not my favorite – at all. If you wanna try a spice blast, get these.  Otherwise…stick with snacks from which you can actually discern flavors. Now excuse me while I go wash my mouth out with milk.

PURCHASED AT: Asian Grocery (Lotte food store)

COST: $1.29

Thoughts? Share this post by using the buttons below!  Or comment below (I always reply) or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. Also, you can always email me at junkfoodguy@junkfoodguy.com. Let’s hang out.

Sincerely,

Junk Food Guy