Junk Food Nation, I am exhausted.  After attending a reception for the Metro Cooking DC Show where I got 15 lbs of goodies, watching the 2^nd Presidential Debate and the Yankees/Tigers game, all the while catching up with a college friend and cleaning my apartment, I am ready for a normal busy day at work. #somebodyslapme

By the way, if anyone wants to see what I looked like when I was a tot, check out the October 16, 2012 post on this tumblr – no joke, that’s me! (I submitted it weeks ago).

Let’s get to the winner of my Justin’s Candy contest! With over 200 entries, this was my biggest contest yet.  A big thank you to Justin’s Nut Butter for making this happen.  And thanks to all of you who participated.  Using the random number generator at Random.org, I assigned every entry a number, clicked the button, and found my winner:

*** @GarryCawthorn ***

Congratulations, @GarryCawthorn!  E-mail your contact info to junkfoodguy@junkfoodguy.com and Justin’s will mail you your prize as soon as they can – in time for Halloween, I’m sure!. (Try not to eat them all, OK Garry?  )

Everyone else – I’m having another contest soon, so keep those twitter handles ready!

Onto today’s junk food: Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos!

Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos: The Money Shot

So when I saw these Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos at Walmart, I was intrigued…these were new but seemed very familiar.  VERY familiar.  Had I seen these before?  So I went researching, and found out…I HAD SEEN THESE BEFORE!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

According to Wiki, these were a flavor of Fritos that existed back in the late 80’s to late 90’s…and they had a HUGE following! There’s a Facebook Group asking for these to come back. My friend over at the Fat Guy Food Blog has stated these are his favorite chips ever. Discussion boards have begged for them to return. They are listed on Discontinued Food lists.  But…..here they are!  BACK IN ACTION! At Walmart 🙂

Walking contradiction

I’m guessing these Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos are good, because there wouldn’t be such a crazy following if they were awful.  No one is saying, BRING BACK THOSE CANDY CORN OREOS…yet.

The Junk Food Gal saw this back and looked skeptical, “How can something be both Wild AND Mild? What are you up to, Fritos?”

MMMMMMMMMMM Total fat

Everyone needs a little sodium caseinate

I like corn chips generally, but I haven’t actually reviewed ANY Fritos flavors on this blog.  Honestly, it’s because they haven’t (as far as I’ve seen), come out with anything NEW in a long time.  So the move to bring back these Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos is a big step.

Weird promotional language 1

When hunger strikes, I eat multiple sandwiches…but I guess I could be convinced to eat these.

Weird promotional language 2

You know what also satisfies? Sandwiches. Multiple.

Frito-licious!

When I opened the bag of these Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos, I couldn’t really smell much.  They just smelled like corn chips.  I inhaled DEEPLY, and tried not to pass out.  I GUESS I smelled a little ranch, but I think my mind was playing tricks on me.

Speckled with red and green

I munched on a big mouthful of these Limited Edition Wild n’ Mild Ranch Fritos and the verdict – hmmmmmmm not bad!  Not bad at all, Fritos.

Here’s the thing – it is just a corn chip with a moderate amount of ranch flavoring.  Unlike Ranch Corn Nuts or even Cool Ranch Doritos, the Ranch flavor here is not a powder sprinkled on top…the seasoning seems to be woven INTO the Fritos Corn Chip. The seasoning is NOT overwhelming – there is definite ranch flavoring, but for anyone looking for their tongue to be bitten with ranch tang, you’re gonna be disappointed.

That said, I can see why these were so popular.  THEY ARE VERY EATABLE.  Crunchier than Cool Ranch Doritos.  Same HUGE corn taste that you find when you eat Corn Nuts (but not as tooth shattering).  Not TOO much Ranch as to turn your stomach, and the smaller size chip means you can fit a WHOLE LOT into your mouth.  Seriously.  I can’t stop eating these.

All in all, a thumbs up – won’t knock your socks off, but understand the appeal.  I personally really enjoyed these even if they weren’t a game changer.

And by the way, I found a YouTube review of these – and this guy’s kids are ADORABLE.  Go watch it.

PURCHASED AT: Walmart

COST: $2.50

Thoughts? Please 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