Try A Different Chip – Chifles and Pipcorn

Jul 17, 2024 by Chef David

By Chef David

It’s time to expand your summer snack selections. There is certainly nothing wrong with the familiar classics, what about plantain chips? Plantains resemble bananas but they have a neutral, starchy taste, more like a potato.  They are a popular Caribbean side dish and a chip, good for dipping. Plantain chips, like bananas, are high in potassium dietary fiber, and vitamins A and C. Another snack alternative is popcorn reimagined into Pipcorn twists. Pipcorn is made from heirloom kernels, with a delicate hull, aerated with a crunchy melt-in-your-mouth texture, it contains more fiber and antioxidants than traditional popcorn.

We tasted Chifles and Pipcorn, both pareve and certified kosher by the OU. Each offers something unique and different in taste and texture.

Discover Plantain Chips 

Plantains introduce an island-inspired feel to our meal. It looks like a banana slice, which is crisp rather than moist, presenting the distinctive perfect shape and color. Plantain chips are similar in calories to potato chips. They have a different flavor profile. Unlike potato chips, plantains are sturdy and crunchy, making them ideal for dipping. The disconnect between their ‘banana appearance’ and chip taste requires a mental adjustment. It’s worth it.

Like potato chips, plantains come in a variety of different flavors, including lime, garlic, and original. They also have Sweet Plantain Chips (Maduros) made from ripe green plantains – which is our favorite. Sweet plantains are slightly darker in color with a slightly more irregular shape, but it was their subtly sweet taste and wonderful crunch that won us over.

The Chifles Brand

Chifles (pronounced CHIEF-les) began in 1963 in Florida inspired by Cuban street vendors. They are family-owned and operated by Cuban immigrants the Rivas, who started as Chifles distributors who acquired the business. In 2022 they became the chip distributed on domestic JetBlue flights.

Plantains make a nice chip, or dipper and a colorful way to accessorize your plate. Chifles can be purchased online and in stores.

Introducing Pipcorn

Pipcorn Twists are a light airy snack, with a crunchy texture and taste, unlike traditional corn chips. It is made of heirloom yellow corn flour and sunflower oil. We tried three varieties, Sea Salt, Cinnamon Sugar, and Honey Barbeque. The mouthfeel was intriguing and addictive. It has a crispy texture with a melt-in-your-mouth composition and a distinctive crunch. They were so fun to eat, that our testers could not eat just one.

We enjoyed the mixture of sweet and salty combination flavors in the BBQ, and the Cinnamon flavors, which was like eating a mini churro.

Pipcorn Brand

Pipcorn began in 2011, a family collaboration when siblings, Jeff and Jen Martin, and Jeff’s wife, Teresa, discovered the wonders of heirloom popcorn. They located a farmer in Indiana farmer whose family had heirloom seed stock and started a business. They made Oprah’s iconic Favorite Things list and then attracted the attention of “Shark Tank.” They pitched in 2014 (episode 610) and made a deal with Barbara Corcoran, the impact was immediate. While the episode was airing orders began rolling, in 24 hours they had 7,000 orders compared with the prior 3 months they had 26 orders. With guidance from Corcoran, the brand grew.

Pipcorn is available in stores or online. Note: Only Pipcorn popcorn and Twists are certified kosher

Heirloom Difference

Heirloom corn is grown in the USA, and pollinated by insects, birds, and the wind, an environmentally sound method. Heirloom crops are planted from seeds saved from last year, which maintains continuity from generation to generation. Some crops date back 100 years. Heirloom corn’s flavors and traits are inherited from the region, which provides a complexity of flavors.

Heirloom corn production is based on tradition. Each ear is only 3 inches long on average, the kernels are smaller, almost hull-less, and they grow on a small bush with multiple stalks (3 – 5 feet tall) rather than the image of the single corn stalk (12 feet tall) we are familiar with.

The absence of a hard hull lets the kernel disintegrate when popped, producing melt-in-your-mouth popped corn, which is easier to digest (and does not get caught in your teeth). Heirloom corn tends to provide more fiber and antioxidants than traditional popcorn.

Perfect Picks – Pipcorn and Plantains

Introduce excitement in snacking by adding different tastes and textures. We were surprised to discover how much the selection of kosher options has expanded and the variety of options to lift a meal or an in-between meal nosh. Pipcorn is different from traditional corn chips –  try it, and you may never view popcorn the same way. Experiment with plantains and add a taste of the Caribbean.

Try these exotic snacking options and make the next Shabbos an adventure.