In June, Herr’s — the Chester County-based snack food empire — introduced three new chip flavors inspired by Philadelphia-area eateries.
The company did so as part of the second Flavored By Philly competition, which asks the public to buy the chips and then vote on their favorite through Aug. 8. The business behind the winning chip gets $10,000.
PA Local asked for volunteers to try the chips, and three brave souls stepped up: Government Editor Katie Meyer, Government Reporter Kate Huangpu, and Operations Manager Skyler Cruz.
Below is an edited and condensed version of a conversation they had about the chips on Slack.
PA Local: Katie, Kate, and Skyler, thank you so much for stepping up to the plate and agreeing to sample Herr's special Flavored By Philly chips for journalism.
The chips are inspired by the following: tomato pie at Corropolese Bakery in Norristown; the roast pork sandwich from John’s Roast Pork in Philadelphia; and Korean BBQ wings at Mike’s BBQ in Philadelphia. Have you been to any or all of these places?
Kate Huangpu: I haven't been to any of those places.
Skyler Cruz: I've certainly seen John's but don't think I've eaten at any of these.
Katie Meyer: John's, yes. Others, no!
PA Local: But I believe all three of you have had tomato pie elsewhere? Anyone want to define it for the uninitiated?
Skyler: Big fan of tomato pie! It's like cheeseless pizza, usually served cold, with a crisp crust and a base of delicious tomato sauce.
Katie: Beautiful definition.
Kate: ^^^ Usually a sprinkling of parmesan on top as well.
PA Local: What did you think of the tomato pie chips? They have a very, uh, interesting smell from my personal experience.
Kate: It was like being punched in the face by a bottle of Heinz.
Skyler: The smell was a surprise.
Katie: I need to preface my answer by saying I ate these in a movie theater and foisted them on friends. the overwhelming review was that they smelled like feet.
Skyler: I found the smell to be more in my face than the actual flavor?
Katie: They create a disturbance if you eat them in a crowd. but also, that bag was consumed the most! so it's a mixed bag.
PA Local: Did they taste like tomato pie? Or more like ketchup?
Kate: Definitely more like ketchup.
Katie: Pretty sweet. they were not my personal favorite!
Skyler: Just ate another one, I feel like they're very standard chip with a hint of ketchup.
Kate: I also just ate another one and to my palette it's definitely too sweet (kinda like ketchup).
PA Local: OK, how about the roast pork? Which, per the ingredients, were meat-free.
Skyler: There was a bold flavor! I was surprised how much it did remind me of roast pork.
Kate: That was a surprising flavor. It really tasted just like a pork sandwich.
Skyler: Unfortunately, not really what I want from a snacking chip.
Kate: Upon initial tasting, I was definitely taken aback. But I do keep on going back for more.
Katie: Oh I disagree, that's exactly what I want from a chip. Roast pork was by far my favorite! Once you get over the meat thing it is smooth sailing.
Skyler: I feel like every one of them I eat is a meal. A very robust flavor, and a good one, but after each I need to sit down.
Kate: I think the roast pork was the most unique flavor. Like, I've heard of tomato chips and barbecue chips. I've never heard of a roast pork chip.
PA Local: And finally the similarly meat-free Korean BBQ wings?
Kate: I think that was my favorite just because I love BBQ chips. And that chip was like BBQ with a little soy sauce flavor.
Skyler: Agreed, as a big BBQ chip fan it was easily my favorite. I ate it last thinking it would be the most regular but I really liked the twist!
Katie: I was expecting to really like that one but unfortunately did not. Maybe the slight soy sauce funkiness put me off. but I support Korean bbq and appreciate the effort.
Skyler: It's reminiscent of some instant noodles I'm fond of, which maybe isn't the most ringing endorsement.
PA Local: It seems like the verdict is pretty clear, but I'm still going to ask: Which was your favorite, and which was your least favorite? Would you willingly eat any of these again?
Skyler: Favorite: Korean BBQ. Least favorite: Tomato Pie. I will be happily finishing my bag of KBBQ but the others I'll probably never try again.
Katie: Personally: roast pork #1! After that it's kind of a tie between tomato pie and KBBQ, but I will put KBBQ first and tomato pie last because of the foot smell.
Kate: I think my favorite was the KBBQ. Least favorite was definitely Tomato Pie. I'd definitely eat the KBBQ again. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy the other two bags but if the Roast Pork one was in front of me, I wouldn't turn my head away. I will definitely never have the tomato pie chip again. | 
