Is a maize-based snack really a crisp?
Huddersfield International Crisp Festival is back to ask the important questions
In these divided times, the one thing that everyone can truly believe in is that crisps are the greatest pub snack in the world. However, there are those who say that a crisp has to be made of potato and will die on that hill. Whereas others take a more inclusive view, embracing the maize/wheat/rice/chickpea/root veg etc based snack.
The Huddersfield International Crisp Festival is back from 10 October and while nobody believed it could be bigger than last year, with 70 varieties of crisp on the menu at The Sportsman, this time there will not only be even more crisps, but there will also be a fringe event at The County, embracing the non-potato snack.
Team Crisp v Team Snack
John Fletcher, manager at The Sportsman and founder of HIC-Fest, is something of a purist, believing that while crisps can span a rich tapestry of flavour, they do need to be made of potato. Amber Duffee, manager of The County, takes a more inclusive view, believing that snacks based on other cereals and vegetables have as much right to be celebrated and is hosting a fringe festival, renaming the Princess Street pub the Wacky Snack Shack for the duration of the festival.
But which goes better with beer?
Both crisps and snacks are delicious, we think most will agree, but there’s nothing that brings out the best of a bag-based-treat than beer. If you’re not sure which goes best and, in fact, which beers to combine with which snack, the Crisp Festival contains two events that will help.
The County is hosting a Wacky Snack Beer Pairing event on 17 October, while The Sportsman is laying on a second Crisp and Beer Pairing (because the first one is sold out) on 18 October. The only way to truly discover which is best is to attend both.
Other events will also run at the festival, which takes place from 10 – 19 October, including Bottomless Crunch, Crisp Quiz, Crisp and Wine Pairing, and much more. See all ticketed events here and follow the whole festival on The Sportsman’s Facebook page. Huge varieties of crisps and snacks are available during all opening hours at The Sportsman and The County.
