Getting Chippy With It

By Patricia Racine

May 2026

We are officially in the season of outdoor gatherings, and I can tell you from experience that the grocery item that everyone picks up in the warmer months–regardless of where they are going–is potato chips. No one can resist a salty buttery chip, kind of like how it is hard to resist a creamy piece of good cheese; this makes them a heavenly pair. So, I encourage you this summer season to put a nice bowl of creamy cheese next to your chip bowl so that your guests can enjoy something unexpected.

1. The Chip and Dip Extraordinaire - Salt & Vinegar Chips and Fresh Goat Chevre: The intense tang of vinegar in the chip meets the almost lemony zip of fresh goat cheese and the creaminess of that cheese mellows the vinegar sting. This pair gives you a twist on a sour cream dip for a chip that is usually not eaten with a dip. Try Kettle brand Salt & Vinegar chips with Thomas Farms fresh goat chevre found at High Lawn Farm. This cheese is the best goat cheese I have tried so far and worth every penny.

2. The Dockside BBQ – Barbecue chips and Smoked Cheddar Spread: This pairing is invoking those warm nights gathered around the campfire and how everything that is near takes on that lovely smokey aroma. The sweet and spicy flavor of the chips goes naturally with the smokey bacon-cheese spread. Try Community Honey BBQ Kettle Chips with Adirondack Smokehouse Bacon Cheddar Cheese spread, which can also be found at High Lawn Farm.

3. The Briny Bunch – Dill Pickle Chips and Cheddar Horseradish spread: Cheddar and pickles are a classic British pairing and with all the hype of pickle-flavored foods, this is a must try. The creamy, zippy heat of the horseradish spread complements the tart herbal flavor in the chips. Try Boulder Canyon and Grillo’s Pickles Wavy Chips and Président Cheddar Horseradish Pub Cheese, which is available at most grocery stores.

4. The Classic Au Gratin – Original Chips and Soft-Ripened Cheese: Soft-ripened cheeses do not need to be made into spreads as they are dip-worthy in their naturally ripened state. Just cut the top rind off and voilà, the perfect dip for your chip. The savory, buttery slightly mushroomy flavor of the cheese pairs with the chips perfectly like a loaded baked potato. Try Original Cape Cod Chips with Jasper Hill’s Harbison, which is available at Guido’s.

The most important thing to remember for all of these pairings is to bring your cheese up to room temperature. In the case of the soft-ripened cheese, pop it into the oven for a few minutes to get it really gooey. If you skip this step, all you will end up with is a bowl of busted chips; also choose a thicker chip to stand up to the cheese.

You could even take this idea one step further and make a Charcuterie Nacho Platter, which has been all over the internet lately. Just pour your chips on a baking sheet and top with a soft cheese, like Brie, and shreds of salami and prosciutto before heating it up until the cheese is all melty. Finish this off with dollops of raspberry jam and a little drizzle of hot honey. So decadent!

Potatoes and cheese are a pair made in heaven. We are just changing up the style of potato you are serving, but what an amazing change! Don’t forget to email me with your thoughts and experiences of these pairs and maybe some different pairings that you might try at snacksocial13@gmail.com.

“The Secret Ingredient Is Always Cheese.”