Should have been looking in Medomsley Road, Consett. All of which to say in one of the many think-tank like* editorial meetings of the FreakyTrigger collective last Friday it suddenly hit us: Phileas Fogg Tortilla Chips are no more. We all checked out snacking memories as to the last time we had seen a packet, and we guessed some time in 2004 in a Sam Smith’s pub. By then they had rebranded as some sort of sex tourism snack, which despite introducing some great new flavours, was a bit of a disaster from a rebrand perspective. Indeed it was this redesign that we assumed sunk the brand in a world: which seemed sad in a world overflowing with snacking opportunities that the British originator of the posh snack had fallen out of favour. Could it be that this most worldly of snack, with its amusing little stories and many fine personal memories**, was no more?
However eagle-eyed FT report Cis saw a packet in Oxford this week and reports thusly:
Yesterday I was in one of walton street’s many posho delis and saw a pack of Phileas Fogg crisps! they are rebranded utterly, these ones were called ‘cool casa tortillas’ and in a powder blue packet, it seemed rank foolishness given that surely the concept-grouping of cool/blue/tortilla belongs in the public heart to dorito’s. Also how on earth can you pretend that ‘tortilla’-style
crisps are classy?
Cis is young, and so first I will deal with the two points she brings up at the end. Tortilla Chips ARE CLASSY. Or at least were classy when Phileas Fogg introduced them in the mid-eighties. Their sort had not been seen before in the UK. The 1980’s were a nachos free zone, which Fogg helped change. As for you blue = cool blue Doritos, well unfrotunately Fogg beat them to it. Fogg used to do three types of tortilla: Original (a bit spicy, in the classic biege packet), then joined by Devilishly Hot (black packet), and a Thankfully Cool Tortilla (powder blue packet – as seen here). So their blue predates the Doritos Blue in the UK. (For a summary of many of the old packs, and stories look here, but note the lack of Devilishly Hot Tortillas which suggests this site is not quite as complete as one might hope***).
But the excitement comes from the fact that Fogg is not dead. Its a bit like waiting to hear news from a traveller, long assumed lost, only yo find him turning up on time. Or is it. A quick look at the new website for Phileas Fogg shows a dispiriting sight. Namely this new rebrand came out in the summer of last year. They have correctly tried to distance themselve from their previous “backpacker” rebrand, to something a bit more timeless, semi-pastels but with a top hatted gentleman in view. But this rebrand took place six months ago, and I have not seen a packet in London. Good to see though that it appears the trips are back, as are the diary entries which can all be perused on the website. And in what seems to be the strangest boutique gift ever, you can even get a gift presentation pack of all seven of the new flavours..
Those flavours in full:
Spikin Lime Tortillas
Cool Casa Tortillas
Chili con Queso Tortillas
Kalonji Seed Poppadoms
Teriyaki Crackers
Brie and Onion Toasts
Black Olive & Pesto Crostini
At least they are still made in Medomsley Road, Consett! Rightly identified as one of the UK most famous addresses. Go forth snack children, and find them.
*I assume most think tanks are just excuses to go to the pub.
**One of my most cherished memories involves me trying to find a non-alcoholic way of celebrating my A-Level results, having been phoned by a teacher at 8:30 in the morning. I found myself at the local Co-op, buyiong a pack of the Devilishly Hot Tortilla chips, and wandering up and down the High Street in a haze of achievement and a slightly burnt and over-salted mouth.
***It appears that a completely different rebrand exists in Ireland, and Devilishly Hot are still availible there.
Apparently the old flavours got banned due to a GM ingredient.
I have it on good authority that Aldi’s tortilla chips taste almost the same :)
I love the Punjab Puri. I’ve seen the new snacks – they’re crisps! :( Please bring back the tortillas, esp the Devilishly Hot!
Searched high and low in the UK and was soreley dissapointed by the choices. Either bland tough carboard-esque triaingles. Or putrid Dhiarito ripoffs like vomit blue, stinking cheese e.t.c.
Closest I ever found to match the Foggs on my worldwide hunt is the following:
http://www.mexisnax.com/
In particular the Pico de Gallo flavour is almost identical to the original flavour Foggs. And by the time you get to the bottom all that garlicy/salty/spicy powder can rack up the heat a bit.
The flavour combination says it all if you ask me, the onion, chile and garlic are really flavoursome in these. Reminds me of my mis-Fogged youth!
Boo hoo ! I have had withdrawal symptons for the mignon morceaux – which incidentally I take to mean cute little somethings….there is nothing in the cureen trange I fancy… PLEASE bring back mignon morceaux…
hi i recently took my my desire to see the old phileas fogg flavours reappear, to united biscuits, who purchased the brand name from derwent valley, and are thus responsible for the new flavours. i was soon after invited to join their snack development community ‘snackrs’. there i have started a forum on the topic. only one response so far, however it is positive, and i do hope more will follow, that united biscuits will at least ‘have a try’ at bringing them back. if it is true, that old ingredients are now banned, i am sure alternatives can be found. of course it would be worth the effort. i will try the other snacks suggested, but i do feel like that nothing will compare to opening a charismatic, flavoursome packet, of Phileas Fogg. if anyone has any suggesyions, of snacks available at present, especially true ‘chilli hot’ crisps/tortillas, mignons, and california corn chips… na.th.an@live.co.uk many thanks and good luck all!!
i started eating p f tortilla hot chilli chips some years ago with a cool bottle of beer on a hot summers day it was heaven .then they disappeared of the face of the WORLD , but reappeared a short time later just as good but in a BLACK TRIANGULAR BAG , that looked just as hot and inviting as the contents . now there gone again and i,ve been around the world trying to find them but to no avail, please can anybody tell me what went wrong? where have they GONE?
Can’t help with the Tortilla chips, but after years of searching I HAVE FOUND MIGNON MORCEAUX. Well, they aren’t called that, but they’re exactly the same as the ones I remember. You can get them in Waitrose. They’re called Garlic Croutons there, which is a bit of an anti climax, but I was so happy I bought 6 bags which I am now hoarding in a drawer in my bedroom.
Buy one get one free currently on offer at Tesco Phileas Fogg (29 April 2010): Sweet Chilli, Sea Salt and black pepper, Cheddar and onion crisps. Get buying in bulk all you Fogg fans.
Hi iv found something sooo close to the original p h in a restaurant in Bluewater. The place is a tapas bar and they come as a starter/ snack. They buy them in a clear bulk bag but they won’t let on wear. Iv tried bribing but no luck. Defo worth trying them as they are so nice
Does anyone remember the name of the little cheese twist snacks pf used to make? think they were four cheese an basil an supposed to be from spain, they were the best snack i’ve ever tasted wish they’d bring them back
I love that these posts are currently together under Latest Comments:
LISA STANSFIELD – “All Around The World”
will: A pleasant, and as pointed out earlier, a very autumnal Number One. Can’t…
I’ve Been Around The World (In 80 Snacks) And I Can’t Find…
dean: Does anyone remember the name of the little cheese twist snacks pf used to make?…
I don’t want tortillas, I want garlic croutons, I live in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, so where is my nearest Waitrose? Does anyone know?
BRING BACK ORIGINAL PHILEAS FOGG ORIGINAL AND HOT TORTILLAS IF KP WONT GET THE ORIGINAL OWNERS TO START AGAIN
http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-19273-Waitrose+garlic+croutons
Waitrose makes “garlic croutons” that to my taste buds are very similar to the Mignon Morceaux.
There are ex pat oriented companies that will ship to North America. I know cause I’ve ordered some (ok 40) packages in the past.
Delicious!
If anyone at Phileas Fogg Snacks is reading this please bring back: California Corn Chips, Mignons Morceaux, not to mention original flavour Tortilla Chips
POCO LOCO Tortilla Chips chilli flavour come pretty close to the original PF tortillas I think… Try and let me know if you agree. I bought a box of them from Amazon after buying a pack in a local pound shop…
Tim I found the Poco Loco Chilli are the closest I’ve been able to find.
The question I have though, does anyone have the ingredients list for the originals? That would make this search a whole lot easier.
I have a real craving for california corn chips. Please please please bring them back.
Where can I get Philleas Fogg Devishly Hot Tortillas? Poco loco come close but they’re rebranding and changing the flavour. Pervious posts say they may be in Ireland? If so, under what name. Thanks for any help..