Running a restaurant and buying produce go hand in hand. So to ensure their independent, family-owned restaurant was getting top-quality organic fruits and veggies, Edward Cohen and his family started their own organic farm to supply all the fresh produce their restaurant required. In the mid 1980's when one of Edward's farmer friends was stuck with a field full of potatoes from a no-good contract, Edward bought the whole lot and turned them into potato chips to sell at his restaurant. He knew he was on to somthing good when we witnessed first hand how much his customers loved them. With the help of his daughter Sarah, Edward established a small chip factory that eventually lead to Route 11 Potato Chips.
Small but Superior
Based in Middleton, Virginia, this small company kettle-cooks their chips by hand, sticking to their belief that "the best things in life are still made by hand". Of course, this method is much more labor intensive than the deep frying method of the big conventional companies. As a result, Route 11 processes about 300 pounds of potatoes an hour; a statistic that may sound impressive until you learn that the big name companies can do 300,000 pounds in the same amount of time.
With about 30 employees and no marketing budget to speak of, the company doesn't mind it's small size. "Relative to the rest of the snack world, we are still small potatoes. And that's exactly how we like it," the company explains. Their focus is on making an excellent potato chip, using good potatoes, high quality oil, and delicious seasonings. They know that their customers are looking for something unique, and that's exactly what Route 11 gives them.
Fun Flavors
Sarah sent us a generous box full of different flavors of her chips, all packaged in Route 11's fun signature packaging. It was dangerous having such a tasty snack at our disposal, and it took no time for the team to sample each and every flavor. Some of our favorites included:
- Lightly Salted – Satisfyingly crunchy with a nice potato flavor, you really get a taste for Route 11's chips.
- Chesapeake Crab – With a slight kick, these chips we hands down our office favorite.
- Salt & Vinegar – Powerful vinegar flavor that isn't for the faint at heart.
- Mama Zuma's Revenge – Don't let the cute back story fool you, these chips are as hot as the packaging makes out. Even our team member with an iron tongue thought these chips were hot.
- Sweet Potato Chips – A real crowd pleaser; no one could argue that these weren't delicious.
Route 11's tribute to the most popular snack food in the U.S. is right on the money — or should we say 'chip'. Their quality ingredients, whimsical bags, and satisfying flavors earn the Naturally Savvy Seal of Approval.
For more information or to purchase, visit Rt11.com.
