Giving NYC a Taste & a Frito Lay Giveaway!

Aside from being the city that never sleeps, New York City is also the city that knows how to eat!  There's no question that every cuisine and flavor imaginable is represented somewhere in New York City. To add to the amazing flavors of the Big Apple, Frito Lay is giving folks a taste of something special... Frito Lay's brand new chip flavors! After visiting Frito Lay Headquarters in Plano, Texas recently, my friends at Frito Lay are headed to New York City to share what they've been doing at their Flavor Kitchen. Starting today and throughout the week, the public will be able to take a peek into a recreation of their amazing Flavor Kitchen atop a Times Square billboard. There, Frito Lay will share how they've created the newest flavors along with the flavorful recipes that inspired their all natural snacks.

Frito-Lay’s Flavor Kitchen is an innovative culinary center and the inspiration behind some of America’s favorite snacks.  The chefs at the Flavor Kitchen turn culinary inspiration into snack chips by taking flavorful foods and translating those flavors into Frito-Lay products. Lay’s® regional flavored potato chips, made with all natural ingredients and inspired by the flavors of regional cuisine, are a Flavor Kitchen success.  Now, approximately 50 percent of Frito-Lay’s products, including all Lay’s® potato chips, Tostitos® tortilla chips and SunChips® multigrain snacks, are being made with all natural ingredients. Frito-Lay products made with all natural ingredients do not have any artificial or synthetic ingredients. They do not contain any artificial flavors or artificial preservatives, or ingredients such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).  Many of Frito-Lay’s existing snacks have always been all natural. For example, Lay’s® Classic potato chips and non-flavored Tostitos® tortilla chips are made with just three simple ingredients – potatoes or corn, healthier oils (such as sunflower and corn oils) and salt.

Just as I experienced the Frito Lay Flavor Kitchen during my trip to Texas, the public will too! If you're in NYC this week starting today through Friday, April 15th, definitely get a behind the scenes tour of the billboard where you'll see a replica of the Flavor Kitchen and be sure to stop and say hi to my friend, Frito Lay's Executive Chef Stephen Kalil! He's going to be showcasing (my favorite) Lay's Garden Tomato and Basil potato chips and the culinary inspiration behind them. I'm sure he won't let you leave without getting some other recipes that are currently in the works for future flavors. In fact, Chef Stephen is going to be transforming Times Square into a  virtual test kitchen for possible snacks that could show up on store shelves sometime soon. Joining Chef Stephen will be guest chef, Jet Tila, who's flying in from Las Vegas. Chef Jet is the executive chef of the Asian fusion restaurant, Wazuzu! So consider this as your special invitation for all those that are going to be in NYC this week (Monday, April 11th through Friday, April 15th in Times Square to meet Chef Stephen and visit the Frito Lay Flavor Kitchen! For more information, visit www.fritolay.com or www.facebook.com/fritolay.

Now for those that won't be in NYC this week, no worries! I've got a tasty giveaway for you! To share in the Frito Lay fun, I'll be selecting 25 winners to receive a bag of Frito Lay's newest all natural chips... Tostitos Artisan Recipes: Roasted Garlic & Black Bean.  Made with 100% natural ingredients, these chips have real garlic and black beans baked direction into the chips, delivering an authentic taste experience. To get your hands on these tasty chips, simply leave a comment or double your chances by heading over to our Facebook page and commenting there too! Read on for details...

Some guidelines:
- Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States - my apologies to my international readers...
- Check back on Thursday, April 14, 2011 by 12 noon CST to see if you've won so you can claim your prize.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment here or double your chances by commenting on our Facebook page* answering the following: What is your favorite chip/snack flavor?
* If commenting on Facebook, please add your comment to the "Frito Lay Giveaway!" post to be entered.

Deadline: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at midnight CST

Twenty Five (25) winners will be randomly chosen by Random.Org's Interger Generator based on the number of your comment here and/or on Facebook. The winners will be announced both here on Thursday, April 14th by 12 noon CST. Good luck!