Jalapenos have a way of hanging around you like a friend who has overstayed his welcome on your couch. You're never happy to see either the next day, especially when you told yourself this was the last time you'd sit down for a meal together.
Jalapenos are the star of Familia Lopez salsa (the bottled version of the table salsa at Manny's in the Crossroads) and Batch #218 Smoked Jalapeno Salsa from Original Juan Specialty Foods on Southwest Boulevard. Fat City put these two local salsas in bowls to determine which would emerge from the fire on our lips as the victor.
With the salsas picked, I opted for a local chip as well. Silva's Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (made in Kansas City, Kansas) are thin, as salty as good movie popcorn, and taste freshly fried.
Familia Lopez Hot Salsa: This salsa plops out of the container with a thick splat. If that sounds unappetizing, well, it was a bit gross. But aural presentation aside, the consistency and bright red color are consistent with what you expect to find in a bowl of restaurant salsa.
The salsa is lip-smacking hot. I drank water pretty freely while tasting, but I also felt compelled to keep eating. The salsa sticks to the chips well, adding the heat of the peppers but still allowing the saltiness of the chips to come through.
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Oh I think Juan's sounds yummy! Possibly not on a chip, but with cream cheese, or in a sour cream dip, or some great smoked cheddar enchiladas!
I've been to Manny's several times, but the salsa is not coming to mind. I guess I wasn't that impressed.
Ever had the salsa at Frida's? YUMMM!
What's next weeks article going to be?? Comparing Hot Dogs and Hamburgers?? You are comparing 2 VERY different Salsa's.
Was this a comparison of salsas with heat? If that's the case why would you choose two very different salsas? One is chunky and one isn't and you compared the consistency not just the heat. Then you said the salsa with chunks didn't stand up to the thin chip. Obviously you need a chip with substance when paring with a salsa of substance. Is this a chip comparison or salsa heat comparison or a consistency comparison?
ANYWAY...
Everyone is different and that's why Original Juan carries both salsas mentioned above in addition to a variety of products. If the folks reading are interested they let you try them before you buy and they even have a chip of substance that will not break under preasure. They're located on Southwest BLVD so go to the factory outlet and try away. As soon as you walk in the building you will know Original Juan and the word mediocre have NEVER gone hand in hand!!!
ALSO REMEMBER KC PEOPLE USE SMOKE FLAVOR IN MANY THINGS NOT JUST BBQ.
We appreciate the review as we manufacture both of these products. We invite you to come to our facility at 111 Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas to sample our large assortment of items. We have a diverse line of brands and products; with over 150 items to sample there's something for everyone!
I have to say I was suprised when I liked Margarita's jarred salsa because I think the place sucks, but I did.
Mama Socorro's is sold by Bebo on Saturdays at the city market as a dry mix, and it's very good mixed with a can of crushed tomatoes or whatever it says on the package, I wrote about him on my blog long time ago.
Are we really complaining about a smoked jalapeno salsa being too smokey? It's not a salsa I would really buy to eat alone on a chip. I generally throw it on a hot dog along with some Sandwich Pal jalapeno mustard.
Mix the smoked jalape�alsa with cream cheese. That makes it not only palatable, but delicious.
Mama Socorro's is good, but Margarita's? Really? I tried the jarred version once and it tasted closer to ketchup than salsa.
My favorite local salsa used to be Jumping Jack's, but from what I understand they are no longer in business.
Origianl Juan salsas are very mediocre. I haven't "had" Familia Lopez, but Manny's is overrated and bland.
Better local salsas? Mama Socorros Hot. Margaritas Salsa. Does Ponak's bottle theirs? Cause it's really good.
You sonofabitch. I bought a jar of the Original Juan last night for my tacos, and now I'm afraid I won't be able to enjoy my leftovers.
Actually, I had some thoughts along those lines. I told the wife last night that I wouldn't like the salsa on chips as much as I did layered with cheese, sour cream and avocado. To each his/her own, I suppose.
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