Imitated but not equaled!

TOGACHIPGUY.com

Welcome to the TOGACHIPGUY.COM home page!

Where we are dedicated to researching and publishing the history of the
Saratoga Chip!

Saratoga Springs is rich in history, known for it's horse racing heritage, bottled water and bath houses in the late 1800's and early 1900's. What people fail to realize is that none of these claims to fame are original to Saratoga. Yes the town made a name for and improved all of them, but the only true Saratoga original is the Saratoga Chip!

Alan Richer, The Toga Chip Guy, has made the history of the Saratoga Chip his passion. He has dedicated a large portion of his post GE career toward the history of the potato chip and where it originated!

Alan is available to share his wealth of chip information via talks and presentations. His program makes a great addition to any convention or event your group is holding in Saratoga (there are over 120 hosted in town each year) and will also travel to speak and educate your group, association or organization on the history.

….”They’re RICHER and Better”!…

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Abbott and Costello To Meet The Toga Chip Guy

This week I received the following email from Chris Costello, daughter of legendary comedian Lou Costello of Abbott and Costello fame

Alan,
In August we're spotlighting a new section to the newsletter called, The Spotlight Is On You!

If you would like to be our first "Spotlight," we'd run a photo of you, you can write up a short paragraph or two about what you do, anything you want to let our worldwide subscribers know about you (love the potato chip historian!). We'll add in your web site, anything you want to
discuss.
The deadline for the August issue would be mid-July.
Let me know if you'd be interested. I checked out your web site and instantly thought, "This is too perfect!"
Thanks, Alan.
Chris

Enjoy the opening theme to the Abbott and Costello Show

Watch Me In The Fail Chip Doccumentary By
Vice Media!

Listen to what people are saying!

Alan Richer, otherwise known as the Toga Chip Guy, is perhaps the most informed Potato Chips enthusiast and historian in America. He has been an invaluable resource and information source to us at Chips and Crisps, and we credit him for providing a fascinating insight into the Wonderful World of Chips and Crisps, especially in it formative years.
His interest began with the origins of the Potato Chip and is a renowned expert in field, especially; Saratoga Chips - where it is said it all began.
His memorabilia collection is second to none and we very much look forward to visiting it and him at some stage.
Paul Casella of Chips and Crisps

Visit Chips & Crisps
A UK based chip website

Thanks for the lecture. I asked the two classes what they thought and frankly they really liked it. One thing they really enjoyed was your passion for the topic. I tell them all the time how important it is to be emotionally involved in the topics you research and they saw it in action with you.

Dr. John Stanton.
Professor of Food Marketing
Saint Joseph's University
Editor, Journal of Food Product Marketing
European Retail Academy, Hall of Fame

Alan Richer, otherwise known as the Toga Chip Guy, is perhaps the most informed Potato Chips enthusiast and historian in America! He will tell you all you need to know about the chip, and its history in Saratoga Springs!
Discover Saratoga

I like your website, I find it to be at once educational and entertaining.
Ron Azzopardi
Sales Manager
Wai Lana Snacks

I loved your history display, especially how you captured images of the name "Saratoga Chips" being used across the country.
Jeff Duchesneau
Owner, Tri Sum Potato Chips, the oldest Brand of Potato Chips

Excellent! Very educational! Really enjoyed the history & tour. Keep up the good work spreading the story of Saratoga Chips.
Chef Matthew Bolton
SUNY Adirondack

“Your blog is great! Since nearly everyone on the planet loves some type of potato chip, why shouldn't there be a blog about them? I'm glad I visited it!”
Emily A. Schroeder
Reference/Genealogy
Maine State Library

"The FailChips documentary is now live and I wanted to share it with you! Everyone over here is super happy with how this came out and we hope you are too! We had such a wonderful time filming with you and appreciate you taking the time to film with us!"
SARA INTRATOR
Producer
VICE MEDIA LLC

"On behalf of the OGS Special Events Office, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your participation in the 2017 Black History Month Celebration. Your participation in the Cultural Expo and Vendor Fair made the program a tremendous success.
* * *
Again, thank you very much for being a part of this important program."
Sara Hill
Event Coordinator
New York State Office of General Services │ Convention and Cultural Events

"Thank you so much for your willingness to help us out in many ways for The Chip Festival. Again, we are grateful for your help as a judge and with the display."
Greg Dixon
Chair
The Chip Festival
Saratoga Springs Lions Club

"The "Toga Chip Guy" spot, starring you, aired last Saturday on NBC as part of the season's final "Summer at Saratoga" broadcast. * * *
Thanks again for being a part of our broadcast, for being so generous with your collection, and for teaching us all about the local origins potato chip.
Jeff Monty
Producer
NBC Sports

"Great presentation last night! I really enjoyed hearing about your collection and how you became interested - and you were funny, which I liked."
Samantha Bosshart
Executive Director
Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation

"You did a wonderful presentation!"
Mary Ann Fitzgerald
City Historian
Saratoga Springs, NY

"That's quite a collection!"
- Dirk Burhans
Author of Crunch A History of the Great American Potato Chip.

"A valuable source of information. Alan Richer has provided me with guidance and knowledge on a delectable topic. Thank you for your generous assistance."
- Anne Renaud
Author of Mr. Crum's Potato Predicament

"Outstanding Display! Love the History."
- Brendan R. Walsh CIA (the original one), Dean - Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America

"Awesome"
- Amanda Thomason, Snyder's-Lance, Inc. (Maker of Cape Cod Potato Chips)

"Very Impressive!"
- Mark Costello, Vice President Sales & Marketing at Better Made Snack Foods, Inc

"Great Collection,"
- Chef Jasper Alexander, owner of Hattie's Chicken Shack

"Great collection and very interesting!"
- Colleen Farley, SNAC International (Snack Food Association)

"Fabulous!"
- Bob Kavachick, News Channel 13 Albany Weatherman

“Alan, our conversation was so helpful. You have a bounty of information on your website, it is truly one of a kind……
Again, thank you so much for all of your help, I really do appreciate it……”
- Marisa Dellato, The Boston Globe

"Your program was extraordinarily interesting to everyone. You've done an incredible job of gathering the material culture."
- Field Horne, Editor of Saratoga Living Magazine

"It's absolutely fascinating.*** I think you've done an amazing job creating the presentation --for foodies like me, it's pure eye candy."
- Merrill Shindler, World Renowned Food Critic

“Alan is certainly the Toga Chip Guy and much more. I could do 3 shows with him and still not get enough of his knowledge & experiences.”
- Rick Thompson, Saratoga Broadcasting

“Distinguished as being the preeminent, if not the only, authority on the history of the potato chip industry in Saratoga Springs”
- Albany Times Union

…..Plans also call for family-oriented activities and entertainment, and a history display by Alan Richer, the “Toga Chip Guy,” who has a variety of potato chip memorabilia and artifacts related to Saratoga and the industry as a whole.

- The Saratogian

Alan Richer - aka the Toga Chip Guy, a dedicated historian of the potato chip and its origins - will be on hand as a judge and to showcase his collection of chip memorabilia. www.thechipfestival.com

- Kirsten Ferguson - Saratoga Living

“Just a short note to tell you how much I, and the people of Malta, appreciated your generosity in sharing a portion of your extensive collection of potato chip memorabilia. The display elicited a great deal of interest from the public and the interest was not limited to an age group. Everyone was attracted to the display. I saw a number of little children insist that their parents lift them so that they could peer into the case. My only regret is that we do not have a larger secure display area and could only accommodate a small fraction of your extensive collection.”

Please continue to look for opportunities to tell the fascinating story of the “Toga Chip Guy” and his wonderful collection.

- Paul Perreault Town of Malta Historian

“Special thanks to Alan Richer, who has provided valuable input on the Saratoga Chip and has an incredible collection of knowledge and materials about the spread of the Saratoga Chip.”
- Dave Mitchell, author of
Chips, Crums and Specks of Saratoga County History, The Story of Saratoga Chips And Their Mythical Makers. Dave's blog is linked under the Chips in the News Tab and can also be accessed
here

"... a part-time potato chip historian from New York."
- Cleveland Plain Dealer

"Great presentation!"
- Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation

"a great lecture."
- James Parillo Saratoga Springs History Museum

"Richer, of Saratoga Springs, will discuss the myth, folklore and legend associated with the invention of the snack that has developed into a multi-billion dollar industry."
- Albany Times Union

"Alan Richer likes his history a little salty. Known locally as the "Toga Chip Guy, Richer has immersed himself in the myths, folklore and facts surrounding America's most beloved snack food."
- Glens Falls Post-Star

"Fascinating pictures of the history of the potato chip"
- Jerry Crouth Empire Broadcasting Corporation

“Special thanks to Alan Richer, who has provided valuable input on the Saratoga Chip and has an incredible collection of knowledge and materials about the spread of the Saratoga Chip. You can find more about him at TogaChipGuy.com.”
- Dave Mitchell - Noted Chip Historian

Visit Dave’s Blog by clicking here or the image below.