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Current Events!

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Facebook Page

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Read My Interview From
The Daily Gazette
from November 9th, 2022.

Click here!


Read My November From
518 Profiles Magazine


Click here!


My latest Article in 518 Profiles Magazine: Elana Mark: The Ins and Outs of a Landscape Artist
 Click on the dashed box to see in full view.
https://issuu.com/ininkny/docs/2023_june_518_profiles_magazine/6

I received an email from Ron Schrotenboer (an external tax lawyer advisor who I previously worked with at GE) telling me that he saw me the other evening on an episode of the History Channel's The Food That Built America entitled "Peanut Butter Battle." Lo and behold I watched it on the History Channel on Demand and there I am. I had no idea. What's more, as far back as I can remember, I have been severely allergic to peanut butter, so it was even more of a surprise.

So in addition to multiple episodes about potato chips, I have now also appeared on episodes about both burgers and peanut butter.


https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27461723/


Please watch all of my videos from
The Saratoga County History Center

Click Here Or The Photo To Visit The Page!


Saratoga County man
considered top
potato chip historian
Mark Mulholland WNYT
Updated: August 1, 2022 - 6:40 PM
Published: July 29, 2022 - 4:44 PM

Please click below to watch my latest interview!


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I have recently been featured in two
Times Union Articles
Please read them by clicking the links below!

Article 1 - Vanderbilt helped invent the chip in Saratoga?
Likely a salty myth


Article 2 - Toga Chip Guy makes a second showing on History Channel


Article from Saratoga Today
Featuring, your's truly, The Toga Chip Guy!

Click Here


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Watch The History Channel's
The Food That Built America,
"When The Chips Are Down",
season 2, episode 3,
where I am prominently featured.

Click Here!


Read my feature article in
"Shorelines"
The Saratoga Lake Association News Letter.

Click Here

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History Channel Podcast

After appearing in several episodes of
The History Channel's Series
"The Food That Built America",
I have now been prominently featured
in an associated podcast.

Please visit The ACast Site to listen!


My recent interview with Julia Dunn on CBS 6.

Click Here

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Article About Me In Saratoga Today Entitled
"Who: Alan Richer, The Toga Chip Guy"


April 2nd, It starts on Page 3.

Click here to read!


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The History Channel's
"The FoodThat Built America"
that aired on
National Potato Chip Day, March 14.
Featuring the history of Herman Lay
and then rival Fritos!

Click here to watch







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Man finds potato in place of chips in a bag. Viral photo has several reactions

What is the most bizarre thing that you can find in a bag of potato chips? A unique shaped one, extras or a toy? Well, this man from the UK just surpassed that when he found a whole potato in a packet of crisps. Yes, you read that right. Dr David Boyce, a physics teacher, found a lonesome spud in his packet of Kettle Chips and was left baffled. He took to his Twitter account to share a picture and it went viral, obviously
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These 'Illegal' Potato Chip Flavors Give You a Chance to Taste Foods You Can't Get in the U.S.

All of us have reached into a bag of potato chips and shoved a handful straight into our mouths without giving too much thought to how they were developed or what kind of artificial flavorings have been assembled into Sour Cream & Onion or Flamin' Hot Dill Pickle. But when you get your first taste of Illegal Chips, their creators hope that you'll consider what you're eating — and what you're not.
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Switzerland is running out of potato chips due to Covid and poor summer weather

As if the 2021 winter couldn’t get any worse, it’s now hitting us in the chip pocket.
Because of 2021’s constant rainfall and general poor weather, Switzerland’s potato harvest is disappointing.
When combined with a 30 percent increase in demand due to people sitting at home eating chips rather than going to restaurants, a chip shortage looms in Switzerland.
Chips manufacturers do not have enough potatoes – and will need to import at least 20,000 tonnes from abroad.
Chip companies say it is at this stage impossible to determine just how serious the shortage will get, with the impact hitting the shelves in December.
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Meet Doug, a beloved 17-pound ugly potato that's possibly the world's biggest

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Colin and Donna Craig-Brown were weeding their garden in New Zealand when Colin’s hoe struck something huge just beneath the soil.
As the couple knelt down and dug around the object, Colin wondered whether it was some kind of strange fungal growth, a giant puffball. After Colin pried it out with his garden fork, he scratched away a bit of the skin and tasted it.
A potato.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Donna said. “It was just huge.”
And not exactly pretty. Donna describes its appearance as more of an ugly, mutant look.
But it’s quite possibly the largest potato on record. When the couple lugged it into their garage and put it on their old set of scales, it weighed in at a remarkable 17.4 pounds. That’s equal to a couple of sacks of regular potatoes, or one small dog.
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Consuming Too Much Sodium Is Linked to Heart Issues — the FDA Has a Plan to Lower Our Salt Intake

If you’ve been struggling to find low sodium foods at the grocery store, don’t worry! The search process is going to become a lot easier. The FDA recently released new sodium guidelines for the U.S. food industry. The change should help reduce sodium levels in all processed, packaged, and prepared foods. In other words, your favorite chips, cereals, and restaurant dishes are all going to get a little less salty. (That’s right, the FDA requested that chain restaurants change up their dishes as well.)
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Salty Snacking, the Great American Pastime

In the pantheon of snack foods, “salty and crunchy” stands on the highest pedestal of cravings. “Salty snacks are supremely satisfying to all consumers,” says Elisa Maloberti, director at the American Egg Board. Everyone has a favorite salty pleasure, whether it’s buttery, hot, freshly popped popcorn, the shatteringly crispy crunch of thick kettle-style potato chips, or cheesy cauliflower protein puffs.
 
Salty snacks deliver because humans, like most mammals, need — and thus crave — salt. Sodium chloride is important to maintain electrolyte balance in our bodies. Both sodium and chloride are critical for optimum nerve and muscle function, including heart rhythm. At the same time, salt is a flavor enhancer that makes foods even more craveable. It also is an essential carrier of other flavors.
 
The average person eats the equivalent of 96 one-ounce bags of potato chips each year. That comes to 2 to 4 billion pounds of potato chips eaten per year in the US. An estimated 12 million pounds of potato chips are crunched on Super Bowl Sunday alone. IRI retail sales data show that salty snacks have been the No. 1 food item contributing to sales growth at retailers since early March, when consumers began shifting purchasing priorities to accommodate stay-at-home lifestyles.
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Pringles Limited-Edition Glow-In-The-Dark Cans for Halloween

Pringles released new limited-edition Glow-in-the-Dark cans in two Halloween flavors: Sour Scream & Onion and Oooriginal Glow-in-the-Dark cans.
The chips offer snackers a salty treat during a season of sweet, while doubling as a spooky centerpiece for any Halloween festivity. 
Whether consumers are looking for a seasonal after-school snack, prepping some fearsome party bites or lining their sidewalk for the ultimate trick-or-treating score, Pringles Glow-in-the-Dark cans shine a little light – and lightheartedness – on family celebrations all season long.
The limited-edition Pringles Sour Scream & Onion and Oooriginal Glow-in-the-Dark cans are now available, while supplies last.
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Chicago’s Heritage Caviar Bar Gets Weird With Sour Cream and Cheddar Potato Chip Ice Cream

A Chicago restaurant is trying to tap into the new frontier of savory ice creams. Major brands have drummed up plenty of press with controversial submissions sure to evoke delight or disgust, from Jeni’s much-discussed Everything Bagel pints to Van Leeuwen’s pot-stirring collab with Kraft Mac & Cheese.
Some tap into the ever-efficacious nostalgia factor, while others may veer into the bizarre. But so-called weird flavors aren’t unique to national brands, as local mega-hit Pretty Cool Ice Cream has proven with Hanukkah-themed potato latkes and Bubbe’s kugel ice cream bars.
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My Weird Night in the World's Biggest Potato Hotel

Tenth Helpings is a humor column from our culture critic, Ella Quittner, illustrated by Olivia de Recat.

I know a place where you can go to be alone. It’s got a roof over it, with a door that locks. There’s a bed and a sink and a kettle for coffee, and from most angles, the land on which it sits is stunningly green, and stunningly flat. The packaged snacks are free and abundant, and there is a rabbit who hops around the property as if he hadn’t yet decided what he’d get up to that day. There is a cow named Dolly who will wander by, shooting you reproachful glances until you acquiesce and stick your hand beneath the dispenser that overflows with edible pellets. Her gratitude will make you blush. It is the place where I began and ended one of the weirdest nights of my life, and it is a six-ton potato, thirty minutes southeast of Boise, Idaho.
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10 Surprising Foods with More Sodium Than a Bag of Chips

When you think of potato chips, chances are you think of salty, crunchy goodness, right? And seeing that sodium is a nutrient that we're cautioned to be mindful of, potato chips inherently fall into the category of processed foods we should probably limit.
Though we need to eat some sodium to keep our bodies running efficiently, too much salt isn't a good thing and it can cause us to retain water or cause more serious health problems—especially if you suffer from conditions like high blood pressure.
While enjoying a salty snack every once in a while can be part of a healthy diet, it's important to be aware of some sneaky places where sodium could be hiding. Here are 10 foods with more sodium than a bag of potato chips (or about 15 chips).
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Are Upcycled Snacks Having Any Impact On Food Waste? We Investigate

You may have noticed the new buzzword "upcycled" floating around on packaged snacks and wondered what it meant. Upcycled foods are products made with ingredients that you would otherwise throw away. Think of the pulp leftover from making fruit and vegetable juice, or produce that isn’t attractive enough to be sold in grocery stores as a few examples.

Products made with ingredients that would otherwise be tossed into landfills often make some pretty big claims. They say they’re helping the environment by reducing food waste and creating products with less power, water, and other carbon-heavy resources. But are these claims true? In short: yes. Upcycled snacks are the easiest way you and I can help save our planet as consumers. To find out more about the impact upcycled snacks are having on food waste, I analyzed statistics from multiple upcycled snack companies and spoke with experts to learn more.
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A New Dip Has Arrived at Trader Joe's, and It's Already Getting Rave Reviews

First came Trader Joe's Everything but the Elote Seasoning, a delicious mix of chile pepper, Parmesan cheese, chipotle powder, cumin, dried cilantro, and sea salt inspired by Mexican street corn (known as elote, which means "corn cob" in Spanish). The seasoning is freakin' delicious, in fact, so much so that TJ's knew we needed more . . . and oh, did we get it. Let us introduce you to Everything but the Elote Dip, the newest "it" dip to hit shelves at Trader Joe's. This isn't just your ordinary yogurt dip with Everything but the Elote sprinkled in: it also contains small kernels of sweet yellow corn! The dip is tangy, zesty, creamy, and slightly smoky, and we approve of it all. Even Instagram user Trader Joe's List says, "The hype is real about this new dip! It's tangy, garlicky with notes of Parmesan. Double down and try it with the Everything but the Elote dippers!"
While the dip pairs well with any scoopable item, it can also be used as a spread, too. Preferably on sandwiches and wraps that you want to give a little extra kick . . . perhaps even a grilled cheese if you're really feeling wild. Whatever you choose to pair it with, we guarantee you'll want this dip on everything imaginable — the hype is real!
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Japanese convenience stores get potato chips designed to be paired with canned chuhai cocktails

While Japan is home to many great izakaya and other drinking establishments, RTD (ready to drink) canned cocktails are very much a popular way to enjoy a refreshing alcoholic beverage. Sold nearly everywhere and available in a variety of flavors, canned cocktails such as chuhai (short for "shochu highball" (although many canned ones use a vodka base) provide an affordable alternative to bar drinks. Japan's Strong Zero chuhai even holds a Guinness World Record for best-selling RTD cocktail.
With many doing their best to stay at home and practice safety protocol (as well as restaurants refraining from serving alcohol), canned cocktails are even more of a drinking favorite, and Japanese snack maker Oyatsu Company (fresh off of releasing 
ramen noodle covered ice cream bars), is releasing two flavors of snack chips made specifically to pair with canned cocktails at home.
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People Have Thoughts About Jennifer Aniston Eating One Single Chip

In a recent interview, Jennifer Aniston admitted to eating just one chip when she’s stressed, and the internet has feelings
Nestled among the many interesting tidbits in Jennifer Aniston’s recent interview with InStyle sat the admission that she eats a single chip or a single M&M — yes, just one — when she’s stressed. Of course, Aniston has long been open about her lifestyle habits, including diet and exercise, for years, but for some reason, this particular tidbit has struck a chord with people on the internet.
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State police seeking suspect who set potato chip display on fire, causing $5,000 in damage to convenience store

State police in Monroe County asked for help identifying a person suspected of setting fire to a display rack of potato chips, causing about $5,000 in damage.
Police released a picture of the person suspected in the potato chip arson Saturday and asked anyone with information to contact state police.
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Are Potatoes Healthy? Here's What a Nutritionist Says

Potatoes are one of the most beloved foods in the US, and there are countless ways to enjoy them. But you may be wondering if they're healthy. Potatoes sometimes get a bad rap for being starch bombs, but they're actually incredibly good for you. Here's a primer on potato health benefits, as well as the best ways to prepare the vegetable to maximize its nutritional value.
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Hero NYPD cop describes how he saved stab victim’s life with potato chip bag: ‘I just needed something squared off at the edges’



Whether it’s snacking or life-saving, this NYPD hero prefers Lays potato chips.
Officer Ronald Kennedy, a former EMT turned cop, recounted his DIY rescue of a stabbing victim by using an empty Lays bag to seal a bleeding chest wound and save the man’s life. Despite the dire circumstances, Kennedy recalled Tuesday how he instinctively knew what to do after arriving outside a bodega on July 7 to find victim Dylan Ubiles lying on the sidewalk fighting for breath.
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Britney Spears Gave an On-Camera Update About Her Conservatorship Situation

Britney Spears gave her first on-camera update about her conservatorship situation. 
The pop icon posted a selfie video to Instagram on August 5, and in it she said, “Okay, so I’m sure a lot of you guys are wondering how I’m doing. And since the cat is out of the bag—literally out of the bag—and you guys know my situation, I do want to let you guys know things are way better than what I ever anticipated.”
In true Brit Brit fashion, she then playfully answered some non-conservatorship-related questions. She revealed that her favorite clothing store is J. Crew, her favorite Miley Cyrus song is “We Can’t Stop,” and she prefers regular Lay’s potato chips over baked. Oh, and her favorite scented lotion is vanilla. Good to know! 
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Jennifer Aniston Needs Only One Potato Chip. I Need Many More.

What do you eat when you’re stressed? Jennifer Aniston will go first: exactly one potato chip.

Perhaps it’s unsurprising that the wellness-obsessed star, who seemingly lives off of Smartwater, almond butter, and good vibes, wouldn’t be a bastion of binge-eating relatability. But her latest pull quote, from
September’s InStyle cover, is truly very “annoying,” even according to Aniston herself.
When asked by editor-in-chief Laura Brown, “What do you eat if you’re stressed?”, Aniston didn’t opt for the normal answer like “a whole pepperoni pizza” or “an entire sleeve of Girl Scout thin mints.” Instead, she poetically said: “A chip. Crunch, crunch, crunch.”
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Siro’s Starting a New Chapter And Will Open For Business July 14th

Anyone driving on the east end of Lincoln Avenue this past spring would have noticed that something was going on at in and around Siro’s, the venerable establishment that has been a favorite of track attendees since 1945.

After significant construction and upgrades, the fine-dining restaurant and bar will reopen to the public on July 14, the day before Saratoga Race Course opens. The Siro’s Cup, a fundraiser for the Center For
Disability Services will be held there that evening, but the dining room
will be open to the public (reservations required) for dinner.

“This will be the premier restaurant in Saratoga Springs”, beamed owner Peter Spitalny, who will operate the iconic eatery with his son Jake. “Our team has put a tremendous amount of work into this because of the importance of Siro’s to both the racing and Saratoga
communities”.

Jake Spitalny, who along with his brother Sam operates The Lake George Beach Club, was likewise upbeat. “My father and I are aware of the historical significance and reputation of Siro’s”, he noted. “We take pride in being the group to restore these values.” The family’s core business is Stein Fibers, based out of Colonie.
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The Crunchier the Chip the Better

Are you looking for your next cookout must-have? Lucky for you, we’re carrying Deep River Snacks Kettle Cooked Potato Chips so you can experience a great taste with even better-for-you ingredients.

With seven varieties of bold, delicious flavors sold at your local Ocean State Job Lot, these chips are ready to satisfy all of your cravings. Whether you’re in the mood for a perfectly tart and tangy Salt and Vinegar option or a sweet onion and garlic combination from the Sweet Maui Onion chips, you and your guests are guaranteed to love the crunch and keep wanting more! Deep River’s kettle chip products are cooked to perfection in sunflower oil and include no artificial flavors or preservatives. They are gluten free and nut free, and made with Non-GMO ingredients so you don’t feel bad when you do indulge!

Not only are Deep River Snacks good for the taste buds, but the company is a strong advocate for using their platform to raise awareness and funds for charitable organizations. On every chip bag, Deep River features a different organization, to which a percentage of their profits will be donated.

For only $2.00 at your
local Ocean State Job Lot, you can enjoy these mouthwatering munchies while making a difference!
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History of potato chips, from Belgian chips to packaged crisps


Potato chips, the most popular junk food of all time
Delicious, tasty, with a little salt or dipped in thick, creamy sauces. In a word: irresistible. Potato chips are one of the most luscious side dishes around, whether in the classic matchstick version or in their more recent crispy, thinly sliced evolution, the packaged crisps. Whether stubby English chips with a thicker cut, elongated American fries or packaged crisps, potato chips have long been associated with the concept of junk food. However, today they are also freshly prepared by pubs and restaurants, fried in good oil from quality raw materials. Of course, they are still high in calories, but giving yourself a treat every now and then is more than legitimate. Besides, who can resist a plate of delicious-looking yellow sticks?