Picton & Co deli in Cardiff Bay is serving the viral snack that’s a step up from your average packet of Quavers
Post-work drinks are one of life’s small joys but there’s also nothing quite like tearing open a packet of crisps and sharing with friends.
Now, Cardiff Bay’s deli and bar – Picton & Co are taking the crisp sharer up a notch with a new dish built from a packet of crisps which is quietly becoming one of the city’s most talked-about snacks.
The Torres Loaded Crisps began from the restaurant’s fascination with flavour and sees fancy deli crisp brand, Torres piled up with cheese, meats and more deli staples.
Ken Picton, 57, owner of Picton & Co said: “What we love about the Torres crisps is their unique flavours from fried egg to paprika to truffle and ham. And when you’re eating them, you feel like you’re eating those products.
“Then we had this idea of ‘why don’t we just throw a load more into it and make it the ultimate snack.'” For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here
The dish now arrives piled high with ingredients drawn almost entirely from the restaurant itself: “Because a lot of our concept is we sell what we serve and serve what we sell, the more things that we are using of our own product, the better it is for people to experience more options.”
Customers can customise both base and toppings. “You have a choice of the crisp flavour, we generally recommend the olive oil and the vinegar because they’re less powerful,” Ken explained.
Toppings revolve around deli staples: “The olives, which are a massive dish for us, salamis and coppa, and then obviously the cheese is from our counter.”
Vegetarian and vegan options are also possible.
“We can make it even vegan, but then it is pretty much olive-loaded,” added Ken. You won’t find the dish on the regular menu but available on their specials board.
The Loaded Torres Crisps has quickly gained popularity among customers.
“Yesterday when the sun was shining, we had people standing outside, they just wanted that snack rather than a full meal,” Ken said. Priced at £13, it is, Ken said: “ideal as a sharer, a bit big if you’re not sharing it.”
And while “there is this trend at the minute with loaded crisps”, he adds, “for us it was almost like our version of a nacho, but with a lot more flavour.”
