Hailey Green of Noblesville, Indiana, has won the 2015 Lay’s “Do Us a Flavor” contest.
Yahoo Food was the first to report the winner, revealing that Hailey’s idea of the Southern Biscuits and Gravy potato chip had won, beating out millions of other entries, including the other finalists Kettle Cooked Greektown Gyro, New York Reuben, and Wavy West Coast Truffle Fries.
Hailey Green was crowned the winner by singer Nick Lachey on Tuesday night after the voting ceased on Monday. Lachey first surprised the finalists over the summer by showing up at their doorsteps to kick off the contest.
And the winner of Lay’s ‘Do Us a Flavor’ contest is: https://t.co/vs29X6r5BV pic.twitter.com/vB4ICJ5lb9
— AOL.com (@AOL) October 21, 2015
Not only did Green win the bragging rights as the winner of the contest with her family-inspired recipe, she will also get to see her flavor on the store shelves, and she will be taking home the $1 million prize or 1 percent of her flavor’s net sales through July 15, 2016, depending on which number is higher. The other three finalists will take home $50,000 each.
Congratulations! #Noblesville woman wins @Lays ‘Do Us a Flavor’ contest https://t.co/PvHHZiMDR1 via @cbs4indy — Marianne Lyles (@MarianneLyles) October 21, 2015
“She has a great appreciation for each locale’s ‘homemade style,’ because it reminds her of her own childhood, filled with memories of eating Southern food in her grandmother’s kitchen,” Lay’s said in a press release earlier this year, offering some insight into Green and her winning creation. “One of Hailey’s favorite dishes is biscuits and gravy — a recipe that was handed down in her family generation after generation.”
Hailey announced the exciting new on Twitter on Tuesday, thanking everyone for their votes.
Guys we did it. Southern Biscuits and Gravy (Hailey) won the @Lays #DoUsAFlavor contest!! Thank you ALL for voting!
— #VoteBiscuits (@VoteBiscuits) October 21, 2015
Last year’s “Do Us a Flavor” contest winner was Meneko Spigner McBeth with her flavor of Wasabi Ginger. McBeth’s creation beat out the other flavors, Mango Salsa and Cheddar Bacon Mac & Cheese. McBeth’s flavor was inspired, much like Green, by her grandmother. She said she wasn’t allowed to have Wasabi until she was older, and when she was finally able to try it, she fell in love with it. She also started really liking pickled ginger, and she thought the two flavors would go well together. That’s when she decided to enter her idea into the Lay’s “Do Us a Flavor” contest.
Today’s fancy chips: Lay’s wasabi ginger pic.twitter.com/eUWrUIOcat
— Ferd T-H (@mononcqc) October 10, 2015
“It was inspired by my grandmother: She’s Japanese, and I grew up eating her sushi,” McBeth said. “I wasn’t allowed to have the wasabi until I got older, and when I was [allowed to try it], I fell in love with it!”
It wasn’t until college, though, that McBeth visited her “first real sushi restaurant” and became acquainted with pickled ginger.
“The flavor of the two of them in combination, I love it. I said, ‘[Why not] try it on a chip? It can’t hurt!’” she said.
McBeth said her three daughters were in love with the flavor, and she actually had to tell them to stop eating them.
“I mean, they went through bags and bags and bags [of Wasabi Ginger chips],” she said. “And I said, ‘That’s enough! You guys cannot eat this for lunch and dinner every day!’”
Have you tried Hailey Green’s Southern Biscuit and Gravy flavored potato chips? If so, what was your opinion on the taste? Leave your comments below.
[Image via ValeStock / Shutterstock.com]
