Normally I'm a purist when it comes to potato chips. I like them to be plain and well-made. They shouldn't ever be greasy and, to paraphrase the old TV ad, you shouldn't be able to eat just one. I was skeptical, then, when I received my "Death Valley Survival Kit" from Kettle Foods, makers of great potato chips (I usually buy the plain, "lightly salted" variety), that included a 9-ounce bag of Death Valley Chipotle Chips and a devilishly red plastic water bottle. I was first drawn to the great packaging, a burnt orange and mustard colored bag that is accented by quotes from those who participated in their fourth annual People's Choice campaign ("best dang chips to cross these lips…") in which consumers vote on what the next new flavor will be. Next were the chips themselves. I took the precaution of pouring myself a cold beer in anticipation of the heat that was to come. Turns out, the heat is more subtle than I expected (although they definitely are spicy), and the chips were absolutely delicious. I like heat from chiles, and I particularly like the flavor of the chipotle chile (actually a dried, smoked jalapeño), at once sweet and smoky and hot. I was glad I had the beer, however, not because the chips were so hot but because they went so well together. Kettle Foods have become masters of blending flavors for their chips. The flavors they use never overwhelm the taste of the potatoes and they are never the least bit greasy. In short, they are everything a potato chip should be. In addition, the company will donate $1 to the Death Valley Natural History Association for every Facebook user who downloads a special Death Valley temperature gauge that monitors the desert heat. The money goes to support the "Death Valley ROCKS" program and its mission of bringing city kids to the park to experience the natural world. For more information, call 503-364-0399 or visit www.kettlefoods.com.