French Fry Diary 623: Utz Wavy Baby Back Ribs Chips

I've talked before how much I love Herr's Baby Back Rib Potato Chips, or pig chips as I like to call them, before. So when I saw these - Utz Wavy Baby Back Ribs flavored crisp all natural Potato Chips (another contender for longest chip name ever), I just had to get them.

I can only really compare them to the Herr's version. These chips are thinner, and their ridges are ever so slightly smaller. The thinness, usually a Lay's trait, makes them a little less functional as dipping chips.

I have to say the flavor isn't as strong as Herr's, but I think that's a good thing. The baby back ribs seasoning flavor is still there, just very subtle. I like it. So much so that if I have a choice between pig chips - Herr's or Utz, I think I'm going for the Utz.

French Fry Diary 251: Herr's Fireman's BBQ Chicken

Yeah, it's another impossibly long name for a type of potato chips - Herr's Fireman's BBQ Chicken artificially flavored potato chips. Like their two (at least two that I know of) meat flavored chips (Baby Back Ribs and Kansas City Steak) it's a challenge to even try. Meat flavored potato chips as a concept just seems wrong. For me, Herr's is hit and miss on good chips. I love the 'pig chips,' but I doubt I'll ever have the 'cow chips' again.

The Fireman's BBQ Chicken chips are described on the back of the bag as having the "right off the grill smoky flavor of succulent barbecued chicken." It also claims "a special blend of herbs, spices and a touch of tangy marinade." A look to the side reveals an unappetizing mix of chemicals in the ingredients, as well as the rather scary words, "chicken flavor."

When I tried them I didn't get the chicken flavor promised, and I guess that's a good thing. The chips were ripples like the pig chips, and also like them they are well spiced. These are good hot BBQ chips if nothing else, I liked them.

French Fry Diary 247: Golden Corral

As a rule, I am not fond of buffets. They are either very good, or very very bad. There is the whole idea of several people possibly touching your food before you get it. And yes, I know, food is always touched before you get it - but you don't see it, and it's not other customers touching it. I know, I'm on the brink of OCD here, but the same-spoon-for-everything thing gets me too.

And then we come to Golden Corral, and hope that the above does not apply. Those of us in the area who regularly use Route 73 have watched this particular Golden Corral in West Berlin be built and gave anxiously awaited its opening. First of all, it's hard to miss, as the sign is gigantic, and can be seen for miles.

The buzz has been very good from friends and family about the restaurant and the food, but things being what they are it took a while to get there. A lazy afternoon with the in-laws and the promise of baby back ribs, and we were off to Golden Corral. Sadly, since the visit, we've heard that quality has gone downhill in the short time they've been there. To make matters worse, the baby back ribs we all saw on TV ads, was a special that had ended. No baby back ribs at all.

For a late Saturday afternoon they were packed but we were greeted by the friendly and helpful waitress Julia. The picky eater then trekked to the buffet to see what they have to offer. I ended up with a very tender steak cooked on a grill, a cheese garlic biscuit that looked just like the bread things at Red Lobster (not the same taste but still quite good), and something called "Steakhouse French Fries."

These were standard steak fries, probably frozen and baked, but hot and very good. With those kind of fries and this kind of place - hot is important. Also available were mashed potatoes, baked potatoes (sweet and regular), and tempura onion rings.

They had a lot here to choose from, almost everything except baby back ribs and chocolate soft serve. Still, it was quite good, and despite my initial OCD fears, it turns out the buzz was right. Golden Corral was pretty good, and so were the fries.

Postscript: Golden Corral makes up got its buffet reputation in the restroom department. No operational stalls in the men's room and no toilet paper in the ladies' room. I guess we won't be back. I can make steak fries at home.

French Fry Diary 231: Texas Roadhouse, Bensalem PA

I had seen this place, the questionably named Texas Roadhouse, next to the Sonic on Street Road for a while but only started to get recommendations for it since one opened closer in Turnersville.

My first impression was the same that I had the first time I walked into a Lone Star Steakhouse - loud country music and peanut shells on the floor. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but both had vanished by the time we were seated. And despite it being dinner rush, and being warned by several folks of a long wait, we were seated quite quickly.

Catastrophically picky eater that I am, I ordered the Road Kill (chopped steak, better known as a hamburger sans roll), and the steak fries. First though we got the Cactus Blossom, their version of Outback's Bloomin' Onion. Much easier to pull apart, but also much less spicy hot than Outback's, the Cactus Blossom is a winner. The Bride, her parents and I decimated it.

Took a bit to get my order right, but it finally came after everyone else had already begun their dinner. I didn't want mushrooms so of course I got mushrooms. The chopped steak was terrific after I unburied it from the mountain of onions.

The fries were natural cut steak fries, not dissimilar from Wendy's new ones actually, only thicker. They had some light spices, and parsley, maybe rosemary thrown on them. Not the best I've had but then again not the worst. The waitress kept pushing folks to get cheddar and bacon on them - perhaps knowing they needed something.

Around the table, the ribs were about the same as the fries, not the best but not the worst. Real whiskey in the barbecue sauce it tasted like. Chili's ribs are better though, according to the Mom-in-Law. The beans were good as were the mashed potatoes. The service was a bit slow, but as always, it's amazing how quick a manager comes to your table when you start taking pictures of the food.

I took some of the fries home. They behaved predictably. In the microwave they became a soggy mushy mess, but baked in the oven, these fries became a bit more formidable. They were golden brown with a crunch on the outside, soft and hot on the inside - more like what they should have been in the restaurant.

For the record, more than one of our party had heartburn or was sick to their stomach afterward. All in all, I don't think we'll be back - if we did go back, maybe it would be for the chopped steak, maybe for the Cactus Blossom, but probably not for the fries.

French Fry Diary 160: Whispering Canyon Café 2010

On our last trip to Walt Disney World, our dinner at the Whispering Canyon Café was one of the highlights. In the gorgeous lobby of the Wilderness Lodge, this restaurant is not just good food, it's an interactive experience disguised as an old west hillbilly homey eatin' joint. Reminiscent of the now-defunct Adventurers Club (come on, Disney, bring it back!), this is about fun and atmosphere more than the food, but the food is great too.

The favorite fried food is just as good as it was last time, as was the show. The fries were regular cuts, hot and especially tasty with the barbeque sauce that comes with the ribs. The Bride got the sweet potato fries which were very crispy, and not bad, and that's saying a lot considering I'm really not a SPF guy.

One small disappointment this trip was that they changed up the shakes. Last time we had had these 'all you care to drink' shakes that came in a staggering variety of flavors. There were traditional like chocolate and the like, but also stuff like bubble gum and mint and butterscotch. By the end of the meal we had almost tried every type. Now they only have the primary flavors - brown, white and pink. Still damn good either way.

All in all, horse races, the Hokey-Pokey, straw throwing, and especially server attitude - this was a fun dinner and night. And don't forget to ask for ketchup!

French Fry Diary 135: Lay's Tangy Carolina BBQ Potato Chips

I'm a big fan of honey barbeque sauce, and barbeque sauce in general. It's just fantastic on French fries. Recently I had the chance to sample some honey barbeque potato chips from Lay's but haven't been able to find them. While looking however, I found these - Lay's Tangy Carolina BBQ potato chips.

Now usually when it comes to the word 'tangy' it's used as an advertisement or a promise rather than an actual adjective for taste. These babies however are tangy, just like the bag says. The seasoning is very hot and very sweet, and will open up your sinuses.

The taste reminds me very much of the late lamented Rib-It restaurant chain. Their barbeque sauce was perfect for their steak fries. They are much missed, but here is a wonderful reminder, these chips will make you miss Rib-It even more, but at least you'll be able to taste a hint of their old bbq sauce. Recommended.

French Fry Diary 77: Herr’s Baby Back Ribs Potato Chips

These potato chips are similar to Herr’s Kansas City Prime Steak chips in that I have to wonder if they taste like the meat or the stuff that goes on top of the meat. Whereas those chips are only for every once in a while, Herr’s Baby Back Ribs chips are something I am almost addicted to.

‘Pig chips’ as I lovingly call them have a sweet sweet flavor probably due to the molasses and sugar in the seasonings. There’s also the barbeque factor. I love barbeque sauce so naturally I’m attracted to these. Not much of a fan of baby back ribs, but I do love the sauce. And these are hot, you’ll need much liquid refreshment when partaking. Great chips, recommended.