Potato Emojis

McCain announced last week that they would be expanding the trademark smiley face potato bites into emoji form. They will initially be available in Outback restaurants in Brazil before launching worldwide.

French Fry Diary 676: McCain Craft Beer Battered Potatoes

I'm not a beer drinker, never have been. I'm not fond of beer battered onion rings or battered French fries either. So know that when I picked up this package of McCain Craft Beer Battered Potatoes, Thin Cut style, I did it for you folks. I'm trying these so you won't have to.

McCain maintains these frozen battered shoestring fries are real potatoes with no artificial colors or flavors, and made with the finest quality American pale ale. I was impressed that the fries were shoestrings as you don't usually find that style battered often. Burger King notably tried it for a while, and they were terrible.

The directions are a bit off, so you may want to keep your eyes on these fries as they cook, as they crisp up pretty quick. Watch them. The fries are pretty long, some seven or eight inches long. The batter adds a nice crisp and I didn't actually taste the 'craft beer' flavor, at first at least. After eating a half-dozen fries, I began to get it cumulatively, but not offensively.

I didn't expect to like these, but I really did. Thumbs up.

Wise Fries from McCain

Following the new trend set by Burger King with their Satisfries, McCain, one of the world's biggest frozen French fries manufacturers, has announced Wise Fries, low fat battered fries.

These fries, in a unique new crinkle cut design , will be a healthier choice for folks who like to bake their own fries at home.

As soon as they are available, I will be posting my own review here on French Fry Diary. If you get to them first, be sure to let me know what you think!

French Fry Diary 475: McCain Purely Potatoes

I did not have a good first experience with these here. I had assumed that McCain Purely Potatoes would be similar to Simply Potatoes Homestyle Slices, but nope, not quite. Well, you know what happens when you assume... you make an ass out of 'u' and 'me.'

McCain makes French fries, so they should know what they're doing when it comes to potatoes, right? Yeah, there's that assume thing again. They do pretty good. That said, I will choose Ore-Ida over McCain almost every time. Perhaps I should wait for Ore-Ida to come out with a product like this.

Purely Potatoes is simply that, peeled and sliced premium russet potatoes like it says on the bag. The bag, besides being usable as a microwave package to cook, also says no prep is required, and the potatoes can be used for au gratin, mashed, or pan-fried, or even deep-fried. All true, but with provisos.

First things first, do not freeze them, at least not if you want to eat them. I made this mistake. Sooo not a good idea. Freezer burn is the luckiest you will get, inedible is the most likely result. If you buy Purely Potatoes, use them that day. And microwave steam the potatoes in the bag first, no matter what you're going to use them for. If you mash them, prep them for baking, or simply move them to the pan or the deep fryer next, they will be hot and ready.

I was really disappointed the first time I tried these. Awful, inedible, oooh, I was sick. Do. Not. Freeze. Them. Maybe I'll give them another shot, but not today.

French Fry Diary 451: The Hanukkah Dog at Home

As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, my mother-in-law got the very last Hanukkah Dog from the Cool Dog Cafe on the last night of Hanukkah this year. She really enjoyed it, and although we love her a lot, we were really jealous watching her eat the very last one.

Mom was so thrilled with Cool Dog's holiday special that she was telling everyone about it, and everyone was equally enthused about it. While we have all vowed to get to the Cool Dog Café earlier next year, we also determined to make our own when the family got together at Christmas.

So here is the homemade Hanukkah Dog. Makeshift and without the sautéed onions, Mom made a few of these on Christmas Eve night. I had two myself, and they were very good. Not that fries on a dog are an unknown quantity, Gene and Jude's in Chicago are famous for it, but I am ashamed to admit that this was my first time. It won't be my last. Thanks, Mom, and thanks to Cool Dog Café for the inspiration.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #72

From last night's second night of Chanukkah, at my in-laws. McCain provided my mom-in-law with the potato pancakes for latkes, but the presentation is all hers. A nice evening with The Bride and her parents. Happy Chanukkah to everyone out there who celebrates!

In Search of the Perfect Potato

French fries in India is serious business, especially if you're McDonald's. Much of the menu isn't what most Hindus can eat, so the vegetarian options, the biggest of which is the the McDonald's French fry, have to be the best.

Forbes India presents this tale of Vikram Bakshi, the CEO of McDonald's India and his search for the perfect potato. Check it out here.

McCain Introduces Masala Fries

One of the world's leading manufacturers of frozen French fries, McCain, is introducing a new product into some of its markets - Masala Fries.

From PotatoPro: "McCain Foods India Pvt Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of McCain Foods Ltd. Canada, has introduced a unique product - Masala Fries for the Institutional customers. The product has been introduced at Hosts 2010 being held in Mumbai annually. It is India’s first and largest hospitality tradeshow.

"McCain Masala Fries are SuperCrisp French Fries coated with a special Indian-style spicy seasoning. They are ideal for catering, fast food and restaurants as they deliver excellent hold time and perfect cost control.

"McCain Foods India Pvt. Ltd. currently offers wide variety of mouth-watering products, best suited for the Indian consumer, like Aloo Tikki, Tandoori Vege Nuggets and Vege Burgers apart from popular products like French Fries, Smiles, Savoury Potato Wedges, Hashbrowns etc."

Mmmm... Masala fries... Can't wait until they're available in the States, and to the public, they should go great with curry!

The New Zealand Chip Shop Competition

New Zealand Chip (French Fries) Shop Competition Is On Again

New Zealand, July 02, 2009

The search for New Zealand’s top chip shop kicks off this month, with registrations opening for shops wanting to take part in the ‘That’s Life! Best Chip Shop Competition 2009’.

This year, competing shops can gain extra points in the Competition if at least one employee has their Chip Group Online Training certificates on display.

Chairperson of The Chip Group, Glenda Gourley, said judges will be on the look out for certificates, as a way of identifying chip shops that are putting into practice the ‘New Zealand Standards for Deep Fried Chips in Independent Fast Food Outlets’.

“Shops that complete the online modules, which cover all aspects of the Industry Standards, will not only increase their odds of winning the Competition, but they’ll also be serving up healthier chips to their customers. Furthermore, our research shows that they’ll enhance customer satisfaction and achieve greater business efficiencies."

There are seven online training modules covering chip size, oil temperature, cooking/deep-frying, drainage, oil maintenance, filtering and cleaning, and salt.

“It only takes 5-8 minutes to complete each module and once a module is completed an employee is then able to print out their certificate.

Heart Foundation nutritionist, Judith Morley-John, said last year, 70% of the 89 finalists achieved the Chip Group’s aim of an average fat content of 9.2%.

New Zealand Chip Shops can check if they are registered, sign up for the Competition and complete the Chip Group Online Training modules by visiting www.thechipgroup.co.nz.

The ‘That’s Life! Best Chip Shop Competition 2009’ is the country’s only national chip shop competition and this year is supported by: That’s Life!, ‘Goodman Fielder’, ‘Bakels’, Food2Go Magazine, McCain Foods (NZ) Ltd, ‘Mr Chips’, ‘Potatoes New Zealand’, ‘Alfa One’, ‘Eurotec’ and the ‘Heart Foundation’.


.

French Fries Vending Machine

Fresh and hot (well, at least I hope so) French fries from a vending machine!

I don’t know what they’re saying, but I bet it’s “Mmmm... fries...”

French Fry Shellac

Ever notice the crappy coating that some fries have these days? It supposedly makes ‘em crunchier but the reality is that this stuff –Invisicoat by name- makes the fries last longer in the freezer section. Longer life, more time on the shelf, more sales. It’s used mainly by McCain, Denny’s, any number of nameless diners and more potato products than I would like. Yes, it’s good for the sales end of the business, but really, it tastes like crap.

A month or so back, Natalie posted her thoughts about the French fry shellac phenomenon on her blog, Curly Wurly Gurly. She’s got it right. Just say no to Invisicoat.

Fries Get Political

A coincidental name is putting a new spin on McCain's latest ad campaign.

McCain Foods Limited, the world's largest producer of frozen French fries and potato products, has started their new ads proclaiming "Why McCain Should Be in the White House."

No, not that McCain, but the fry people. It's a clever ad, and not an endorsement of either candidate, but it definitely gets attention.

I know I'm voting for McCain... fries!

French Fry Diary 02: Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Welcome to your grocer's freezer. Put on a coat. You'll be here for awhile. It's like walking in a winter wonderland so smile.

You should see many different kinds of frozen fries in boxes or bags here. This is a good time to go over the wonderful variety of French fryish products there are out there. They are mostly by Ore-Ida, McCain or this particular store's own brand. Ore-Ida is the biggest of the fry brands. They tend to add more spices to their stuff. McCain tends to add that patented "Invisicoat" a clear coating batter used to provide crispness and longer shelf life. Store brands usually are just generic versions of what the big guys produce. Beyond the different brands there are about a zillion varieties. Here's a quick rundown of a few:

REGULAR CUTS - Just that. The standard size fries we all know and love. They are a half -inch thick and about three to four inches long.

SHOESTRINGS - Slightly longer and a quarter-inch thick. What you traditionally get at McDonald's or Burger King.

CRINKLE CUTS - Just like regular cuts only with a wavy horizontal pattern on every side. Also come as pixie sized or shoestrings with crinkle cuts.

STEAK FRIES - Big planks. Typically an inch thick and four to five inches long. Can also come with a vertical crinkle cut or with skin on.

SEASONED - Usually regular cuts but covered with batter, pepper, paprika and other such zesty spices. Other flavors include cracked black pepper, fajita, hot, jalapeno and sassy salt and vinegar.

TATER TOTS - Inch long three quarter inch cylinders made of processed (chopped up) potato. Designed to be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Sometimes seasoned and sometimes with chunks of onion. Also available at half-sized.

NATURAL CUTS - regular cuts with the skin still on.

DICED - Also known as hash browns, potatoes O'Brien or breakfast potatoes. Diced into quarter inch or inch cubes. Sometimes include onion or pepper bits.


WEDGES - Just like they sound, steak fries-sized three sided wedges of potato with the skin still on.

FAST FRIES - Amazing shoestrings coated with a magic chemical which allows them to cook in an oven three times faster than other French fries. So named for fast food fries.

CROWNS - Flat inch wide coins or medallions of the same consistency as Tater Tots.

CRISPERS - Like Crowns or Tater Tots these are made from processed potato. Regular Cut-sized. Soft inside with extra-crispy bumpy shells designed for (what else?) extra crispness. The late great Tasti-Fries from Birdseye were of this variety with soft insides and crunchy vertical lines up and down the fry itself. Mmmmm, tasty.

TWISTS - Also known as curly fries, loops, corkscrews and spirals. Specially cut through the miracle of science into corkscrew shapes usually the width of shoestrings only much much longer. Sometimes seasoned and usually with the skin on.

CHIPS - Just your standard potato disc a quarter inch thick of varying diameter (one to four inches) usually with the skin on. Sometimes they can be crinkle cut. Pretty much exclusively for breakfast.

WAFFLE FRIES - Also known as lattice, criss-cross or gaufrette. Another cut of miracle proportions. Take a potato disc a quarter inch thick of varying diameter (one to four inches) usually with the skin on, cut the top like a crinkle cut then flip it and spin it, then crinkle cut that side for a criss-cross effect.

MATCHSTICK FRIES - Also known as allumette or potato sticks. Shoestrings an eighth of an inch thick.

BATTER FRIES - Usually regular cuts with a coating of breading or beer or corn batter that makes them have a more crispy outside.

SHREDDED - Tiny eighth inch strips of potato. Also known as hash browns because they can be fried into a hash brown-like patty. Usually served with breakfast.

HASH BROWNS - Patties of processed potato similar to long flat tater tots. Half inch thick, five inches long and two inches wide.

SHAPES - Processed potato shaped into various forms such as smiley faces or letters of the alphabet. Fun but rarely tasty.

Now all these types start from potatoes dug out of the ground, washed, steam-peeled, sorted, cut, blanched, dried, par-fried, shaken and frozen all before they get into our hungry hands in the grocer's freezer.

We'll stop here for the moment as you're probably freezing to death from standing in your grocer's freezer. Keep in mind though the cold is your friend. Without it your fries wouldn't be able to stay fresh for you so long. Ah, the miracle of science.