Random Tater Pic of the Day #162

These freezer-burned but baked frozen crinkle cut fries are just as miserable as the place where I found them - Virtua Hospital in Mount Holly. Not where you want to go for fries...

French Fry Diary 569: Weber's Famous Drive-In

Weber's Famous Drive-In is an old fashioned drive-in restaurant chain, much like A&W, or Mel's in American Graffiti or Arnold's in "Happy Days." This particular Weber's is probably the most famous in our area, it's the one on Route 38 in Pennsauken NJ.

Why is it famous? Because it's got Mark the Shark out front by the highway entrance with a microphone and full costume. I think overweight Elvis Presley impersonator Mark McMichael has been there for years, waving to cars, holding a mike to his face, and singing (or pretending to sing). It might be a real mike, or it might be a Mr. Microphone, but he was quiet the day we were there, but still doing his thing by the road.

The Bride and I remember Mark the Shark from karaoke at the Diamond Diner back in the 1990s. He was famous then as now for his trademark Pete Townsend-like windmills. The Diamond at the Cherry Hill Racetrack Circle is long gone, now replaced by a Walgreens, and the Circle now an intersection. Mark the Shark keeps on rocking. His appearance at Weber's is a sign that the season is open, and summer is here. Mark continues to entertain at Weber's all day Sundays while the drive-in is open.

One particular good memory I have of this Weber's is getting out of the hospital at the beginning of summer, after being bed bound and tortured by bad hospital television for weeks. The TV was punctuated by commercials for Weber's, which had just opened for the season. On the way home from the hospital, The Bride, my good buddy Q and I stopped there for dinner. I was so glad to have real food, as opposed to hospital food… and especially a thick chocolate shake. Even Elvis was there that day too. Good times.

The day of this visit, Mark was rocking, and we pulled in a turned on our lights, the signal to place our order. Our waitress skated out to take it, and when it arrived, the tray was balanced on the car window - told ya it was old school, but it was/is cool. There were a lot of folks coming in for just take out - something to consider for next time. The Bride got a pizza burger, I got a hot dog, we each got fries and a drink. Orange melted cheese for her fries, and another big frosty mug of chocolate shake for me. Warning ahead of time, this is a cash only business, don't come with just cards.

The French fries were deep-fried shoestrings. They were not great, but not all that greasy either, as one might expect. Actually once you start eating them, they become quite addictive, kinda like that old potato chip adage - you have just one. And they are great for dipping in the shake as well. These fries are not a bad deal at all, a good bargain for two and a half bucks.

Virtua Fries

Recently, my brother-in-law (big sister Bobbie's husband) had a brief encounter with the Emergency Room at the new Virtua Hospital in Voorhees. He's all good now, but he spent a few days relaxing in a hospital room that, let's be honest, kinda shamed some of the rooms I've stayed in at Harrah's. It was niiice.

While he was there, Bobbie had a chance to eat at the Café there, so today's Somebody Else's Fries are hers. This is a pic of her lunch one day during hubby's stay. Bobbie said, "…the fries were natural cut, crisp, hot and made to order. And only cost $1.99! Everything in the cafeteria is fresh, made to order and delicious, who knew? Who knew that hospital food would taste so good?" Her words, not mine.

French Fry Diary 285: Maternity Fries

This weekend the family is celebrating the birth of my new niece. We made the pilgrimage up to the hospital to see her in all her eight pound new born glory. Just for the record, she's absolutely adorable.

Now that's all good and everything, but you're probably wondering why I'm talking about this here. There is a point, and it starts with me happy to see the new addition to the family and continues with me thinking I was crazy.

I was enjoying the whole family groove thing, the awww factor, and everyone taking turns holding the baby - when it happened. I smelled French fries. At first I thought I was losing it, that this near decade of writing about French fries had finally addled my brain - now I'm daydreaming fries.

Thankfully I'm sane. Lunch had come, and hidden underneath a cloche were some hospital-made natural cut regular cuts. Dad finished them off with some ketchup. Mom and baby are doing great - and I'm not nuts.