Random Tater Pic of the Day #267

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fighting over fries from issue #10 of their comic book series. Don't miss the season finale of the TV series tonight on ABC, and my review later in the week at Biff Bam Pop!. You can see all my reviews of the television series right here.

The Potato Chip Lady on The Tonight Show

This clip is from the late eighties, and I remember watching it, and laughing hysterically. The clip was discussed this morning on OpieRadio via satellite radio, reminding me of it. Enjoy.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #233

This contestant on Game Show Network's "Idiotest!" noted that she did not eat the ends of French fries because her fingers had touched them. So what did show host Ben Glieb do? He offered her some fries, of course. Do you have a peculiar way of eating fries? Let me know.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #229

So is this a thing now? After decades of dipping French fries into milkshakes myself, it seems that it's finally caught on. This screen capture from a recent episode of "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" might just be the beginning of all that as time traveler Jax, half of the superhero Firestorm, introduces the art of dipping fries in shakes to 1950s Oregon...

Random Tater Pic of the Day #228

More proof that dipping French fries in milkshakes is not just a fluke that a small minority are into. This admittedly unflattering screen capture is from a recent episode of Showtime's "Shameless."

French Fry Diary 680: Mayfair Boardwalk Grill

The last time we visited the Silverball Museum, we had the favorite fried food there, and it was really pretty good, but as we were leaving we passed a simple shack on the boardwalk, and I knew that was where we should have eaten instead. When we went back to Silverball for The Bride's birthday celebration, I fixed that oversight.

We arrived on the Asbury Park boardwalk early in the afternoon, and as I hadn't had breakfast yet, I figured a snack was in order. Yeah, hot dogs for breakfast, and me being me, I had to get fries too. I was given a number like at the butcher shop and asked to wait. This alone meant to me that I was lucky being the only one there at the moment, and that the lines could get very busy indeed.

The Mayfair Boardwalk Grill is an Asbury Park tradition, family owned and operated for over fifty years. As I waited and chilled on the park bench there on the boardwalk with bicyclists and kite-fliers and seagulls and dog walkers going by with the beach right there - I felt like I was in the middle of the opening credits sequence of "Three's Company."

The wait was short, and well worth it. The awesome foot long hot dog, cooked to splitting crispy perfection on a flattop grill was snuggled into a regular-sized roll. Sooo good. And it was accompanied by frozen regular cuts that were deep-fried. They looked burnt, really burnt, but that was just a look, these fries were perfectly crisp, and soft, fluffy and hot inside. This was a delicious meal, so simple, and highly recommended.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #223

Hey, it's the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, as a Mr. Potato Head, complete with fez and sonic screwdriver. Yeah, it's Doctor Who, for those not versed in the mythos, you can find out more here, and follow my reviews of the newest series on Biff Bam Pop! right here. And don't forget to have some fries while you watch and read...

In Honor of Jon Stewart

In honor of Jon Stewart's last night on "The Daily Show," here's a compilation of my Arby's reviews over the years:

Arby's

Arby's House Made Chips

Arby's Frozen Fries

Arby's Onion Rings

Arby's House Made Chips, Again

French Fry Diary 678: KC Steak Fries

When I write I usually have to have something on in the background. I used to have one of the 24/7 news channels going. My rage at them (all of them) being more opinion than actual news stopped that. Then I tried CourtTV, but once the Jodi Arias trial started, that too proved a distraction.

And then there was QVC, which worked for a while with its innocuous programming. While the recent Isaac Mizrahi moon-is-a-planet kerfuffle is typical of the channel, the foodie in me was soon seduced by their cooking shows. The Kansas City Steak Company sells their wares on QVC often, including their juicy Steakburgers and huge hot dogs, both tempting, but I never broke down and ordered anything until they sweetened the deal with... wait for it... French fries.

The package arrived just a few days later, a big styrofoam box with dry ice in it, along with three smaller black boxes marked Kansas City Steak Company. One box had the burgers, another had unusually large hot dogs, and the third - two big white label-less one pound bags of French fries. I couldn't wait to try them, and by them, I meant the fries.

From what I saw on television, KC Steak Fries (TM) are seasoned steak fries, long planks of natural cut potato, with a golden brown sprinkling of spices. They could be deep fried, but everyone knows that frozen fries are best baked. The reality of the situation was a bit different.

But first, a word about the other stuff in the package. The hot dogs are made from 100% beef, and are huge, approximately an inch longer and twice as thick. They will make most rolls seem puny. These dogs take a little longer to cook, but wow. The burgers, excuse me, Steakburgers, are also huge, and pretty good too, a five ounce patty of corn fed ground beef from western Kansas. Thumbs up.

At first sight, out of the blank white bag, they were natural cut steak fries, some coated in Kansas City's special 'old bay' seasoning, and some not, very uneven. I have to be honest, as excited as I was when I first saw them on QVC, I was a little disappointed when I opened the bag. We'll see how they cook. After all, the dogs and burgers were great, why wouldn't the fries be as well?

The directions were not quite right, so keep an eye on your fries, and cook appropriately. I had to keep cooking them for an additional five minutes. The crispier and crunchier these fries were, the better they were. The fries are certainly seasoned, but I have to say I wasn't getting an Old Bay vibe. They were good, but not that good. I would definitely get the dogs or burgers again, but maybe not the fries.

The Albert Bartlett Rooster Potatoes Commercial Revolution

Recently potatoes have taken front and center place in television advertising. Actress Marcia Cross, the flaming redhead best known for her roles in "Desperate Housewives," and a decade before that "Melrose Place," is at the center of this ad campaign.

Albert Bartlett has introduced a new (well, not so new, but new here) red potato to the United States, neither Red nor Russet, the Rooster Potato is one of their prizes and they're pushing it hard, on TV. They also market the Anya, Blonde Bella, and Sundance Potato varieties.



The above was the introductory ad of this campaign, and the full commercial, looking every bit like it's selling conditioner, is here. Enjoy.

Random Tater Pic of the Day #151

From "America's Worst Tattoos," yes, it's a cowboy boot filled with French fries…

Random Tater Pic of the Day #144

The Devil and Don Draper. From this week's episode of "Mad Men."

Random Tater Pic of the Day #138

"Glee" just celebrated its one hundredth episode last night, so today's random pic is from earlier this season when characters were texting each other about the virtues of the favorite fried food...

Meet the Small Potatoes

Random Tater Pic of the Day #112

Everyone loves French fries, even America's favorite serial killer. Dexter and date enjoy peanut butter and Nutella fries on the latest episode of the Showtime series.

French Fry Diary 509: Best Daym Takeout

Daymon Patterson, better known as Daym Drops, whose amazing 'soopa oh-ficial' restaurant reviews done from his car have made him a YouTube superstar, idol to millions, and a personal culinary hero of mine, has a new TV show on The Travel Channel. It's called "Best Daym Takeout" and the first two episodes debuted this past Wednesday.

First, I gotta say I love this guy. He wouldn't have to do much to impress me. He could've just broadcast his old YouTube reviews and I would have been glued to the TV, but he jumped in and gave us something new. The concept has him visited different cities and restaurants, followed by his trademark car seat review, all punctuated with his unique banter.

In the Chicago episode, he checks out Pequod's Pizza, Mr. Beef, and the Superdawg Drive-In. On that last one, he shows us how they make their fresh cut crinkle cut fries. He even gets to taste some raw potato. Just for the record, they know how to make fries at Superdawg, and they get Daym's approval as well.

The second episode explores New Orleans with the same charismatic manic intensity and enjoyment. I love it! I will be tuned in every Wednesday night for the next new "Best Daym Takeout." And Daym, my brother from another mother, more fries please!

Random Tater Pic of the Day #109

And really, Artie, what's wrong with that?

Currently rewatching "The Sopranos," and this screen capture was just too irresistible not to grab.

Crazy Fries

From the "Teen Titans Go!" TV series... Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Robin eating French fries in crazy ways...

Paula Deen - Put a Fork in Her

I've featured Paula Deen a handful of times here at French Fry Diary. Her fearlessness in making crazy fried foods is legendary, making her perfect fodder for a blog about less than healthy food.

However, after the emergence of her racial remarks earlier this week, I don't think I'll be doing that any more. I'm not the only one who feels that way. After blowing off "The Today Show" this morning, this afternoon the Food Network announced they would be dropping her as well.

I would have posted her online apology, but much like Paula did to Matt Lauer, and Food Network did to her, she pulled that sad excuse for an apology from YouTube. Perhaps a full disappearance might be good advice for Ms. Deen for a while. I think we're all sick of her at this point. She's done.

French Fry Diary 482: Big Belly Burger

Some time ago I wrote about some of the fast food chains in the fictional DC Comics universe. More than a few folks inquired about what kind of, and when I would be reviewing, the fries at Big Belly Burger.

Watching "Arrow" recently I paused it, completely coincidentally, on this image of a basket of Big Belly Burger French fries. Yeah, it's like that.

The fries seem to be natural cut regular cuts, and maybe deep fried.  And yes, I'm ashamed that I can tell all that just from a fuzzy paused television image...

They seem to be a favorite of both John Diggle and Oliver Queen, so I'm going to assume these are good fries. Now if only I could get off of Earth-Prime to really give them a try...