Sam and I started a tradition maybe a year ago that revolves around spontaneously going out for French fries, my favorite food. Say we’re driving home and nothing good is on the radio and the weather isn’t conducive to utilizing the features of a convertible top and you think to yourself, you know, a hot, crispy French fry would take this moment from Average to Very, Very Good.
When you get that feeling, you simply say, “Surfries!” and we go to the nearest, tastiest, or most convenient fry-producing institution. Last night we went to The Giant, a hamburger place in Lake Grove that has really great fries. They’re always hot and fresh, and something about their room temperature fancy ketchup packets is just right.
I’ve been recommended to visit
Potato Champion, which is the next fry institution on my must-try list. Potato Champion is in that cart city—that parking lot full of food vendors downtown—and they serve something called Poutine: fries smothered in gravy and fresh cheese curds.
I want to go! Arrr!!! I want fries!!!! [I’m not done.] FRIIIIIESSSS!
In Portland's great food scene, I have yet to explore some superb institutions I know are waiting for me with a hot basket of sliced-up potatoes. Don't worry. I'm on my way.
Here's my rating of ten popular fry-makers:
(10 = least fav, 1 = most fav)
10. Applebee's - Just because I'm listing this institution does not mean I support it at all. This is a warning: I like nothing about Applebee's, including their cold stale fries. I'm sticking my tongue out right now.
9. Carl's Junior - Yes, these battered fries may have spice, but are always too greasy, leaving that filmy oil-coated feeling in your mouth.
8. Wendy's - Usually served nice and hot, these fries are a good shape and size, but aren't the most flavorful and can sometimes taste kind of fake.
7. Skyline Chili - I have more to say about this Ohio chili chain. I had a great time there with Janet and my Aunt Toni. The fries weren't bad--a good cut between shoestring and Wendy's-size. But Skyline, I just want to ask you about that monstrous pile of cheese. Is this some kind of trick? What are you trying to say? More importantly, what are you trying to do? With cocoa and cinnamon in this famous chili, I recommend going for the experience. If you can't decide between the famous coney or chili-cheese fries, flip a coin . . . or just get both. That's what we did.
6. McDonalds - That nostalgic shoe-string fry tastes pretty good, as processed as it may be. It will stay crispy on your car floor forever. I like to eat a wad of them dipped in McDonald's BBQ. Growing up, we called this "bubblegum." Don't know why. Props to this chain, my alma mater.
5. Del Taco - Gotta love the non-oven-baked-but-deep-fried crinkle fry served in a large soda cup. I'll go out of my way for fries here. It's like going to the circus.
4. Red Robin - Thick steak fries that taste so good (although are not consistantly well-prepared or hot depending on the service). But I love that all-you-can-eat-fry-basket idea. It keeps me loyal.
3. Lake Oswego Creamery - The service was excellent. A side of fries was not on the menu, but after an exhausting day and a painful trip to the dentist, I boldy asked for a side of fries and got it. Hot steak fries smothered in ketchup just hits the spot.
2. The Giant - I don't know why, but the two times I've had these fries I've felt extremely satisfied afterwards. This local delicassey is served super-hot and tastes amazing. Love the ketchup in the longer, black foil package at the table. Good pick.
1. That One Fish & Chips Place on the Coast of Whitby in the North of England - Yes, please. That's all I have to say.
Who makes your favorite fries?
I dropped the laptop on the way to Ohio. It still works, we just have to plug it into a separate monitor. So writing away from home means going to the library, or back to old-fashioned pen and paper--which I think is a good thing. I feel like writing on the laptop provides too many distractions for an undisciplined soul such as myself (i.e. the internet and the blog).
My friend Liza forwarded me a rubber duck in the mail, to which I first thought, somebody got the wrong address. But after reading the notes in the envelope, I figured it out. An elementary school class in Iowa is seeing the world through little rubber ducks by sending them all over the country/world. (I suppose this is how Iowans experience culture beyond the Great, Expansive Plains. I can dig it.)
Me and Ducky @ the Willamette River.
Ducky in the twiggy winter woods.
Ducky in a mossy nest.
Ducky in the Oregon jungle.
Ducky at the Willamette River park near our house.
Sam saves Ducky from floating away down the river.
No, we're not burning Ducky. He watched Sam build a fire to heat up our lunch. Smokey homemade pizza warmed on the rocks = deeelish.
Ducky at Lake Oswego's historic Iron Smelter.
And, of course, we took Ducky with us to get surfries at the Giant. See him in the corner?
Janet tried looking up things to (and things to eat) in Dayton, Ohio, where we were in late February visiting relatives on our dad's side. As I suspected, she didn't find much. (However, we did miss out on the Wright Brothers' museum.) The only local eatery recommended was Skyline Chili, included in my French Fry Review.
If you need any more convincing about the insane amount of cheese on practically every item on their menu, here's the proof. Check out this blueprint of the chili-topped spaghetti dish because it just looks . . . oy. It looks like too much, if the pile of cheese doesn't already frighten your beating heart to stop.
Three little Conies, sittin' on a plate.
Me and Janet and the empty Greek Salad Plate--remnants of what I hoped would cancel out the following:
Chili Cheese Fries
And to "top" it off, we did not order this spaghetti dish, but marveled at its existence nonetheless.
What is it that I do to remember the covenants I've made?
*Our Lambson recipes. E-mail me if you want to try any of them!
• Excessive Blogging
• Pearl Jackie Cardigan = 2 Rehearsals*
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