9.14.2007

Free-dom Fries


If you haven't caught on yet, Mrs. Jay and I had an unconventional youth, which may or may not have something to do with the fact that we are just unconventional people. (Though her family really takes the cake - let's just say dressing in costume is commonplace at Glamma Fabulous' house.)

One of our favorite things to do in our youth was get things for free. And I don't mean calling into radio stations in hopes of winning concert tickets. I mean, conning people into giving us things for free that typically cost some coin.

For example, we would often go to the McDonald's drive-thru late at night - as employee fatigue is helpful in these situations - and ask for "The free quarter-pounder meal deal." Usually the employee would say, "What free quarter-pounder meal deal?" We would respond, "The free one. The one that doesn't cost anything."

On and on the back-and-forth banter would go, usually because the employee thought there must be some promotional offer we were confusing our "free meal deal" with. Most of the time, they would eventually give us the food for free, probably to shut us up.

Looking back I suppose this was dishonest, but at the time it seemed resourceful. I mean, we were practically Eagle Scouts with those skills.

If we happened to be hungry during daylight hours, we would just go up to the McDonald's cashier and ask, "What's a French fry?" The cashier would be incredulous, possibly debating whether to call CPS as I was clearly a neglected child, and say, "You've never had a French fry?" I'd say, "No, but they sound good. Can I try one to see if I like it?" Inevitably, the staff would pour a heaping helping of fries onto a tray for me to sample. They'd gather around curious as I shouted, "By golly, these are good!"

All for free.

Granted, I'm pretty much going to hell for this, but I like my fries crispy anyway. And, to be honest, I don't really like McDonald's fries (or anything on their menu for that matter). My favorite fries are In-N-Out fries, animal style. And if you ever come across a sweet potato fry, hook a sister up! I love me some sweet potaters.

What's your favorite fry?

21 comments:

Ashby said...

Definitely the sweet potato fry! We have them here at a local restaurant. Best fry EVER!

Angy said...

I'm gonna have to go totally the opposite way than you :P I think McDonald's has the best fries! While In-N-Out's fries are my absolute least favorite >< don't hate!!! :)

Leslie said...

ruby's. you ought to go have some while you're in Ruby's country . . .

mommie said...

Prior to this year, I did not even like fries, until, quite by accident I had me some sweet potato fries at Rumbi's. Now I am addicted for sure.

Too bad I lost my opportunity to go up to the guy and ask "What's a sweet potato fry" which would have been an honest question.

Shoot.

Leisha Mareth said...

I do love sweet potato fries (would you believe I discovered them at the store which shall not be named (wal-mart)!!!)

My all time favorites are the crinkle cut fries at Braum's...salivate-salivate!

P Daddy said...

Lots of great sweet potato fries in BBQ joints (better if it's a joint and not a restaurant) in Virginia and the Carolinas. Rumbi's are okay, but a pale comparison. I'm with Angy, I think Mickey Dee's french fries are the best among chains. Islands' are good, too. Love In-N-Out's hamburgers, but not the fries. But I'd always take good onion rings or Spanish tortilla (not to be confused with Mexican tortillas) or papas bravas over french fries.

janaya said...

haha. i love this post. i love that you were totally that friend who was always inches away from getting in trouble... i'd be the friend next to you saying "i don't think we should do this... we're totally going to get in trouble for this". i love your childhood stories... keep 'em comin'.

and i know this is really random... but i have to say that my all-time favorite french fries have to be burger king fries. with a close second being the cajun fries at five guys.

Anonymous said...

in Utah I love Burger Supreme's french fries and (this may disgust some of you, but I still love it) FRY SAUCE!

ginny said...

Okay, agree with all of you.

Agree with Angy and PDaddy that, while it pains me to say it, McD's french fries are the best. I DO love In N' Out, but it's a totally different fry experience and the fact that they must be eaten within 5 minutes of receiving them makes them a little inconvenient.

Agree with everyone on the yumminess that is sweet potato fries.

Doubly agree with Kira on Burger Supreme making the best fry sauce in Utah.

P Daddy said...

Kira is so right--fry sauce is so much better on fries than ketchup and Utah places have the best.

Anonymous said...

Animal style...thats a bold move. You must drive a Ford.

Laurel said...

I love wendy's fries.

steph said...

i'm a lover of in-n-out's fries... they taste like ruffles potato chips, which i totally don't eat, but i love the fries that taste like salty fried potatoes.

my other fave -- sweet potato or regular potato fries at bumstead's in tucson. seriously, the WORST service you'll ever have in your life, but the food is good!

as for mickey dee's fries, i'm for
'em. they're dang tasty, but i really loathe eating there. i feel oh-so-disgusting afterwords.

steph said...

i totally typed "afterwords" when i totally meant "afterwards." oops!

Lizzie said...

We are obsessed with homemade french fries. Nice and greasy with lots of salt and hot out of our frequently used frier. Eaten with "Some Dude's Fry Sauce" is the best!

LCM said...

My favorite fries are Arby's curly fries, the more corkscrew the better. Yum-o

Unknown said...

Wow, I'm going to have to second Steph here - Bumstead's fries/sweet potato fries are worth the trip to Tucson.

My brother and I used to ask for a "freaking huge" small cone at McDonalds. Most employees would oblige.

Parlancheq said...

I love the 'What's a French fry?' ploy. Ingenious! I wonder if it works for adults, too. :)

Jaime said...

You know who still asks for and gets free stuff all of the time? Faith. Once we were at Red Robin and she was having this conversation with our server about midgets. The server asked if we needed anything else and Faith said that because they brought me the wrong order we deserved to get a free mud pie...we did. She always scores free stuff because it never hurts to ask. Oh and my favorite fries hale from Wendy's, but if you are into curly fries Arby's wins, and if you are into criss cut fries Carls Jr takes the prize...And speaking of Red Robin...they've got some good fries. I find it interesting that outside of UT they call their fry sauce "onion ring sauce" and have no clue that their so called onion ring sauce is in fact fry sauce. But in reality their fry sauce or onion ring sauce sucks. I agree that Burger Supreme has the best fry sauce. So good in fact that Mrs R and I were tempted to take home an entire drink cup full just so we could drink it...I was preggo.

tara said...

I love McDonald's fries, but they are not waist friendly, if ya know what I mean...

Bartimaeus said...

In-N-Out Animal Style Fries-Well

Well is when they cook them twice!!