Archives for the 'french fries' tag
Big Brother With a Chip on ‘is Shoulder, Innit?
Facing a severe economic crisis and renewed tensions with Argentina over the disputed Falkland Islands, the Daily Mail reports the British government is focusing attention on the dimensions of the country’s French fries:
They have been a staple of British cuisine for more than a century.
But traditional chips are the latest target in the Government’s war on obesity.
Chip shop owners are being encouraged to produce thicker versions because they contain fewer calories and less fat.
Chippy owners, however, have condemned what they see as an attack on their cooking.
The traditional British chip is already thicker – and therefore healthier – than the French fries served by big fast-food chains.
Despite this, officials from the Food Standards Agency watchdog are encouraging chip shop owners to produce even thicker versions, much like potato wedges.
[...]
The FSA scheme will cover Cambridgeshire, Greater Manchester and Northern Ireland by the end of this month. Officials will visit 80 chip shops to examine how much fat is in their chips and offer advice.
If the pilot scheme is successful it will be rolled out across the country and last two years. Other small caterers including Indian and Chinese takeaways will be included.
A spokesman for the FSA said: ‘The aim of the pilot project is to produce some targeted advice for businesses which is simple, practical and easy to implement.’
Right. Because they’re from the government and they’re here to help. Here’s some targeted advice for government: sod off.
More fry madness here.
Freedom Nacho and Freedom Fries on a Single Freedom Tray
Meet the Freedom Tray:
According to the Freedom Tray website FAQ, it is both a “patriotic tray” (the largest print of the website proclaims “Made in America * Used Everywhere * GOD BLESS AMERICA) and “stadium friendly.” Alas, those other defenders of American freedom—stadium security guards—probably wouldn’t let the thing in.
The list of prohibited items at the Nationals ballpark, for instance, makes it pretty clear that there’s no way your hard plastic, 17″ freedom tray loaded with freedom fries and freedom nachos is getting past the freedom cavity search.
- Metal, plastic or glass containers of any kind (except for factory-sealed, plastic water bottles, no larger than 1 liter and juice boxes). Only one bottle of water per person will be permitted.
- Food items not in adherence to the following policy: All food items must be contained in single serving bags within a soft-sided container or cooler, that does not exceed 16″ x 16″ x 8″.
Which is too bad, because the concept is otherwise brilliant. More FAQ:
How much weight can the Freedom Tray hold?
Be assured that the Freedom Tray is designed to hold all you can load in it. The Freedom Tray can hold up to 75 lbs. of weight in the center of the tray, with the legs deployed. This is one tough tray!
God Bless America, indeed.
Via Garrett Quinn.
California Says Farewell to Freedom Fries, Bans Trans Fats
California on Friday became the worst first state to completely ban trans fats from state restaurants. That sucks.
…Tammy Perez, owner of the Pizza Club restaurant in La Habra (Orange County), says the transition is not so easy. She switched to oil free of trans fat 18 months ago – and paid twice as much, she said. The bad economy is making it hard enough for restaurants to survive, she added, and now the new law is “pushing some of us over the edge,”
The law requires professional cooks to purge their kitchens of all ingredients containing more than half a gram per serving of artificial trans fat by Jan. 1, 2010. Inspectors could impose fines of $25 to $1,000 for violations.
Bakers have an extra year to adhere to the ban because pastries are the most difficult products to make without trans fat-laden oils and shortenings. Packaged foods are not affected by the law.
[...]
“As a former fourth-grade schoolteacher in East L.A., I saw firsthand the problems of obesity,” [Assemblyman Tony] Mendoza said Friday. “AB97 is a culmination of these concerns and works to benefit the well-being of kids and California.”
More politicians pretending to do stuff for kids here in the SF Chronicle.
Of course, until California’s overlords are nannying vegans–a distinct possibility in that state if any, frankly—it will be impossible to completely banish trans fats, since about 20% of the trans fats we eat occurs naturally in beef and the meat of other tasty ruminant animals. Though that 20% figure will rise as restaurants (but not, yet, grocers) are forced to cook how the state wants them to.
Winehouse Fried
Amy Winehouse might not be ready to cut a record, but she’s always ready to chow.
Crispy sharing too much about Ms. Winehouse’s eating habits here.
Snap via The Superficial.
National Chip Week Launches
Though the Belgians and Dutch do a better job with chips (aka French fries) — we like them crispy, you know — the Brits love their chips.
This week is National Chip Week in England. To celebrate, the British Potato Council’s Love Chips website has gobs of fun facts, games, and a bit of history. The site also features a series of classic films re-created by the spuds themselves. As the Sun reports (because reporting on short films starring French fries is, you know, part of being a crack journalist):
Chip-lovers can watch Jack and Rose sail the ‘Titanchip’, Goose and Maverick’s dogfight in ‘Top Chip’, James Bond face the ketchup laser in ‘Chipfinger’ and Sally get naughty in ‘When Sally Got Saucy’.
Though that all sounds a bit too reminiscent of Be Kind Rewind (which I haven’t seen because I’m sure it sucks), Titanchip (I never saw the original, either, because I’m sure it also sucks) is quite gripping. Especially with some malt vinegar.
