Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, the perfect batch of French fries is a delicious work of art. What is a burger without a side of fries? Fries, crisps, chips, pomme frites, or poutine — the fried spud is a favorite food throughout the world. In the U.S., National French Fry Day is celebrated on the second Friday of July.
GOLDEN GOODNESS: What’s the secret to the perfect French fry? Is it the type of potato? The cut? The toppings? The fat they’re fried in? We’re pretty sure it’s all of these things working in concert together. RMU in Truckee fries their spuds in duck fat. Photos by Jared Alden/Moonshine Ink
The origin of French fries is shrouded in mystery. Some say the fried potato originated in Belgium, not France, and dates back to the 1600s. During World War I, it was believed that an American soldier coined the term French Fries due to Belgium’s French-speaking culture.
Thomas Jefferson is credited with bringing fried potatoes to America after being introduced to them in France. During his presidency, Jefferson requested that fries be served at a White House dinner and that potatoes be fried “in the French manner.”
LOADED sweet potato waffle fries at Tahoe Tap Haus in Tahoe City.
What are the keys to a good French fry? The type of potato, the cut of the potato, the method of cooking, the kind of fat or oil they are fried with, the seasoning the potato is topped with, and the condiment it is dipped in are all factors in a good fry. A good batch is golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. There is nothing worse than a wimpy, undercooked French fry. A good fry is firm and not overly greasy.
According to the International Potato Center, there are over 4,000 types of potatoes in the world. Idaho or russet are the gold standard for French-fried potatoes. The cut of fries is a matter of personal preference. Some folks opt for a traditional fry, but shoestring, curly, steak fries, crinkle-cut, and waffle fries are some other popular cuts.
Andrew Shimer, former executive chef at Christy Hill, is set to open his new restaurant venture, Sylva, in Tahoe City, sometime this year.
“The perfect fry is crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside,” says Shimer, whose choice of spud is Kennebec potatoes, because they “are starchier and larger, with a thin skin. I prefer my fries with the skin on. It gives them extra texture.”
EVER-POPULAR truffle fries at Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats in Truckee.
When preparing his thick-cut fries, he soaks his potatoes first, blanches them with canola oil, and then fries them in a mixture of canola oil and duck fat. Shimer seasons his fries with coarse salt and fresh ground pepper and serves his signature thick-cut French fries in a glass cup lined with paper and harissa ketchup.
Then, there is the question whether to dip or not to dip. One might consider this icing on the cake the perfect pairing to the ideal fry. Ketchup is the number one condiment for French fries, while other favorites are mayo, mustard, malt vinegar, and the ever-popular ranch dressing. These are only some of the many ways French fries are topped, served, and seasoned. Topping a batch of fries is a creative and delicious way to enjoy them. Chili fries, cheesy fries, garlic, and parmesan, or poutine, a Canadian dish in which the fries are topped with beef gravy and cheese curds, are the tip of the toppings.
A post on the Tahoe Truckee People (original) Facebook page yielded numerous responses for favorite fries. Moody’s, RMU, The Pub at Donner Lake, and Burger Me topped the list. I love Moody’s Bistro Bar & Beats in Truckee, which is renowned for its delicious truffle fries. What makes them so good? Just the right amount of truffle oil, parmesan cheese, and fresh baby arugula.
RMU in Truckee makes house-cut fries tossed in duck fat, parmesan, garlic, parsley, and roasted garlic aioli.
Tahoe Tap House in Tahoe City offers on their menu sweet potato waffle fries served with sriracha aioli. They also make loaded sweet fries topped with cotija cheese, lime crema, green sauce, and green onion.
Cult Burger in Tahoma serves fabulous house-made fries topped with their creamy cult sauce, which is made with mayo, mustard, pickles, and spices. I love their twist on this dish.
Sam Choy’s Ohana Diner in Incline Village offers a taste of Hawaii on their fries. They serve them topped with Hawaiian-style kalua pork, caramelized onions, cheese, jalapenos, and spicy aioli.
One of my favorite French fry dishes can be found at the Korean fusion restaurant, Arario, in Reno. Their kimchee fries are to die for. Prepared with bulgogi, kimchee, cheese sauce, cheddar, jack, teriyaki sauce, and spicy mayo, this dish is not for the faint of heart.
When I prepare a potato dish for clients, I rarely deep fry my potatoes. I tend to create something that is a bit unique or add a twist to my french fry recipes. Try purple potatoes with creamy lemon parmesan dip. For the home cook who wants to serve healthier fare, I suggest air-frying or baking the fries.
Baked Purple Potato Steak Fries with Creamy Lemon Parmesan Sauce
Ingredients: 6 large purple potatoes
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp coarse salt
Directions: Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash and dry potatoes. Quarter potato into half-inch wedges. Toss potatoes in a bowl with oil and salt. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve with creamy lemon parmesan sauce.
Creamy Lemon Parmesan Sauce
Ingredients 1/2 cup mayo
1 Tbs lemon juice
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1-2 cloves fresh garlic
1-1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp fresh ground pepper
Although Pride month is officially in June, our local LGBTQIA+ community has been gathering at fun new events.
“It’s tough living in a place that can feel so isolating as a queer person, so opportunities like these are incredibly impactful and really do so much good for the hearts and minds of everyone in our community,” said Nico Bolen, a high school senior who makes upcycled clothing and teaches youth sewing at Truckee Roundhouse.
In February, the Truckee Roundhouse makerspace began hosting a series of monthly LGBTQIA+ craft workshops, developed after a member survey revealed a need for such programs.
“In our continued efforts to be an inclusive and safe space for all makers in the community, we have launched a monthly workshop series geared at engaging local LGBTQIA+ makers,” said Alissa Aiton, community manager at Truckee Roundhouse. “We hope to elevate and amplify the many creative and diverse voices of our community by providing space for networking, collaborating, and building connections that can lead to innovative projects, partnerships, and friendships.”
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CREATURE COMFORTS students Aiden and Justin working on critters at Truckee Roundhouse. Photos by Love Andreyev
CREATURE FEATURE: Truckee Roundhouse members Carlos and Andres show off their creatures.
An assortment of creatures made at the Creature Comforts workshop at Truckee Roundhouse.
The free to low-cost workshops aim to provide queer creatives with a space to generate ideas, explore, learn, and be supported in their community. Instructors and mentors guide activities focused on creative play, exploration, and self-expression in a variety of mediums.
Bolen and some friends attended the first event, Creature Comforts, during which students hand-sewed a custom creature from upcycled sweaters. “It allowed me to explore this fun and engaging craft and let my creativity go wild, as well as feel a sense of community and connection to other queer people,” Bolen said.
Highschooler Arabella Etzold also participated in Creature Comforts, saying, “It was a fun way to connect with the community.” Etzold is looking forward to Truckee Pride Week events, “… especially my school’s Rainbow Rock & Roll event that I am roller-skating in.”
Upcoming roundhouse workshops open for registration include I Felt Something, a felting workshop scheduled in April; Print with Pride, a custom vinyl shirt design workshop in May; and LGBTea-Time, an herbal tea workshop set for June. Tie-dye, embroidery patch-making, and lino-cut printmaking workshops are in the works for August through October.
The series of programming is sponsored by the Martis Camp Foundation, the Richard Reed Foundation, and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Queen of Hearts Women’s Fund.
“We are grateful to these foundation partners for helping expand the enrichment opportunities offered in our community and helping empower more people to explore their creative potential,” said Karyn Stanley, Truckee Roundhouse executive director.
LGBTQIA+ workshops are open to adults and teens 16 and up, at any experience level. Space is limited, so participants must register online at truckeeroundhouse.org.
Truckee Pride is a new nonprofit grassroots organization, creating events for people of all sexual orientations, backgrounds, and lifestyles, who support diversity in the Truckee community.
MATTER OF PRIDE: The Truckee Pride organizers and volunteers. Photo by David Mack
“We have a small, solid gay community here,” said David Mack, founder and lead organizer of Truckee Pride.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Mack moved to Truckee four years ago for mountain climbing and skiing. At that time, there wasn’t much of a LGBTQIA+ presence in the community, and Mack began reaching out to others. In December 2023, the core group that developed began planning its first big event, Truckee Pride Week, scheduled for June 3 to 9.
“We first reached out to Truckee Town Council,” Mack said. “Within hours, they replied back enthusiastically and said yes.”
After meeting with Erica Mertens, Truckee’s diversity program manager, an announcement was posted on social media, which picked up traction. Businesses, organizations, and individuals stepped up to sponsor and help with the event.
“We’ve been blown away by the response. Truckee got on board and made it happen,” Mack said. “The nice thing about living in a mountain town, we all look out for each other.”
Pride Week includes 14 unique events, including a weeklong scavenger hunt, mountain sports like bouldering, paddling and hiking, plus a crafting session with DJ Mutable spinning tunes at Dark Horse Coffee. The week wraps up with a 5k run on June 9, finishing at Truckee River Regional Park with live music, vendors, and food trucks.
“Everyone is welcome,” said Mack. “You don’t need to be queer.”
During Truckee Pride Week, local businesses will participate with window displays, and Visit Truckee-Tahoe is sponsoring the installation of Pride flags in downtown Truckee. Other sponsors include Marsden Architects, SketchDeck, and Church of the Mountains, with support from Town of Truckee, Lake Tahoe Pride, Tahoe Expeditionary Academy, and Truckee Chamber of Commerce. The hope is that Pride Week will grow the LGBTQIA+ community by offering opportunities to meet and participate.
Founded in 2010, Lake Tahoe Pride in South Lake Tahoe has created a safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQIA+ community. The group hosts events like Heavenly Pride Day, a Pride community breakfast, and a screening of the documentary People Like Us. The group also hosts weekly mixers like game night. Learn more at facebook.com/tahoepride.
“It means a lot to have local organizations showing up for the queer community. Knowing that these places support us and our right to exist makes me feel safer in our community,”, said Bolen, who plans to attend multiple events. “I don’t have to hide who I am at these places.”
~ Judi Morales Meyer is an artist, seamstress, and instructor of LGBTQIA+ workshops at Truckee Roundhouse. As an advocate for social justice and art education, Meyer is a strong supporter of of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Upcoming LGBTQIA+ Craft Workshops
April 12: I Felt Something — Making Felted Friends
May 10: Print with Pride — Custom Vinyl T-Shirt Making
June 14: LGBTea-Time — Herbal Tea Workshop
July 26: Glazin’ is Amazin’ — Paint Ceramic Mugs
August TBD: Show Your True Colors — Tie-Dye Extravaganza
September: Here’s Hoopin — Embroidery Patches
October TBD: Make Your Mark — Lino Cutting and Printmaking
Editor’s Note: A version of this story originally appeared in matadornetwork.com in July 2013.
The Lake Tahoe basin receives 15 million visitor days per year. Many tourists respect the unique alpine environment and the locals who call this incredible place home — some, not so much. Everything in this essay is something I have actually witnessed living here for the past 24 years. I know most visitors are not looking to be bad tourists or piss off Tahoe locals, but if you were, here’s how you would do it.
Get Absolutely Shitfaced
Get off to the right start by pulling off to the side of the highway once you crest Donner Summit and do beer bongs at 9 in the morning. All partiers should have their own neon pink party bong. If you forgot your beer bong, you can shotgun your Keystones instead. Then go to the beach and have Rum Runners. After a dozen or so of those, you’re ready to rent a motorboat or a jet ski. It doesn’t matter that you have never driven one before. Most of the sailboats and paddle boarders will get out of your way.
Or drink beer all day long at the ski resort, and carelessly to throw the cans off the chairlift. Time this so that skiers are below you. Make sure you throw up in two (or three) different public places by late afternoon. Then switch to vodka Rockstars so you can stay up all night long. Have a party in your vacation rental and play your dubstep so loudly that it shakes the windows of the neighboring houses. Proceed to play a drinking game where everyone cheers (loudly, so they can be heard over the music) every time the loser hops out of the hot tub to make snow angels. It shouldn’t matter that you are in a residential neighborhood, and it’s a Wednesday at 4 a.m. You have paid good money to rent that house, and you are on vacation.
Drive Dangerously Close
When you drive into town, tailgate the car in front of you. You’ve been in a long line of traffic on a single lane highway to get here, and you will probably arrive to your Airbnb or camping spot sooner by at least three minutes if you allow exactly one inch between the front of your Hummer and the back of my car. Or, even better, drive 10 miles an hour, making sure to look at every single tree. And when you pull to the side to get a closer look at the view, don’t use your turn signal. Don’t worry about the bikers; Hummers always have the right of way.
Feed the Bears
Feed our wildlife and teach your children to do the same. The ducks and geese love bubble gum. Leave your garbage out for the bears and coyotes to go through. Once the wild animals have learned they can get food from you, they will no longer be wild, and we will have to shoot them. But you will be back home by then, accruing likes on Instagram for that great picture of that bear you were feeding. Be sure to detail the ways you lured that baby bear so they can get their own bear selfies the next time they vacation in Tahoe, though they will be taking pictures of a different bear since the bear you fed is now dead.
Leave No Personal Space
At the beach, plop down your family of 10 as close to me as you possibly can, preferably between me and the water. Encourage your children to run across my towel, splash me, and kick sand in my face. And let them scream and chase the family of ducks. Everyone thinks your sticky-faced children are as precious as you do, especially when they give their gum to the Canada geese. And if we’re in the backcountry, absolutely set up your tent right next to mine so I can better hear you shouting into your phone: “Can you hear me now? What about now? How about NOW?”
Be a Gaper
When you pull up next to me at the ski resort, definitely blast death metal while you’re getting ready. Play it so loud that it rattles my teeth. You’re just being generous, sharing your bad taste in music with everyone else. Cut lift lines, especially on a powder day at Palisades Tahoe; the locals won’t mind. You paid a lot for that lift ticket, so why should you have to wait?
Ski or snowboard runs that are way above your ability level and then sideslip down, either ruining the moguls (make it a point to ask someone what they put under the snow to make them in the first place) or, better yet, tracking up a run of fresh powder. Ride the very backs of your skis — edging is overrated — out of control, and cut me off. Or crash into me, or better yet, run over my three-year old nephew and don’t say you’re sorry. Say that it was the toddler’s fault for getting in your way. Gravity is gravity, so that rule about the downhill skier is pure nonsense. And if you’ve done a good enough job getting drunk, you won’t remember any of it anyway.
Illustration by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink
Be a Litterbug
Throw your garbage out your car window. You have the right to a tidy Hummer. And don’t forget those diapers and cigarette butts, too! When you go backpacking, bury your toilet paper along with your business. That way, my dog can easily find it and bring me your poo-smeared treasure. Better yet, leave your TP in a shitty little tee pee on top of your pile of poo. And be sure to camp right near a water source and bathe in it with soap, and while you’re at it, wash your clothes in a river with detergent. You have a right to be clean and you should not have to comply with the rules or environmental ethics since you have hiked 3 whole miles.
Don’t Tip
Don’t tip your bartenders, waitresses, guides, dealers, and ski instructors. Living in a beautiful place should be good enough for those people, and besides, they can always take a third job.You’re not made of money.
Start a Forest Fire
If tossing your cigarette butts from your car window didn’t do the trick, choose a windy August day and light a huge bonfire at your camping spot or in the backyard of your vacation rental. Make sure the fire is under a lodgepole (they are especially flammable) with low-hanging branches. Or you could try illegally shooting firearms in the wilderness — we know that one works and even if you get caught, you won’t get into trouble. Those signs of Smokey the Bear warning that the fire danger is extreme are cute and all, but they certainly don’t apply to you. You’re on vacation, and you have the right to a good time. Hopefully by the time the entire Basin has evacuated, you will be safely back at home.
~Suzanne Roberts is the author of Animal Bodies: On Death, Desire, and Other Difficulties, Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel, and Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail. Visit suzanneroberts.net or sign up for her writing prompts at substack.com/@suzanneroberts
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Baked Purple Potato Steak Fries with Creamy Lemon Parmesan Sauce
