who is frying their frites twice?

[1newyorkguy]

you know, the proper way.

[cls]

I think I read Comme Ca was.

[Servorg]

Comme Ca gets my "best fries" in LA vote for 2008.

[sku]

Do you need reservations for lunch there?

[Servorg]

It varies, but we used OT to book as it is easy, they honored our table request and eventually I turn in my points for a check.

[rednyellow]

I recently tried Comme Ca's fries for the first time. They were just bad. Way over cooked, hard, under seasoned, if seasoned at all. They were nothing like pomme frites, cooked twice the proper way. they were dark, hard, and balnd.

[Servorg]

One of us had an aberrant batch.

[1newyorkguy]

I can see from the pictures that they aren't proper frites.

[Servorg]

Except for the fact that they didn't come in a paper cone mine looked exactly like the ones in this photo of Belgium frites. Maybe they don't all look the same, even in Belgium?

[foodiemahoodie]

rednyellow may just have different tastes. I notice he has Pacific Dining Car as one of his five favorite restaurants. Really? One of your top five faves? If it's one of your top fives, then I would heed his advice, if it isn't then I would discount his opinion. That's how Chowhoud works.

[1newyorkguy]

they don't look cut the proper size for that. maybe I'm wrong though.

[bicoastalfoodie]

I just went here today, on MLK day. The fries were absolutely disgusting! Some were small and over-cooked, others were 2x the size and undercooked and soggy! I complained and the waitress said they kitchen was "trying something new". I told her it wasn't working at all. The worst fries ever, which is sacrilege for a bistro. I mean, McDonalds is soooo much better than these pommes frites!

It's a shame because LA could use a good bistro!

[nosh]

"here?" are you still referring to Comme Ca?

[silence9]

Hi... They're not a top-shelf version, but I believe the fries at Skooby's in Hollywood are twice-fried. Results vary, but worth it if you're in the area...

[Adsvino]

I like the fries at the new Wurstkuche downtown.

[rednyellow]

I just had the fries at Wurstkuche. They are really good and the curry catsup rocks.

[Ideefixed]

Ditto to the curry ketchup, but the BBQ sauce tastes exactly like Stubbs. The fries aren't twice fried, but they're okay.

[condiment]

They taste twice fried. They look twice fried. The counter guys seem to, you know, fry them twice.

[kevin]

they taste like better versions of the fries that used to be served up at the Great Steak and Frie Co. that had outlets in mall food courts scattered throughout the southland.

[Adsvino]

yes, that's what I had (and forgot to suggest). Their curry ketchup is insane.

[mnosyne]

The Nook. Really good fries!

[nosh]

Nook's fries are the thincut kind. Very good, but definitely not twice-fried.

While we're on the subject, a moment of silent tribute to the late but beloved Benite's Frites -- truly twice-fried to order, crunchy on the outside, tender and delicious on the inside. A real shame that despite a perfect product, the business model can't pay the rent and salaries in SoCal.

[kevin]

i do miss it deeply. if it happens to resurface again, please post.

[imshana]

The Oinkster

[jackattack]

I like Oinkster's fries....I call them In & Out Fries on steroids. You can get an order for a buck during 3 to 6pm happy hour on weekdays. If they're not piping hot, send them back, because like In & out fries, they're nasty if not eaten right out of the fryer.

[Burger Boy]

26 Beach fries theirs twice for sure.

[sel]

The Back Abbey in Claremont has em along with some pretty good burgers plus a great selection of mostly Belgian beer.

-----
The Back Abbey
128 Oberlin Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

[MaryT]

Isn't the second frying done at a higher temp also?

[sel]

Typically they are first fried at a lower temp and the second frying at a higher temp. I assume that is what they are doing at The Back Abbey. That's how I make em at home.

http://www.belgianfries.com/bfblog/?p...

[Sam D.]

Dino's on Pico starts with fresh potatoes and fries them twice.

[nosh]

Dino's on Pico at Berendo serves very thin fries. The fries that benefit from being fried twice are thicker cut. The first frying at a low temp cooks and blanches them. The second fry at a higher temp is to crisp the outside while the inside gets soft and steamy.

[Will Owen]

I would point out, for the sake of argument, that Oinkster's fries are also very thinly cut, as are all the classic bistro steak-frites fries. I do love thick fries that follow your described procedure; the best can be described as a crisp fried shell containing a potato-flavored cloud. Good bistro-type shoestrings don't have enough air to make a big deal of, but their light and greaseless crispness is reward enough for the trouble to do them properly.

[kevin]

will, is the hamburger hamlet in pasadena, on lake avenue???

[Will Owen]

Yes it is, between Del Mar and Cordova. For the record, although their steak fries are generally good (but never superb, alas) when they're freshly cooked, I've sometimes been served some from an older batch. The restaurant does betray its penny-pinching attitude like this occasionally. However, when we've complained about something that was old or overcooked, they've always replaced the offending item, and sometimes even comped it.

[wasabica]

Bouzy's Truffle Fries. OMG they are good. (gastropub inside Chez Melange)

-----
Chez Melange
1716 Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

[kevin]

can you just order fries and a beer here? what's the fries cooked in?

[wasabica]

I asked them about how they do it, they said they use raw Russet potato cut into french fry shape ,kept in water for 36 hours, water changed 4 times a day . white wine vinegar added to solution thru the process, this always kept in fridge. Potatoes are fried off to par cook and allowed to chill then fried again to serve. They use peanut oil. You can get plain or they have truffle fries with parm and truffle oil, my personal favorite. Oh, they have amazing beer on tap including Belgian beer, lots of interesting stuff. My favorite is Boont Amber Ale. Yes, it is a good place to sit at the bar and get beer and fries. I just had the fish and chips there a couple of days ago, rocked my world.

I like them better than Comme Ca fries. They nailed that crispy on the outside soft in the inside texture/flavor thing without any sign of mealiness or squishiness

[tofuburrito]

After having the frites at Les Halles in NYC last summer I became something of a snob when it comes to fries. I picked up the Les Halles cookbook and I follow the Bourdain procedure. Now I rarely have frites outside of my house.
I also took a knife skills class with Chef Jet of Thai Town and he taught the blanching method for fries as well.

[a213b]

As someone who orders fries/frites EVERY time I see them on the menu, I am in total support of this thread.

Thus far the ones that stand out as really enjoyable are the ones at Oinkster, Nook, Comme Ca, Anisette, and Boneyard.

Special mention to the Father's Office Sweet Potato fries.

I recently tried Laurel Tavern's vaunted Pork Fat Steak Fries, and they were absolutely disgusting. Will have to go back for their regular ones.

[Servorg]

Anisette has good fries. Comme Ca has great fries. I have to admit to a good amount of puzzlement about the wide disparity between how I found the fries at Comme Ca and the posters here who have found them among the worst they have ever had. They either must have at least two different cooks who do the fries or one with a Sybil thing going on back at the deep fryer.

[a213b]

Agreed. It strikes me as odd, too ... I don't like to hear that they are trying something new, when to me the old/original way was so tasty.

[kevin]

well, i've never tried comme ca's fries.

but as for say shroestring fries a la hungry cat or f.o. some people love em, and others hate em with a passion.

[A5 KOBE]

Nothing compares to Bouchon or Les Halles frites, that is why I just make them at home.

[nick_r]

I think Nic's Martini Lounge deserves inclusion -- Belgian, served in a paper cone, thick, crispy, and delicious. (The martinis there leave something to be desired, though.)

[MaryT]

you're just convincing me that since i only like them a certain way and they are ridiculously bad for you, i should reserve them for when they are only at their best. i may not be thin or fat and my cholesterol is too low, but if fries are not great i just do not eat them. but oh me, it must be a good thing they are usually not good then!!!! i hope someone appreciates my ill humor.