FRIES, Ranked

This was a bit strange. Because I didn't want to get into the weeds of ranking Wendy's vs Burger King vs McDonald's, but there are some places that have unique fries. And I thought it would be helpful when judging say, waffle fries, what I'm actually thinking of.


8. Steak Fries

These are usually bland and limp. If they're crispy they're not that bad. This will be a trend.


7. Potato Wedges

These have a tendency to have to much potato (the correct ratio is key). But usually they have a good seasoning or fried coating, so they're okay.


6. Waffle Fries (Chick-fil-A)

This is was mostly the inspiration for this list. Mrs. Hoagie Central loves waffle fries. They are never crispy enough for me. I had some yesterday fresh from the drive-thru and there was no crunch. They are soft. I don't get it. I think if they just cooked them a bit more they might be better.


5. Thin Cut (Steak 'n Shake)

This is the one fry on the list that gets the ratio wrong by having too little potato. In my head, Steak n Shake fries are even thinner than all the pictures on the internet. Crispiness, check. But it's all fried, no potato.


4. Crinkle Cuts

I admire the idea. Create more edges for more crispiness. The problem? I think they're always just a bit too thick. Too much potato. Maybe if these people talked to the Steak n Shake people, they could compromise.


3. Classic

McDonald's is always sort of the gold standard. And they're good for sure. But there are two that if I see on a menu, I'd order instead.


2. Sweet Potato Fries

Maybe there's still a novelty factor, but these are usually crispy, have the right amount of potato, and have more flavor too.

1. Curly Fries

A-ha! These are fun, but more so, they're crispy, with a great potato ratio, and they're usually seasoned quite nicely too. Arby's, you're doing something right.

PIES, ranked

I'm re-listening to all the MATES podcasts and rating them as I go. I'm about halfway through.
Anyways, today I listened to the banana cream pie episode. Tom asked Mike what his favorite pie was. Mike said Blueberry. This shocked and disappointed myself and Tom. Tom's was apple, a respectable choice.

After hearing that interaction, I couldn't help but ask myself, what is my favorite pie?

It's no secret that I love pie. But only certain pies. Specifically, hardly any fruit or cream pies. Here's my list:

10. Oreo Pie

This is alright. It's never quite as good as the picture looks.

9. Grasshopper Pie

Basically take an oreo pie and make it better by adding mint. Mint/brownie and mint/oreo are excellent combinations.

8. Caramel Pecan Silk Supreme

This is a particular pie that I only know of at Baker's Square. It is tasty.

7. French Silk Pie

This is a classic. I hardly eat it because there are better options for chocolate out there. That said, if it's the only option, I will enjoy it.

6. Key Lime Pie

This is a treat. It's a seasonal pie which makes it special to find. This pie is off doing it's own thing. It can't compete with the pies at the top of the list, but it's got it's niche and it does it well.

5. Apple Pie

An absolute classic. Untouchable. The only reason it doesn't rank higher? Well you'll have to keep reading.

4. Pecan Pie

There is a line between the top four and the rest of the list. If I can get one of the top four, I'm a happy camper. Growing up, for some stupid reason, I thought that I didn't like pecan pie. So this one is still holds a "rare" place in my heart. Luckily, I've wised up and now can't imagine Thanksgiving without it.

3. Peanut Butter Cup Pie

I talked about how mint/oreo is a great combination. Well, peanut butter and chocolate is the ultimate. This is put in front of you, and you're basically at maximum pie enjoyment. There might be two more on the list. But I could see rating every pie in the top four, a perfect 10.

2. Dutch Apple Pie

Bam! Thought I was dogging apple pie earlier, didn't you? I love apple pie, but at this point, I'm only going to order it if it has the delicious crumb topping. This is a perfect recipe.

1. Chocolate Chip Pie

A bit of a sentimental pick. I grew up having this pie for my birthday/thanksgiving. It's fantastic. A chocolate chip cookie in pie form. With just a bit of Cool Whip on top...perfect. The official recipe.

There you go. I would love to hear your top pies in the comments.