French Fry Diary 515: The Myth of Friar’s Nook

If you’re a regular reader of French Fry Diary, you know that I have attempted to review Friar’s Nook on two different occasions, only to be foiled both times by it being closed, once by rain, and once by the seasons.

This tiny quick service counter in the Magic Kingdom area of Walt Disney World has eluded me as if it knows I’m coming. It’s no Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill, but it has become a white whale for me in its own right.

Dom and Cindy and their family, who have traveled with The Bride and me before to the wilds of Disney visited again in the last few weeks, and this time, Dom found Friar’s Nook open, purchased their infamous homemade potato chips and even produced photographic proof that Friar’s Nook does actually open from time to time.

How were they? Cindy says: “They were good but not great. They were cut very thick. Most were very (very) hard and crisp, except for a few that were oily and chewier. They were slightly too salty.” Word is they should be open when we go for our vacation in less than two weeks, although I have been advised to try them around lunchtime. Hopefully they will not elude me again. Thanks, Dom and Cindy!

"Best French Fries in the U.S."

Some folks may think differently, but I’ve never been that good at this shameless self-promotion thing. But here’s something I think you folks might enjoy.

Way back in March when I visited Walt Disney World with the family, I gave a phone interview to writer Laura Kiniry. She’s a great lady and a terrific writer, and we talked at length about French fries for about a half-hour – Laura in comfortable San Francisco, and myself in the only quiet spot I could scope out in the middle of Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom. Oh, the wonders of technology!

Last week, the article appeared at Travel + Leisure online, co-written by Laura, and Brendan Spiegel. Not only does it quote yours truly, but it also features several places in the United States where the best fries are to be found, a few of them we’ve even talked about here at French Fry Diary.

Check out the article here. Mmmm… fries…

French Fry Diary 430: The Disney Food Blog Podcast

Those of you out there who know me know that I’ve dabbled in podcasts in the past, and currently participate in two on video, the All Things Fun! New Comics Vidcast and the Biff Bam Popcast, notably, neither about French fries. I also enjoy listening to the podcasts of others.

One that I have been listening to lately actually does talk about French fries from time to time, that’s the Disney Food Blog Podcast. It’s hosted by A.J. Wolfe of the Disney Food Blog, which I’ve mentioned here once or twice, and Brad Johnson of WDW for Grownups, also a very cool site. Regular readers know how often I’m in Disney, so of course I’m digging the Podcast.

In episode 5, something was mentioned that I had never heard of but sounded right up my alley – Figaro Fries at Pinocchio’s Village Haus in the WDW Magic Kingdom. My ears perked up until they mentioned they had been discontinued. Sigh, too late. Apparently these were natural cuts covered in lettuce, cheese, ranch dressing and tomatoes. You can check them out at the DFB here.

That was where I went after I heard about them on the Podcast. See what else is there? Isn’t that cool? They did a report on the favorite fried food available elsewhere in the parks, including a few I have yet to sample myself.

And if that’s not enough, in the next episode, they go into a rather lengthy discussion about poutine and Le Celier in EPCOT’s Canada. I love these guys!

French Fry Diary 396: The Friar’s Nook, Magic Kingdom

This place has haunted me since our last visit to Walt Disney World. I had gotten a few recommendations for the homemade potato chips at this window in the wall counter service place in the Magic Kingdom called The Friar’s Nook. When I looked it up I saw they also had Teriyaki chicken nuggets and that sounded great to me so I figured I had to try it. Sadly the night we finally made it to the Magic Kingdom, it rained very hard and many places, The Friar’s Nook included, had closed down for the night. I determined to get there next time.

Here’s next time (this was in March). As you can see from the photo, they are closed. I asked a Cast Member who told me that The Friar’s Nook is only open during the summer (and apparently when it’s not raining as well). As I stood there in disbelief with sweat pouring off of me, it took a serious reality check for me to realize that in Florida, just because it’s ninety-six degrees out, that doesn’t mean it’s summer. I raised my fists to sky and shouted “Friar’s Nook!” William Shatner style. I will have you and your homemade potato chips someday, this I swear…

French Fry Diary 280: The Friar’s Nook, Magic Kingdom

The Friar’s Nook. This was actually where I wanted to go on the last night of my Disney World vacation, but ended up at Columbia Harbour House instead. I had gotten a very good recommendation for their homemade potato chips. They also have teriyaki chicken nuggets that sound good too, but I was mostly going for the chips.

Sudden downpours and storms shut a lot of the counter service places down in the Magic Kingdom earlier in the evening, and The Friar’s Nook was one of them unfortunately. I’ll get to it when I return in March. Looking forward to those chips. Keep your fingers crossed against rain.

French Fry Diary 279: Columbia Harbour House, Magic Kingdom

Any port in a storm, that’s what they say, and it was a stormy night in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, so after hitting the Hall of Presidents, we went to the nautical and colonial themed Columbia Harbour House for dinner. I loved the Hall of Presidents this time, by the way. There’s nothing new really, short of an animatronic President Obama, but the host in the lobby was very well read, and he and I got into a great conversation about posse comitatus. However, The Bride is not the history nut I am, plus we also wanted to stay out of the rain.

At the Columbia Harbour House, I got fries of course, and as always in the parks, they were the Disney standard natural cuts. Remember what I said a few days ago about it being who’s doing the cooking not how they’re cooked? Well, these were very limp and greasy, not good fries at all. Ick. The Bride enjoyed her salad quite a bit though.

Now it should be noted that these are not the only kind of fries you can get here. As I noticed on the Disney Food Blog after I got home from vacation, sometimes they will serve meatier, and better looking regular cuts with the Fried Fish Basket. I wonder if I could request them next time I go?

French Fry Diary 165: The Crystal Palace, Magic Kingdom

I’ve mentioned before how good breakfast is at Walt Disney World, and one of the pinnacles of that breakfast is the character breakfast phenomenon. While you’re munching on pancakes, Mickey waffles, bacon and the favorite fried breakfast food – Disney characters (folks in costume, usually of the big furry variety) come and visit with you, sign autograph books and pose for photographs. It’s fun for kids of all ages.

On our honeymoon The Bride and I pretty much hit all of the Character Breakfasts at WDW, except for one, the one at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom. It’s special, and features only the Disney characters of Winnie the Pooh and other residents of the Hundred Acre Wood. Unfortunately we couldn’t get reservations this time for breakfast, and ended up there for dinner.

Dinner at the Crystal Palace is much like the breakfast, same characters wandering around, and the food is served buffet style. It’s not bad, maybe Old Country Buffet quality, but as always with Disney, you are paying for the experience. And this was quite an experience.

When Winnie the Pooh came to our table, that was the exact moment I had a piece of turkey go down the wrong way, and I began to choke. Seriously choking, not playing around here, I was not breathing and doing the whole holding my throat and mouthing ‘can’t breathe’ here. Pooh just stood there, and actually started to pose for pictures and do schtick. That evil bear was just going to let me die.

I managed to get the turkey down, and drink about half a Coke to clear my airway, but Pooh was still standing there as if I had interrupted him. Just wait, Winnie, you’ll get yours. Guess who’s not lifting a paw next time you choke on some honey, you evil silly little bear.

The fries at the Crystal Palace aren’t out in the buffet area by the way, not like the garlic mashed potatoes, which for the record, aren’t bad either. If you ask for fries, they will bring you quite a large portion, probably from Casey’s Corner which is right next store as they look just like theirs, Disney standards. Not a bad dinner out, but watch out for that bear. Hey, at least Tigger would have Heimliched me.

French Fry Diary 164: Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café

This is set right between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, and serves as not only one of the easier counter service restaurants, but also as fun and mostly unknown Disney show and a great place to take a load off and relax. You’re treated to a lounge act by an alien while you eat, and that lounge lizard is the animatronic Sonny Eclipse. Imagine Richard Cheese as a cartoon doing originals and telling jokes.

The food is of the standard American fast food type, and the French fries appear at first to be the Disney standard, but not quite. Yes, they are natural cuts, but slightly skinnier (but not shoestring skinny) and much crispier. There’s a good golden brown crunch to these babies, at least when they’re made right.

It’s an enjoyable show, lots of puns and lots of good electronic jazzy sounds, and as I said, good to get off your feet on a busy hot day at the park. Also, if you get the right seat, you can see where the characters come out for meet and greets and get a head start on everyone else. Check it out.

French Fry Diary 47: Casey’s Corner, Magic Kingdom

When I did the survey earlier this year about “Who has the best fast food French fries” I got more than a few “None of the above” answers. So I asked you folks, if not among the choices, who has the best fast food French fries? One of the answers I got was Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Seeing how I was going to be there this week, I just had to try Casey’s Corner.

It’s down on the corner end of Main Street as you enter the Magic Kingdom, and as it’s named after the poem by Ernest Thayer and subsequently the 1946 cartoon short by Disney, it’s appropriately decorated. Baseball themed, you get to sit on the bleachers in the back, or at a number of real tables either inside or outside. But come on, here, you just have to sit on the bleachers, and if you do, you get to watch vintage sports-oriented Mickey Mouse and Goofy cartoons from the 1930s and 40s. How can you beat that?

The atmosphere is great, perfect for hot dogs are terrific, steamed and very very baseball park. The rest of the fare follows suit as you can also get stuff like Crackerjacks as well. The reason I’m here of course though are the fries. They are standard Disney natural regular cuts and come in a cute little Frypod-ish cup. They were not great, but not bad either. I myself would not put them at the head of the pack – but the atmosphere at Casey’s certainly puts them up there.

A lot of the time at Disney, it’s all in the presentation, and if everything else is great – it brings the stuff that’s not so great up a level or two. That’s definitely the case with the fries at Casey’s Corner. Don’t miss this hidden treasure in the Magic Kingdom.

French Fry Diary 35: The Just Fries Phenomenon

One thing I noticed on this trip to Walt Disney World was that there were a few places in WDW, notably Disney MGM Studios and the Magic Kingdom where McDonalds fries were available as a snack. Just the fries. Well, also beverages of course, but none of the other standard Mickey D’s fare. No Big Macs, no McNuggets, no triple thick shakes, not even a McGriddle – just those delicious golden fries.

It’s almost as if someone figured out what the winning menu item was and decided to cash in. Now you can go up to a McDonalds kiosk and order fries, and not feel like a fiend because you didn’t order a sandwich too. Great marketing, Disney and McDonalds! And by the way, the ‘golden’ fries near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride – clever!

*reviewed from my 2005 trip to Walt Disney World.