Potatoes are so versatile. They can be used in tons of different dishes, many of which the Sip Advisor enjoys and others… eh, not so much. Here are the potato creations I love:

Chips

I’ve made it very clear over the course of this project that the Sip Advisor is a Chippy Monster. Rarely a day goes by – for better or worse – that I’m not eating these amazing snacks. I even had a potato chip-themed party as part of my 40^th birthday celebrations. To say the Sip Advisor is one with the chip would be an understatement. They are my spirit food!

Hash Browns

I like all things hash browns, whether they be diced, shredded, patties, etc. One of my favourite meals that Ma Sip often serves up is Breakfast for Dinner, featuring bacon and hash browns. This turns the Sip Advisor almost animalistic, as I try to shovel as much of the feast into my body until I’m bursting at the seams. Even the Sipplings, picky as they can be, rank this meal highly.

Fries/Tater Tots

I’m going to lump these two together because that’s how they’re listed on my phone grocery list note. If I have fries, I don’t need tots and vice versa. Both go great as side dishes to a variety of main courses. Burgers, sandwiches, chicken, fish, steak, I could go on and on. They can also both be used as focal points for meals such as casseroles, poutines and nacho-like spreads.

Narrowly missing the cut are Greek potatoes, potato salad, pierogies and fried potatoes. Not all that fries is gold, however. Here are the potato servings I hate:

Baked Potato

I just don’t get the appeal of baked potatoes. First, they take forever to make, needing 45-60 minutes to cook. Once made, they’re pretty bland, unless you load them up with excessive toppings. This isn’t so easy, given the shape of the dish, unless you do the work to pull all the guts out. It is much simpler – and tastier – to work with fries or tots to achieve far better results.

Mashed Potatoes

In a similar vein to baked potatoes, I find mashed potatoes to be fairly boring, even spiced up with gravy or other enhancements. If sauces and other toppings are needed to make something even somewhat tolerable, why bother!? I will give credit to mashed potatoes as a gateway spud dish, as kids can enjoy playing with their food and they’re easy to eat for young ones.

Scalloped Potatoes

I’m not sure exactly why I dislike these cheesy, saucy taters, but if I see them served at a function, I almost have a gag reflex to them. Perhaps it dates back to my dislike of all things cheese-related as a youngster. Although my tastes have evolved as I’ve grown up, I still find this dish to be too slimy for my liking and don’t like that the potatoes are soggy and limp.

Love & Hate: The Spudtini

• Rim glass with Potato Chips
• Muddle Cucumber Slices
• 2 oz Potato Vodka
• Splash of Lemon Juice
• Dash of Simple Syrup
• Pinch of Salt
• Garnish with Cucumber and Lemon Slices

Regardless of how I feel about various potato dishes, one thing will always remain true: the crispier the better for the Sip Advisor… unless they come in liquid form, of course!