Background

This is Part 2 of my 24 Hour French Fry Odyssey around Seattle, covering hours 9 to 16. You can read about the other sections of the Odyssey by clicking this link. For context, the Odyssey is an endurance challenge with the following rules:

  1. Must be completed within 24 Hours
  2. Must visit 24 restaurants
  3. 1 restaurant per hour
  4. No mass-market fast food chains
  5. Must eat a meaningful amount of fries from every restaurant

In total, I walked 32,210 steps over the 24 hours (I didn’t use my car for most of it), I spent $234.13 on food, and I burned 6,295 calories. No clue how many calories I consumed. I knew that this would be difficult, but I didn’t anticipate that the mental and physical aspects of the challenge would be equal trials. As the name implies, this was a journey.

I selected the restaurants based on recommendations from the Seattle Reddit community, my own research, and several others out of pure desperation. I had a detailed plan going into the day, but things derailed late in the challenge and I had to scramble to finish! The ratings charts shows all of my stops in order along with the rating of the fries (dark bars are what’s reported in this blog installment). I hope you enjoy my adventure.

Part 9 – HoneyHole [2:00 pm]

As I finished the first third of the 24 Hour challenge, I had walked 14,755 steps and burned 3,424 calories. I have no clue how many calories I had consumed, but I know for sure that I wasn’t hungry. It was more about palate fatigue than actually being full…the thought of potato starch on my tongue turned my stomach. As I approached Stop 9 I desperately needed to use the restroom, so I waddled into HoneyHole, placed my order, and then made use of their facilities. I was concerned about this element of the challenge, but for the most part I found bathrooms when required. Beyond the appetite issues, I was also tired. I hadn’t slept well the night before and it had already been 8 hours of constant movement up to this point. The challenge was taking its toll, but I popped a caffeinated mint and plowed ahead.

HoneyHole was one of the Reddit recommendations I received. It had been several years since my last visit, and I had no memory of their fries. This turned into one of the biggest surprises of the challenge, because HoneyHole pulled off what I would describe as a nearly perfect technical fry. Meaning that they had prepared it almost exactly how I prefer my fries (your tastes may vary). They’re 10mm thick, obviously double or triple fried, and they nailed the texture so that there’s a distinct crust and a very fluffy interior. Each of these fries could be snapped in half with no flop, and they kept their texture for the duration of my visit. I also appreciated the seasoning of the fries with some sort of flakey/coarse salt. It added a slight crunch and was well distributed. I requested a jalapeño aioli for dipping, and that little bit of hit helped me eat more of these than I thought possible. As good as they were, my body was starting to reject them. In hindsight, I should have ordered a lemonade or something acidic to help my poor tongue.

I spent $8.60 and gave them a 9.0 out of 10. I agree with everyone that recommended these fries. They’re spectacular.

Part 10 – Taku [3:00 pm]

I didn’t have far to go for Stop 10 because Taku is right across the street from HoneyHole. I did have some time to kill, though. While an extra 30 minutes sounded like a luxury, my body started screaming for me to take a nap. Or die. One of the two. I had already taken a caffeine mint, so I popped a couple of Tums and took a break on a nearby bench. I was really starting to feel odd and getting a little concerned about my ability to complete another 14 hours of the challenge. Once the clock hit 3pm I rallied my spirits and took a seat at Taku, just hoping that I could catch another wind.

I enjoyed the vibrant Japanese aesthetic of Taku. This is one of Chef Shota Nakajima’s restaurant concepts, and I’ve been following him since his incredible run on Top Chef Season 18. His dishes were some of the most creative that I had ever seen on the show, and his radiant personality made him an easy favorite. He opened up Taku in Seattle as a casual Japanese fried chicken concept and I was there specifically for the Furikake Fries. Furikake is a Japanese seasoning blend with salt, sugar, nori flakes, and other spices. Taku uses an 8mm fry with a little bit of skin and they’re fried carefully to a crispy light blonde. The furikake seasoning was one of the most distinct that I tried during the challenge, and the little bit of sweetness played curiously with the briny tones of the seaweed flakes. It’s a complicated mix of flavors, further enhanced with the yuzu kosho ketchup and yum yum sauce provided for dipping. I loved the bowl, I loved the idea of the fries, and I loved the ambiance of the restaurant. However, I was struggling to enjoy the food. This was another example of my body rejecting what I was providing as a calorie input. I ate what I could and then signaled for the check.

I spent $6.89 and gave them an 8.2 out of 10. The fries are good, and the rest of the menu looked interesting as well. I wish I could actually enjoy it. At this point I was at about 16,000 steps and 3,700 calories burned.

Stop 11 – Mt. Joy [4:00 pm]

I wasn’t quite at the halfway point, but I had hit a wall. My stomach felt weird, I had a headache, and I would rather drip lemon juice in my eyeballs than eat another french fry. With that attitude, it was time to visit Mt. Joy for Stop 12. This is a sustainable and environmentally friendly (regenerative) fried chicken sandwich restaurant that I had heard was fantastic. I ordered my fries from a kiosk and then told the real human behind the counter that I wanted the smallest portion possible. I explained that I wasn’t very hungry and only wanted a little bit of fries. No problem paying full price. I also ordered a side of their pickle sauce for dipping because I was positive that I’d need some sort of lubrication to get this one down.

This was the first time that I felt judged while participating in the challenge. There was a couple seated about 20 feet from my booth and I got some raised eyebrows when I busted out the video camera. Then there were whispers and side-eyes when I started measuring with the calipers. I addressed the issue head-on and told them that “I know that I’m being weird, but it’s for a project.” They asked a few more questions, and then ignored my antics.

I was suffering at this point. The fries had quite a bit of skin left on, were cut to 9mm, and fried to a light golden blonde. The crust was modest, but enough to hold the texture while you’re eating in the restaurant (probably not enough for a take-out experience). The seasoning was adequate, and I really liked the pickle sauce. It reminded me of something in between a traditional fry sauce and tartar sauce. After eating a few of these delicious fries I was convinced that I might throw up. Something needed to change. I packed up my things and asked the employees for the bathroom code. This marked the second bathroom that I destroyed during the challenge, and it was a truly odd experience. Mt. Joy is bright and cheerfully themed with whites, and greens, and orange in the dining area. The bathroom was a dimly lit dungeon of black/bronze tiles and painted wood. It was the most foreboding and sinister poop that I can remember. However, it solved my problem, and I immediately felt renewed.

I spent $6.61 and gave them an 8.0 out of 10. Thank goodness for packing multiple “One Wipe Charlies” on this challenge. I needed much more than one wipe.

Stop 12 – Nue [5:00 pm]

I felt refreshed heading into Stop 12. Lighter. I was also mentally turning a corner recognizing that this would mark the halfway point on my 24 hour journey and I was feeling just a little confident. Nue ended up on my list due to their very creative menu, but my budgetary constraints pushed me to visit them during happy hour. That left a tight window, but it slotted perfectly into my 5pm plans. After my obligatory perusal of the menu, I ordered the $5 “Flemish Frites” and then asked the server for a recommendation between two of their interesting non-alcoholic cocktail options. The “Summer Blues” mocktail sounded the best to me after our chat and I waited for the food to arrive.

The food was great. The fries were a 9mm rustic cut with lots of edge skin. They looked prepared in-house to me, and they were executed very well. They were fried to a medium gold hue with a satisfying crispy crust and delicate interior. Salt levels were lower than I prefer, but with 3 dipping sauces it was easy to compensate for that. Between the peanut satay, ketchup, and mayo, I preferred the standard ketchup this time. The peanut satay was too thick for me and I would have been happier with a looser peanut sauce (maybe cut with some coconut milk). Seeing as these were “Flemish” frites, the mayonnaise is a requirement. Flemish is the language spoken in the Flanders region of Belgium, and mayonnaise is the traditional condiment for Belgian frites.

The Summer Blues mocktail was outrageously good. I realized that I should have been drinking stuff like this throughout the challenge to help keep my palate refreshed. Better late than never. It was made with Butterfly Pea Flower botanicals that added some aromatic body, and then cream of coconut, pineapple, and lime juice. It gave piňa colada vibes, and even at $15 it was worth it.

I spent $26.05 and gave them a 7.8 out of 10. That’s specific to the fries, not the mocktail. I was at about 17,782 steps and burned about 4,111 calories.

Stop 13 – Boat Bar [6:00 pm]

Halfway done and having fun. Not a lot of fun, but at least a little bit of fun. The sun was setting, so I had been eating french fries during every daylight hour. Such a weird day. Stop 13 was the classiest restaurant of the trip and my first visit to Boat Bar (a sister restaurant to Bateau that I had reviewed a few months earlier). The menu focus is predominantly seafood, and while the methodology behind their french fries is similar to Bateau (triple fried, served with aioli), there were some key differences. They fry in vegetable oil instead of beef tallow, and there’s no beef tallow in the aioli. Overall the texture was similar to the fries at Bateau, but the flavor was lighter. I also took advantage of their outstanding non-alcoholic beverage program and ordered a “Kentucky Moon” mocktail with Monday Bourbon (or whiskey?), Giffard Ginger “Liqueur”, lime juice, and Orleans bitters.

I mentioned above that the fries are lighter than Bateau, but they’re still substantial. They’re only 8mm thick, and the triple fry preparation creates a significant and durable crust. They’re blanched enough that they don’t taste excessively starchy, and the color is also very clean and light. I liked the contrast of the slightly bitter skins with the very smooth potato centers. The aioli was simple, but pleasant. After 12 hours of eating fries I would have loved something more vibrant, like maybe a remoulade to echo some of the seafood themes.

The Kentucky Moon mocktail was delicious and warm. I’ve never had non-alcoholic bourbon. I’ve never had bourbon at all. But the flavors that came through for me were similar to dark honey, light molasses, or brown sugar. That paired exceptionally well with the Giffard’s Ginger non-alcoholic liqueur, and the lime added bright notes to keep everything fresh. The splash of bitters provided another layer of complexity, and it all rounded out to a fantastic drink. This was my second mocktail in a row, and it came at a cost, but it kept my palate alive and gave me something else to think about.

I spent $26.49 and gave them an 8.7 out of 10. Again, that score is primarily for the fries, the mocktail did put me in a better mood.

Stop 14 – Ox Burger [7:00 pm]

Spirits were high leading into Stop 14, and I felt like I had found my 3rd wind. What made this stop even more special is that my wife and daughter decided to drive down and join me for a bit. The restaurant was Ox Burger, and in addition to house-made fries they make some very well-reviewed burgers. They use interesting combinations of beef and pork for some of their patties, and the burger toppings lean heavily into the Laotian theme. I was here for fries, though.

The fries were thick. Very girthy. I measured them at 12mm, and even with multiple frying/blanching it can be difficult to appropriately cook the interiors while getting an crispy exterior. Ox Burger did a reasonable job of preparing them to achieve that result, but even so they were a touch starchy. It’s a lot of potato per bite. Ketchup helps cut through the starch, but I preferred their custom sauces that I ordered extra. I tried both the Jaew Bong Mayo (a fermented pepper sauce) and the Garlic Lime Leaf Aioli. They were both interesting, but the Garlic Lime Leaf Aioli was my favorite. Very vibrant and bright. My wife ordered a special Blue Burger on the menu. I tried a very small bite and thought it was great. 12mm fries might be too thick for me, but Ox Burger did a good job.

I spent $9.00 (excluding the burger) and gave them a 7.7 out of 10. I was at 20,404 steps and had burned 4,475 calories.

Stop 15 – Spice Waala [8:00 pm]

While I was still a bit energized from the family visit, the realities of the challenge were starting to reenter my thoughts. It was dark, it was getting colder, and I still had a lot of stuff to eat. My stomach had calmed down, but my legs were stiffening up and I had a cramp in my right foot. Nothing too serious, and I pushed ahead. Stop 15 took me to an Indian street food concept that appeared to cater mostly to college students in the area. It’s called Spice Waala, and their Masala Aloo fries were a good fit for the challenge. Listed on their snack menu, these are hand-cut fries tossed in their special seasoning blend and served with a green chutney.

While the menu description indicated that these are fried to a golden brown, they looked like just a brown to me. I don’t know if that’s due to their oil, how long they were cooked, or maybe just a product of the dark seasoning blend that they toss them in. My guess is that it’s mostly attributed to the heavy layer of spice mix which tasted like a garam masala based blend. They’re medium thick at 8mm and fried crispy. The seasoning gives them a dusty lingering heat, and the green chutney was very punchy with a lot of garlic flavor. These were really enjoyable, and an excellent value. They’re more casually prepared than what I saw in previous stops, but I’d still recommend them.

I spent $4.97 and gave them a 6.8 out of 10. The wraps and other menu items looked great. I had walked 23,096 steps and burned 4,657 calories.

Stop 16 – Katsu Burger [9:00 pm]

I had a long and therapeutic walk to Katsu Burger from Stop 15. My foot was still bothering me, but not bad enough to change my plans. I was really starting to get tired again, though. I took another caffeine mint to see if that would help, but the lack of sleep from the night before and the constant activity were catching up with me. This was also a predominantly lonely experience because I planned the Odyssey without partners. In hindsight, having a companion to assist with french fry consumption would have been helpful. Having someone to converse with would have been even more welcome. Nevertheless, Katsu Burger was a relaxing environment to mark the 2/3 completion of the challenge, and I was already familiar with the Japanese burger menu from previous visits.

Katsu serves thin fries, and I measured them at 7mm. There might have been a little bit of skin on the ends of the fries, but not much. My preferred coating is nori flakes, but you can also get regular salt, curry, and 12 spice. The nori flakes don’t provide a massive flavor, but they do give a little bit of brininess to the fries. Being so thin, it’s not hard to get them crispy, but the danger is overcooking them and burning out the soft potato interior. These fries were great, but they don’t survive long if you’re getting them as take-out. I requested the nori ranch as a dipping sauce, and that’s another pro move. There are lots of other options, but nori flakes added to ranch dressing makes a slightly more umami ranch that matches well with the other Japanese flavors. I decided to get a drink, and my Melon flavored Ramune wasn’t as refreshing as my mocktails earlier. Katsu closed at 10:00pm, and by 9:40pm it was very clear that the employees would prefer that I moved onto Stop 17. I obliged.

I spent $12.31 and gave them a 7.1 out of 10. I had walked 24,263 steps and burned 4,839 calories.

Coming Up Next

The second 8 hours were more difficult than the first 8 (read Part 1 here), but the final stretch is an absolute doozy (read Part 3 here). Here are the videos covering the whole challenge, broken into halves:

Here’s a link to a map that shows the locations I’ve visited.