Do you know about the "New York System"?

[ormari]

^ I for one am for a diversity of vinegars with fries: sometimes malt, sometimes apple cider, sometimes white. I've never tried red wine vinegar with fries but I'm willing to try it.

Originally Posted by mr2448

then you have missed the traditional vinegar of Rhode Island for fries. White vinegar has always been the way to go for french fries here. Whether at a weiner joint, the drive-in movies or any type of diner/restaurant. Malt came in later for those out of towners or Maryland/Virginia residents who never had white vinegar on their fries as they do in Eastern New England. Ketchup was always the Connecticut way. Or if you are in Utah that ketchup-mayo mix they use on fries. Locally white vinegar

I think if you search the web, you'll find that lots of places will claim white vinegar, including Quebec and Ontario, and some seem to think malt vinegar is a British influence. I think Sandsonik is a native so maybe traditional vinegar type varies hyper-locally.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by ormari

^ I for one am for a diversity of vinegars with fries: sometimes malt, sometimes apple cider, sometimes white. I've never tried red wine vinegar with fries but I'm willing to try it.



I think if you search the web, you'll find that lots of places will claim white vinegar, including Quebec and Ontario, and some seem to think malt vinegar is a British influence. I think Sandsonik is a native so maybe traditional vinegar type varies hyper-locally.

It is the Quebec influence that brought white vinegar to RI. Some areas of NE use malt vinegar on the fries, which I assume came over from Britain/Ireland where they are also known for that.

Sadly, it's not as popular anywhere as it once was.

[mr2448]

Originally Posted by massnative71

It is the Quebec influence that brought white vinegar to RI. Some areas of NE use malt vinegar on the fries, which I assume came over from Britain/Ireland where they are also known for that.

Sadly, it's not as popular anywhere as it once was.

that makes sense with the accountability for both white and malt. The English influence in the Boston area and the Baltimore to Norfolk area. It is one of the reasons I like 5 Guys, they provide malt vinegar as they were founded in the Baltimore/Washington area. Try asking for vinegar in the rest of the country and they will ask why do you need vinegar? They will bring any assortment to you. Sometimes on a plate? It is a good way to confuse the server!

[ormari]

Originally Posted by mr2448

that makes sense with the accountability for both white and malt. The English influence in the Boston area and the Baltimore to Norfolk area. It is one of the reasons I like 5 Guys, they provide malt vinegar as they were founded in the Baltimore/Washington area. Try asking for vinegar in the rest of the country and they will ask why do you need vinegar? They will bring any assortment to you. Sometimes on a plate? It is a good way to confuse the server!

This is not entirely true: the McMenamins chain of brewpubs in Portland Oregon has malt vinegar at every table, or did when I was last there, to go along with their fries. It's where I first picked up the habit.

Here's an article that has something to say about French fries and vinegar usage... This article asserts it's malt vinegar in Rhode Island.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by mr2448

It is one of the reasons I like 5 Guys, they provide malt vinegar as they were founded in the Baltimore/Washington area.

Happened upon Five Guys recently, and was very disappointed. I could swear the burger sizes have shrunk in half since the last time I ate there (maybe a year ago); yet still over $13 for a burger, fries and drink. Even the small fry (while still quite large), is not quite what it used to be. The malt vinegar was the one saving grace...

[Raiderman]

Take a ride to Mohegan and try BBP (Bobby's Burger Palace). My favorite (until my last doctor's checkup) was the Black 'n Blue Burger, but my wife swears by the Crunch Burger. Reasonably priced, and, hands down, the best burger I've ever had. You will thank me for this suggestion, trust me

And regarding vinegar, my wife is French Canadian (West Warwick, of course), and always used malt instead of white vinegar on fries. I, also, prefer malt. Maybe it's a family to family thing. I had never heard of putting vinegar on fries growing up in California. Now I don't eat them without! Heading to Utah for a concert in a couple weeks, and will definitely be partaking of "fry sauce"..

[sandsonik]

Originally Posted by Raiderman

Take a ride to Mohegan and try BBP (Bobby's Burger Palace). My favorite (until my last doctor's checkup) was the Black 'n Blue Burger, but my wife swears by the Crunch Burger. Reasonably priced, and, hands down, the best burger I've ever had. You will thank me for this suggestion, trust me

And regarding vinegar, my wife is French Canadian (West Warwick, of course), and always used malt instead of white vinegar on fries. I, also, prefer malt. Maybe it's a family to family thing. I had never heard of putting vinegar on fries growing up in California. Now I don't eat them without! Heading to Utah for a concert in a couple weeks, and will definitely be partaking of "fry sauce"..

Your wife is a wise woman.

I disagree with the idea that it's either/or with regard to ketchup and vinegar. All are welcome to the fry party!

But then I also like ketchup on the fish portion of my fish and chips and that's probably not cool with a lot of people either. When I was a kid, I was grossed out by tartar sauce. I'm ok with it now but the ketchup habit dies hard.

[curzon_dax]

I'm not from Rhode Island, so to me this topic was going to be about the New York System of imprisonment (aka Auburn System). It got weird real quick for me...

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by sandsonik

But then I also like ketchup on the fish portion of my fish and chips

Now that's where I draw the line!