December 6, 2004
Mayonnaise Lovers Coming Out of Hiding?
Is it OK to eat french fries with mayonnaise? According to American cultural norms, ketchup reigns supreme. Mayonnaise is just, well, sort of French. And in a capital whose House of Representatives has officially done away with french fries (renaming them freedom fries after Franco-American relations soured during the run-up to the Iraq war), it seems that the continental custom of eating frites with mayo would have to be practiced in the attic, hidden from tomato-loving condiment fans who dominate fried food culture.
Well friends, mayo is back, whether you like it or not. And in some places, it's the only way to go.
At Capitol Hill's Belga Cafe, ketchup is essentially a banned condiment, on the orders of the talented young chef Bart Vandaele. His frites (which, by the way, are excellent with a pot of steaming mussels and a Belgian or Belgian-styled ale) are accompanied with tiny cups of special mayonnaise. Be aware that getting a spot at the newly opened Belga Cafe can be tough without a reservation, but the dining experience is worth it.
Across town in Adams Morgan, the Amsterdam Falafelshop on 18th Street has Dutch mayo to accompany its excellent Dutch-style twice-fried fries. The place has ketchup, but mayo is the way to go. Dunk with pride. As we were waiting for our falafel on Saturday, we were told by the falafel guy to try our fries with the garlic cream sauce. It turned out to be a good move. We will repeat in the future.
We know this could be a particularly divisive debate, but do you think that it's safe for the mayo minority to eat their fries with their favorite condiment, or should they still beware of stares of disgust from the ketchup majority? Are there mayo safe havens elsewhere in the city?
Also, we aren't sure whether the growing mayo trend will add to America's obesity epidemic. CoolGov has a good map showing where Americans are getting the fattest the fastest. (In particular, be on the look out for the obese in Indiana, Mississippi, Alabama and West Virginia, which all have obesity prevalence rates of more than 25 percent.)
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I don't care if I get funny looks! But most places I've been to honestly don't seem surprised when I ask for mayo. Another place that serves it with fries is Trio's, on 17th St.
Good to know about the Amsterdam Falafelshop - I've been dying for genuine Dutch fries (among other things that you can find all over Amsterdam) since I went there a few months ago.
When I ordered the sweet potato fries at Luna cafe on Connecticut Avenue (near Big Hunt) they were served with an intriguing mayo dip. The fries were a tad soggy, however.
I think that "intriguing mayo dip" is sour cream
I hope it's not just some bizzare word-of-mouth campaign against Kerry that's finally hit critical mass.
I always get mayo for my fries (the Dutch are my peeps), and like an earlier comment remarked, while its not yet the default fries-garnish it should be, I rarely get strange looks for making the request.
geez o petes, that's totally gross! whatz wrong with you all? gross!
Perhaps I am squarely in the minority on this one (if not standing by myself) but I prefer mustard on my fries. I welcome your derision.
In the spirit of trans-atlantic diplomacy, you guys should try your fries with a ketchup-mayo mix. Mmm...
Sorry Bruh. No mayo ever. ever.
I'm mayo'd outta my mind!! Rushers, Gambers & Braders you can sssssssssssh. Mayo rocks!
Mayonnaise is wrong - people who eat it allow canines on the furniture and listen to James Blunt.
I would like to start a war on the white stuff!
RAGE AGAINST HELMANNS!!!!!!!!!!!
Mayonnaise is wrong - people who eat it allow canines on the furniture and listen to James Blunt.
I would like to start a war on the white stuff!
RAGE AGAINST HELMANNS!!!!!!!!!!!
mayo is the wackest thing ever.
its even wacker than work!!