Los Angeles celebrated its love for potatoes at the inaugural Los Angeles French Fry Festival held in Griffith Park. Hundreds of attendees gathered to sample fries from 10 of the city's top vendors, selected by organizers Street Food Cinema and Bucketlisters based on taste, ratings, and fan following.
Steve Nevills, producer for The California Post and an self-proclaimed fry connoisseur, served as the official taste tester for the event. Nevills, who stated he has been consuming fries as a primary food source his entire life and has tried them from thousands of establishments, evaluated each vendor's offering.
Chick Truck was awarded the top honor for its waffle fries, which featured crispy buffalo chicken and blue cheese crumbles. The vendor's aroma also impressed Nevills before tasting.
Everyday is Fryday secured the runner-up position with its mango-habanero fries, noted for a creative balance of flavors and a spicy element. The award for the best plain fry went to Frylicious, praised for its crispy exterior and fluffy interior, described as not too thin and not too thick, and complemented by a wide selection of available sauces.
The festival highlighted the growing trend of french fries as a main dish and a canvas for culinary innovation. Event producer Heather Hope-Allison commented on the versatility and shareability of fries, suggesting it was time for the dish to receive greater recognition.