When Pi Day AND National Potato Chip Day coincide, where are Palm Beach County's best?
There are few faux holidays I can get behind.
Living in Florida, National Dry Shampoo Day (March 10) is one I pay attention to especially when heading to the office or to other scheduled meetings.
But more importantly for our purposes, today offers two that are food relate d. First up, the famous Pi Day, named in honor of the mathematical constant 3.14 (hello March 14) and which demands we eat pie.
Right now, I'm fan girling over the smoothest Key Lime pie I've ever tasted, and it's from Jamal Lake's Ganache Bakeryin West Palm Beach.
Then there's the lesser known National Potato Chip Day.
I have always loved potato chips, and there's usually (at least) one bag in my house. Supermarket favorites include Walmart's Great Value rippled, a riff on Ruffles; Lay's dill pickle and Boulder Canyon's sea salt kettle chips cooked in olive oil. When you can find bags of Publix store brand, they're also a great deal and quite tasty.
But fresh-cooked chips are a special treat. I consider them a menu upgrade, even though there's usually no surcharge.
Palm Beach County's best fancy potato chips
I love Bar Capri's presentation but have yet to try them. If you've enjoyed them with caviar service, please send a note.
My favorite part of the recent Palm Beach Art Show was opening night's snack of warm chips with a dollop of caviar.
The best I've tasted since moving here include:
Buccan Sandwich Shop
A suggestion: Splurge on the $24 lunch box that's a few bucks more than a sandwich, but includes a refreshing drink (ginger lemonade is a fave), a large fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie, a big pickle (which is packed so none of the brine gets anything else wet) and some of the best potato chips anywhere. Pro tip: If ordering a room temperature sandwich, eat the chips first when they're warm. With hot sandwiches, alternate bites.
Details: Two locations at 1901 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-469-1917 and 350 S. County Road, Palm Beach, 561-833-6295; buccansandwichshop.com
Café Boulud
Eaten during a delicious lunch catchup with my pal Georgette who used to work with Daniel Boulud, we dived right into the chips. Everything is always good, but I am a sucker for sandwiches and chips, and both are done especially well here.
Details: At the Brazilian Court hotel 301 Australian Ave., Palm Beach, 561-655-6060, cafeboulud.com
Corks + Forks Catering
My wine guru friend Korinne knows how much I love these and insisted I try some from her pals, certified German Master Chef Michael "Cheffee" Ober and his Australian sommelier wife Melanie Robertson-Ober, who co-own the business.
Cheffee cooks his spuds twice: first with a kettle fry then they are arranged to drain excess oil overnight. In the morning, they are baked and get that extra crispiness.
I was dazzled by the beautiful presentation and these arrived in a lovely wooden box with verdant fresh herbs whose aromatics gently impart the potatoes. The dip is a secret recipe that's heartier than most, and also very herby.
When combined, each chip is a miracle in your mouth. Colleagues who tried it agreed. Prices depend on how much and what else you're ordering. But trust me, if you love chips, these are must add-ons to any order.
Details: Call 561-339-2444 or visit corksandforkscatering.com
Hive Bakery & Café
On a rainy November Friday night dining solo after a museum visit, the chips were a special alternative to fries with my burger and they were fantastic.
Details: 1603 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-360-2196, hivebakeryandcafe.com
Restaurant at Norton
Another Friday, another terrific burger, again with housemade chips.
Details: 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-268-0500, norton.org
Diana Biederman is the Palm Beach Post's new food & restaurant writer. If you have any news tips about the local dining scene, please send them to dbiederman@pbpost.com . Help support our journalism. Subscribe today . The Post's At the Table newsletter relaunched this week; please sign up here .
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: National Potato Chip Day: Where to get Palm Beach County's best spuds
