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Nation's Restaurant News Casual Dining Newsletter
McCain Foods Advertorial

New potato side dishes stirring up excitement at dinnerhouses nationwide

When it comes to potato side dishes there are endless options. How can you make the right choice? Follow the lead of casual-dining operators who are turning to an array of new potato products -- from McCain Harvest Splendor sweet-potato cubes to McCain Frips, a cross between a fry and a chip -- that save prep time, offer customers variety, and hold up on the plate and on the go, to complement their sandwiches and entrees.

Fries are a big part of the menu at Yippie-ie-O Grille, a Southwestern-style eatery in O'Fallon, Mo. Owner Dushan Manjencich says they hand cut, blanched and seasoned their own fries in a restaurant he ran before opening Yippie-ie-O last year. But all that prep wasn't worth it, since it required a dedicated line cook and did not always yield a consistent side dish. Now, McCain Redstone Canyon Seasoned Fries are Manjencich's potato of choice because they go from freezer to the line, eliminating a lot of variables and hassles along the way. And, he says, "they're consistently good . . . probably even better [than handmade]."

Fries that crisp up fast are an essential ingredient for success at the Sportsman Park, a high-volume family-sports-theme restaurant in Ladue, Mo. "We sell more fries than anything else," says Peggy Naes, general manager. Sportsman Park serves McCain Redstone Canyon Seasoned Fries as an appetizer or with build-your-own burgers, wraps, chicken and fish sandwiches and prime rib. "They cook faster than most fries," explains Naes, who says the Sportsman sells more than 20 cases a week.

But a great side dish isn't only about easy kitchen prep. It's about what consumers want, too. Consumers express a desire to eat on the run, maintain a healthful lifestyle and experience ethnic flavors, according to Don Moos, director of foodservice brand marketing at McCain Foods. As a result, McCain says it is creating products to serve those needs.

Even with today's new healthful lifestyles people still are choosing potatoes. According to recent data from market research firm NPD Food Group of Port Washington, N.Y., French fries remain the most popular food item ordered at restaurants by women and the second most popular item ordered by men. But industry experts say giving customers options is key. That's why the latest item on tap at McCain is 0gVations, a new French fry with 0 grams of trans fat. With potato side dishes, "it's all about plate appearance, creativity and offering that choice," McCain's Moos says.

One of McCain's tasty and eye-catching new products, Harvest Splendor Sweet Potato Cubes, is on the menu at Hobee's, a California chain focused on "California fresh food."

"We're always looking for something inventive without reinventing the grill," says Camille Chijate, Hobee's vice president of operations. "Customers perceive [McCain Harvest Splendor Sweet Potato Cubes] as new and different." Hobee's grills up the cubed sweet potatoes and serves them with syrup or savory seasoning at breakfast and dinner.

And while fries and mashed potatoes are staples at the Smokehouse Cafe, a sit-down barbecue spot in Indianapolis, owner John Guy wanted a side that would really stand out next to such menu items as pulled-pork sandwiches, smoked meat and ribs. That's why Guy's team fries up McCain Frips Fresh-style Chips, a warm cross between a fry and chip, with their own custom-created seasoning. "They're fresh, hot and crispy, and they fill the plate," Guy says. But no matter how you slice it, a potato side is not good if it can't hold up during the trip home.

Simon Haddad has been with Cluck-U Chicken of Maryland since its inception 16 years ago and he knows you cannot serve just any French fry with the chain's signature chicken sandwiches and wings. The high-volume chain that caters primarily to on-the-go college students needs a product that is versatile enough to go with melted cheese, barbecue sauce and gravy, and stays hot when served on site or at home.

"[McCain Redstone Canyon Seasoned Fries] can last and retain heat. Even when they're cold you can eat them and enjoy them," Haddad says. "The product is, no question, superior."