Tamarack French Fries

dreamer55 · 05-31-2007, 02:27 PM

I am wondering who has tried TAMARACK'S french fries. I was there a few days ago and I asked what they were fried in. I was informed that they were fried in Bee shortening? I have never heard of that before. There was a person in charge who was at the order window and asked me if I have ever tried them cooked that way. I had not and he gave me a free order of the french fries.

I tried one small fry and that was more than enough for me. Yuck!!! I hate the way we are being forced to not have a choice in how our food is cooked when we pay for it!!! I think we should be given the choice. I think that those are the worst tasting fries I have ever had. Anyone else tried them. Please let me know!!

I want to hear what others think of them.....

boat_guy64 · 05-31-2007, 03:22 PM

I agree. We bought some two weeks ago. $8.95 for an order of fries that my kids wouldn't eat.

Pineedles · 05-31-2007, 07:35 PM

Wow, so much hatred for something that I just tend to push to the side of the plate, when I don't want them. Can't we have a choice in the survey that says. "Never tried them, but they sound interesting" and "Never tried them they sound not to my taste".

MaidenCove07 · 05-31-2007, 08:22 PM

....went there last weekend. Scallops and clams tasted weird too, now I know why...
Bee Oil??? Really??? Are you kidding me?
Bring back animal lard anyday - fries rocked then. My grand father ate 'em all the time and lived to 86.

Kevin C · 05-31-2007, 08:25 PM

My wife and I had a day off last week and stopped by for a lobster roll which was very good....but the side order of fries and onion rings were greasy, undercooked and gross.....yuck!

mets3007 · 05-31-2007, 09:22 PM

I would say Sawyer's has the best fries around the Lakes Region.

gonetoolong · 06-01-2007, 11:17 AM

Hi Folks. I just wanted to apologize to any of you who where dissapointed with our french fries! As a bit of an explanation, we had a problem with a supplier who sent us the wrong potatoes and we were forced to use them until our regular product was sent to us.

We use only fresh grown Maine potatoes grown in Fryeburg Maine, they are hand cut by us and then fried in Beef (not Bee!) fat. Our hamburgers are freshly ground and made each day and our lobster rolls are 100% lobster (no Lango's or other cheap fillers)

My brothers and I are honestly trying to bring the Tamarack back to it's former high standards and we appreciate any and all comments and hope you'll give us another try.

We ain't perfect yet but we're trying !

Sincerely

Jim, Mike and George Clayton

dpg · 06-01-2007, 11:27 AM

Jim: Thanks for responding on this site. A word of advise, keep an eye on it and read the (many) comments there will surely be about your establishment over the coming months.

I don't get it, why are people (restaurants) not using Canola Oil, is it too costly, bad tasting??? I know it has very little (if any) of the "bad" fats in it. I believe Vegetable oil would run a close second, I think anyways I'm certanly no expert and not in the biz.

Oh and Jim this question wasn't exactly directed to you.

GTO · 06-01-2007, 03:38 PM

Jim: Thanks for responding on this site. A word of advise, keep an eye on it and read the (many) comments there will surely be about your establishment over the coming months.

Or, you could just cut and paste Nadia's comments. She was a great one for responding to everybody.

dreamer55 · 06-01-2007, 03:55 PM

this is directed to jim at the tamarack....i appreciate your responding to this topic. i think that all of us who have eaten at the tamarack would love to have it the way it used to be.

my only question i guess is why can't we who are spending our money on dining out at any establishment have an option of how or should i say what kind of oil they are cooked in. i hope that you take this as a hint to offer the option to your customers, not everyone wants the new cooking oils. i think that customers who want the option should let the restaurant know that you are unhappy with their choices, it may wake them up.

i will continue to eat at the tamarack as i have done for many years.

redc5 · 06-02-2007, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamer55

my only question i guess is why can't we who are spending our money on dining out at any establishment have an option of how or should i say what kind of oil they are cooked in.

Which restaurants do you currently go into and tell the staff what oil you would like to have your food cooked in? I don't remember ever seeing that option on any menu anywhere.

Kevin C · 06-02-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonetoolong

My brothers and I are honestly trying to bring the Tamarack back to it's former high standards and we appreciate any and all comments and hope you'll give us another try.

We ain't perfect yet but we're trying !

Sincerely

Jim, Mike and George Clayton

Thanks for the update Jim. We will definitely give it another try.

MaidenCove07 · 06-03-2007, 10:43 AM

Welcome back. Great to hear from you - kudos for checking out this site!

As long as you're Ok with constructive criticism, we'll keep giving it as well as compliments of which I have a few:

While I wasn't a fan of the fries or rings (way too greasy and soggy), I must say my hamburger was awesome, the scallops were obviously very fresh, sweet and tasty and the cole-slaw rivals my old time favorite at Sawyer's.

You keep up the good work and we'll keep the faith!

Maiden et. al.

jetskier · 06-03-2007, 12:49 PM

Hi Jim,

I would like to encourage your participation on this forum. My sense is that it is the pulse of your market.

Personally, I think that Tamarack has to earn back the patronage that it lost over the many years of poor quality. I understand that you are working the kinks out, but remember that there are a lot of dining choices in this area and unless you are consistantly good, you will not stay in business long. So far, the feedback has been mediocre (at best) and not enough for me to stray from the tried and true.

Just my 2 cents.

Jetskier

dpg · 06-04-2007, 05:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreamer55

this is directed to jim at the tamarack....i appreciate your responding to this topic. i think that all of us who have eaten at the tamarack would love to have it the way it used to be.

my only question i guess is why can't we who are spending our money on dining out at any establishment have an option of how or should i say what kind of oil they are cooked in. i hope that you take this as a hint to offer the option to your customers, not everyone wants the new cooking oils. i think that customers who want the option should let the restaurant know that you are unhappy with their choices, it may wake them up.

i will continue to eat at the tamarack as i have done for many years.

I don't know of any restaurant which offers your choice of cooking oils. Once the fryers are filled their filled and cannot be swapped out on request.

RLW · 06-04-2007, 05:48 AM

I believe that the category of Having ones choice of oil should not be in the poll. As stated below, when you order fries you get them the way they are cooked. You do not have the opportunity to say I'll have an order of fries and I'll have mine cooked in such & such type of oil.

Winnigirl · 06-04-2007, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpg

I don't know of any restaurant which offers your choice of cooking oils. Once the fryers are filled their filled and cannot be swapped out on request.

Thank you for saying this. That is not a practical or economical suggestion for any restaurant!

Pepper · 06-08-2007, 08:30 AM

GoneTooLong WELCOME to the forum! (it's been so long since I've been able to visit and post that I think your screen name fits me better than it fits you!

)

Sorry I didn't get a chance to visit with the three of you earlier this spring, but I promise to stop by sometime soon. Waldo says you guys have done an AMAZING job with that kitchen! It's terrific to see you all working so hard to return the Tamarack to it's former glory, and we wish you the very best!!!!

Dreamer55 I am compelled to reply to your statement that restaurants should give you a choice regarding oil. Your wish is, quite honestly, a complete impossibility.

Fry oil is not exactly something which can be changed in a few moments, so that option is out. Reserving a fryolator for patrons who wish to have their products fried in a particular oil is totally impractical as well. Fryolators are typically the busiest piece of equipment in our business, and patrons expect consistency in flavor, texture, etc so it's important to make one choice and stick with it.

With regard to the "new oils" I must comment that the vast majority of our customers are very pleased that we cook with an oil that contains zero trans fat. Today's consumer is very health conscious, and providing the majority with what they want makes much more business sense than trying to accommodate a few consumers who want something different.

All that being said, the truth of the matter is that the potato is what truly makes the fries, not the oil! If the supplier who provided the wrong product where on this forum I'd blast him but good! Fresh-cut fries MUST be made with FRESH POTATOS, because if they potato sits in a warehouse the starch-to-sugar process begins, and the older the potato gets the harder it is to cook it without burning it. Sounds crazy, but trust me it's true. Been there, done that, and gave up on the fresh-cut fries because of it.

I sincerely hope the Clayton's have much better luck with it than we did!

loony · 06-08-2007, 10:04 AM

Restauranteurs should be sensitive to food allergies. My wife is allergic to seafood. She needs to be very careful of cross contamination at restaurants. She generally stays away from fried foods because a single fryolator is often used for all foods (a blessing in disguise

). She also avoids grilled foods as the grill may not have been thouroughly cleaned after fish has been cooked on it. Politely asking the grill chef or server to keep her food separate sometimes results in a negative reaction. Japanese restaurants and fine seafood restaurants are out

. She generally eats broiled or baked foods at unfamiliar restaurants. She has learned to adapt to her allergies, and believe it or not we both eat much healthier

.
I love seafood. Lobster. fired clams, whole belly of course. Calimari. Swordfish. Yum......Maybe I'll sneak over to Peppers for a double stuffed lobster roll

SIKSUKR · 06-08-2007, 12:34 PM

Nice to see Pepper back on the forum.
Pepper,what kind of oils are used now that don't contain trans-fat?

Pepper · 06-12-2007, 08:11 AM

The oil we use in our fryolators is Clear Canola Oil.

Not sure if all brands are created equal with regards to trans fat - I'll see what I can learn from our salesman.

dpg · 06-12-2007, 11:11 AM

Canola oil has no trans fats

jetskier · 06-15-2007, 06:28 PM

Hi all,

My wife decided that we should try Tamarack for lunch today. We brought the kids along and everyone weighed in on the fries:

Awful! They were soggy and terrible.

I had a lobster roll and that was fine...my wife had a salad and seemed pretty happy with it. The service was very slow and the prices are nothing to write home about.

I think we will give it at least another year until we try this one again. They have a long way to go.

Just my 2 cents.
Jetskier

View Poll Results: Who likes the french fries at Tamarack?
Really liked the fries	3	12.50%
Somewhat liked them...they were ok	5	20.83%
Hated them totally...	10	41.67%
I want a choice in what my fries are cooked in.	6	25.00%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

05-31-2007, 02:27 PM	#1
dreamer55 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tamarack French Fries I am wondering who has tried TAMARACK'S french fries. I was there a few days ago and I asked what they were fried in. I was informed that they were fried in Bee shortening? I have never heard of that before. There was a person in charge who was at the order window and asked me if I have ever tried them cooked that way. I had not and he gave me a free order of the french fries. I tried one small fry and that was more than enough for me. Yuck!!! I hate the way we are being forced to not have a choice in how our food is cooked when we pay for it!!! I think we should be given the choice. I think that those are the worst tasting fries I have ever had. Anyone else tried them. Please let me know!! I want to hear what others think of them.....

05-31-2007, 03:22 PM	#2
boat_guy64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Windham and Meredith Posts: 225 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 33 Thanked 89 Times in 42 Posts	Fries I agree. We bought some two weeks ago. $8.95 for an order of fries that my kids wouldn't eat.

05-31-2007, 07:35 PM	#3
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,535 Thanks: 1,059 Thanked 652 Times in 363 Posts	Survey? Wow, so much hatred for something that I just tend to push to the side of the plate, when I don't want them. Can't we have a choice in the survey that says. "Never tried them, but they sound interesting" and "Never tried them they sound not to my taste".

05-31-2007, 08:22 PM	#4
MaidenCove07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manchester in Winter, Weirs Beach in Summer & Fall Posts: 132 Thanks: 29 Thanked 17 Times in 7 Posts	Not a fan... ....went there last weekend. Scallops and clams tasted weird too, now I know why... Bee Oil??? Really??? Are you kidding me? Bring back animal lard anyday - fries rocked then. My grand father ate 'em all the time and lived to 86.

05-31-2007, 08:25 PM	#5
Kevin C Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Billerica, Ma Posts: 103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tamarack Fries and Rings My wife and I had a day off last week and stopped by for a lobster roll which was very good....but the side order of fries and onion rings were greasy, undercooked and gross.....yuck! __________________ Skipper of CIRCUITOUS Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. Author Unknown.

05-31-2007, 09:22 PM	#6
mets3007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 170 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	best Fries I would say Sawyer's has the best fries around the Lakes Region.

06-01-2007, 11:17 AM	#7
gonetoolong Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 40 Thanks: 12 Thanked 24 Times in 8 Posts	Jim Clayton from Tamarack Hi Folks. I just wanted to apologize to any of you who where dissapointed with our french fries! As a bit of an explanation, we had a problem with a supplier who sent us the wrong potatoes and we were forced to use them until our regular product was sent to us. We use only fresh grown Maine potatoes grown in Fryeburg Maine, they are hand cut by us and then fried in Beef (not Bee!) fat. Our hamburgers are freshly ground and made each day and our lobster rolls are 100% lobster (no Lango's or other cheap fillers) My brothers and I are honestly trying to bring the Tamarack back to it's former high standards and we appreciate any and all comments and hope you'll give us another try. We ain't perfect yet but we're trying ! Sincerely Jim, Mike and George Clayton

06-01-2007, 11:27 AM	#8
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Jim: Thanks for responding on this site. A word of advise, keep an eye on it and read the (many) comments there will surely be about your establishment over the coming months. I don't get it, why are people (restaurants) not using Canola Oil, is it too costly, bad tasting??? I know it has very little (if any) of the "bad" fats in it. I believe Vegetable oil would run a close second, I think anyways I'm certanly no expert and not in the biz. Oh and Jim this question wasn't exactly directed to you.

06-01-2007, 03:38 PM	#9
GTO Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,072 Thanks: 336 Thanked 342 Times in 158 Posts	or....... Jim: Thanks for responding on this site. A word of advise, keep an eye on it and read the (many) comments there will surely be about your establishment over the coming months. Or, you could just cut and paste Nadia's comments. She was a great one for responding to everybody. __________________ GTO

06-01-2007, 03:55 PM	#10
dreamer55 Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Tamarack French Fries this is directed to jim at the tamarack....i appreciate your responding to this topic. i think that all of us who have eaten at the tamarack would love to have it the way it used to be. my only question i guess is why can't we who are spending our money on dining out at any establishment have an option of how or should i say what kind of oil they are cooked in. i hope that you take this as a hint to offer the option to your customers, not everyone wants the new cooking oils. i think that customers who want the option should let the restaurant know that you are unhappy with their choices, it may wake them up. i will continue to eat at the tamarack as i have done for many years.

06-03-2007, 10:43 AM	#13
MaidenCove07 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Manchester in Winter, Weirs Beach in Summer & Fall Posts: 132 Thanks: 29 Thanked 17 Times in 7 Posts	To the Clayton Boys Welcome back. Great to hear from you - kudos for checking out this site! As long as you're Ok with constructive criticism, we'll keep giving it as well as compliments of which I have a few: While I wasn't a fan of the fries or rings (way too greasy and soggy), I must say my hamburger was awesome, the scallops were obviously very fresh, sweet and tasty and the cole-slaw rivals my old time favorite at Sawyer's. You keep up the good work and we'll keep the faith! Maiden et. al.

06-03-2007, 12:49 PM	#14
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 850 Thanks: 57 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	Not Yet Hi Jim, I would like to encourage your participation on this forum. My sense is that it is the pulse of your market. Personally, I think that Tamarack has to earn back the patronage that it lost over the many years of poor quality. I understand that you are working the kinks out, but remember that there are a lot of dining choices in this area and unless you are consistantly good, you will not stay in business long. So far, the feedback has been mediocre (at best) and not enough for me to stray from the tried and true. Just my 2 cents. Jetskier

06-04-2007, 05:48 AM	#16
RLW Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alton Bay on the mountain by a lake Posts: 2,023 Thanks: 563 Thanked 444 Times in 311 Posts	Fries I believe that the category of Having ones choice of oil should not be in the poll. As stated below, when you order fries you get them the way they are cooked. You do not have the opportunity to say I'll have an order of fries and I'll have mine cooked in such & such type of oil. __________________ There is nothing better than living on Alton Mountain & our grand kids visits.

06-08-2007, 08:30 AM	#18
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	GoneTooLong WELCOME to the forum! (it's been so long since I've been able to visit and post that I think your screen name fits me better than it fits you! ) Sorry I didn't get a chance to visit with the three of you earlier this spring, but I promise to stop by sometime soon. Waldo says you guys have done an AMAZING job with that kitchen! It's terrific to see you all working so hard to return the Tamarack to it's former glory, and we wish you the very best!!!! Dreamer55 I am compelled to reply to your statement that restaurants should give you a choice regarding oil. Your wish is, quite honestly, a complete impossibility. Fry oil is not exactly something which can be changed in a few moments, so that option is out. Reserving a fryolator for patrons who wish to have their products fried in a particular oil is totally impractical as well. Fryolators are typically the busiest piece of equipment in our business, and patrons expect consistency in flavor, texture, etc so it's important to make one choice and stick with it. With regard to the "new oils" I must comment that the vast majority of our customers are very pleased that we cook with an oil that contains zero trans fat. Today's consumer is very health conscious, and providing the majority with what they want makes much more business sense than trying to accommodate a few consumers who want something different. All that being said, the truth of the matter is that the potato is what truly makes the fries, not the oil! If the supplier who provided the wrong product where on this forum I'd blast him but good! Fresh-cut fries MUST be made with FRESH POTATOS, because if they potato sits in a warehouse the starch-to-sugar process begins, and the older the potato gets the harder it is to cook it without burning it. Sounds crazy, but trust me it's true. Been there, done that, and gave up on the fresh-cut fries because of it. I sincerely hope the Clayton's have much better luck with it than we did! __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is! Last edited by Pepper; 06-08-2007 at 08:34 AM. Reason: potatoe is not tomatoe, it's potato! (blush)

06-08-2007, 10:04 AM	#19
loony Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 101 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	French Fries & food allergies Restauranteurs should be sensitive to food allergies. My wife is allergic to seafood. She needs to be very careful of cross contamination at restaurants. She generally stays away from fried foods because a single fryolator is often used for all foods (a blessing in disguise ). She also avoids grilled foods as the grill may not have been thouroughly cleaned after fish has been cooked on it. Politely asking the grill chef or server to keep her food separate sometimes results in a negative reaction. Japanese restaurants and fine seafood restaurants are out . She generally eats broiled or baked foods at unfamiliar restaurants. She has learned to adapt to her allergies, and believe it or not we both eat much healthier . I love seafood. Lobster. fired clams, whole belly of course. Calimari. Swordfish. Yum......Maybe I'll sneak over to Peppers for a double stuffed lobster roll Last edited by loony; 06-08-2007 at 11:26 AM.

06-08-2007, 12:34 PM	#20
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Hi PEPPER!!!! Nice to see Pepper back on the forum. Pepper,what kind of oils are used now that don't contain trans-fat? __________________ SIKSUKR

06-12-2007, 08:11 AM	#21
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	Hello SS! The oil we use in our fryolators is Clear Canola Oil. Not sure if all brands are created equal with regards to trans fat - I'll see what I can learn from our salesman. __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!

06-12-2007, 11:11 AM	#22
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,560 Thanks: 149 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Canola oil has no trans fats

06-15-2007, 06:28 PM	#23
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 850 Thanks: 57 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	Mediocre (at best) Hi all, My wife decided that we should try Tamarack for lunch today. We brought the kids along and everyone weighed in on the fries: Awful! They were soggy and terrible. I had a lobster roll and that was fine...my wife had a salad and seemed pretty happy with it. The service was very slow and the prices are nothing to write home about. I think we will give it at least another year until we try this one again. They have a long way to go. Just my 2 cents. Jetskier