The glorious french fry is the subject of a new temporary exhibit opening today on the Bowery, specifically the multitude of styles found here in New York City. The Fries of New York exhibit boasts specimens from 80 city bars, restaurants and fry stands, from the crisp matchstick to the meaty steak variety, all beneath glass cases like a Victorian curiosity shop. They've even got museum-style information cards, because in this age, if it's not Instagrammably twee, it may as well not exist.
On view, notable offerings from Pommes Frites, Papaya King, Katz's and Delmonico's. While they all look delicious, each fry was coated in resin for longevity, thus rendering them inedible. As a Sir Kensington's-sponsored event—they of the hirsute ketchup products—there's also a historical timeline of ketchup and fries, plus common fry toppings on display, like different salts, herbs, condiments and even a large black truffle.
For a simple potato product, there's actually a fair bit of variation, even just among the classic shape. Length, girth, color—there's no fry that looks exactly like the other. Then there are the outliers: the corkscrew (aka "Tornado") shape; waffle cut; curly; cottage. There's truly something for every predilection, it's what makes our culinary scene so unique and satisfrying.
The exhibit is open today and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 168 Bowery at Kenmare.
