The American Spectator

The Spectacle Blog

Dick's Drive-In is a Seattle institution -- "the place where the cool hang out," according to Sir Mix-a-Lot. Now the busybodies are threatening to ruin its fries:

Over the past four months, cooks have conducted side-by-side tastings of potatoes fried in Primex - the oil that has created the crispy magic since Dick's opened in 1954 - vs. nontrans-fat oils.

It's a risky enterprise for a reputation built on flavors that never change.

"Our goal is to remain the same so our customers will have the same experience they had in '54, '64 or '74," said Ken Frazier, general manager for the five Dick's Drive-Ins. "Consistency is an absolute for us."

He has not found an acceptable alternative. Soon he may have to.

To reduce the risk of heart disease, the King County Board of Health is expected to vote July 19 on whether to require all restaurants and food services to stop using trans fats. Primex is a trans fat.

If Seattle is intent on bulldozing its local culture in the name of public health, the obvious next step is to require that all coffee be served black (cream and sugar are fattening, you know). And then there's that dangerous sharp object that dominates the skyline...

topics:
Oil