Potato indulgence

Those who know me know I'm a sucker for all things potatoes. In fact, I've had "potatofests" with more than one set of friends. These fests often include fries of varying types (shoestring, curly, seasoned, crinkle-cut, steak, sweet potato, crisscut... you get my drift), sometimes mashed potatoes, sometimes potato pancakes, sometimes tater skins, and oh, my absolute favorite potato item: hash browns. And I don't mean the shredded breakfast potatoes (although I do love those too), but I mean like the tater tot variety. Ooh yeah...

Back to my post.

There's this place inside Crystal Court (or as it's now referred to as, just South Coast Plaza, but the west side) called Pacific Whey Cafe and it's a nice little spot that's very casual but cozy with a decent menu. Sometimes we used to come here for lunch (while I was still working) even though it was a bit more of a drive than other usual spots, but it was worth it. Recently I went back to have my favorite dish of theirs: the Potato Mess.

Yes, it's called Potato Mess.

Let me explain.

It's a layer of fried potatoes (like country breakfast potatoes), topped with shredded cheese and salsa with a drizzle of sour cream over the entire dish, and then topped additionally with a giant dollop of avocado (not quite guacamole). Indulgence? Yes.

Did I finish it? No. Could I have? No! Don't be fooled by the deceptively small-looking portion, it was super heavy and super filling.

Would I recommend this place and this dish? Yes. Would I return and order the same thing? Obviously. Was it the best "potato mess" I've ever had? I wouldn't say that. I think I'd have to say that my absolute favorite is the Super Fries from Alertos (specifically the one in Fountain Valley on Brookhurst just south of McFadden). Their super fries is pretty much what you'd guess it'd be. A bed of french fries topped with nacho stuff: cheese, sour cream, salsa, guacamole... I can't remember if there is chili or if it is topped with your choice of meat.

And then my simple selection would be Del Taco's Deluxe Chili Cheddar Fries. I don't know what it is about it - is it the crinkle-cut fries? Is it their weirdly translucent thin-shredded "cheese"? Is it the sour cream with onion and tomato bits? Whatever it is, it be good. And cheap.

Okay, that's my potato post for the day.