I have always had a positive relationship with tater tots.
When Napoleon Dynamite came out, I saw that movie 7 times in the theatre. This was especially impressive because for the first few months it was in theatres it was only at the art house movie theatre on Broadway in Denver, and I was in high school and barely drove to school and back, so I had to enlist and convince a variety of people to see it and also, then, drive me along. Thankfully it expanded later on, and I was able to see it to my hearts content close by. I loved it.
All this to say that I was proud to see the power of tater tots coming to light from this film.
My family had always treasured a bag of Ora Ida tater tots. That cheerful red bag could light up our whole freezer...that is for the short amount of time before we cooked and ate the entire bag in one sitting. And eating in our house was not for the faint of heart; if you loved something and wanted more than a normal portion, you had to eat fast. You had to get in there and grab and not feel sorry for the people around you. This was your time to shine.
Then: college! I was excited to go but freshman year was difficult as it was confined to the dorms, where I didn't have access to a full kitchen. Less frequent opportunities for tots, but the friends I made made up for it. I might not have had the tasty, golden potato cylinders at my beckoning call, but I always knew they'd be there for me if i needed them.
I was lucky enough to have a great group of people throw me a surprise party during college and the food spread brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. It reminds me of the cuisine I want to have at my wedding reception one day: trays of tots, Dino nuggets from Costco, Little Debbie snacks, and Kool Aid. Boy, did I go to sleep that night blessed by the thought of my friends and their knowledge of my love of food meant for children.
Fast forward to 2016. I move to New York City, home to the finest people and restaurants in the world. One such restaurant: Big Daddy's. I'll give all credit to my friend Todd, who has going there for years. In fact, every time I would come to the city for a visit, we would end up in one of their booths. But now, as a local, I could go anytime I wanted. And I do.
It's not a pretentious restaurant. It's a classic diner, themed with actors and logos from the 1980s. Memorabilia hangs on the wall and retro lunchboxes and gumball machines are scattered throughout their decor. The most delightful waiters I've ever had the pleasure of forcing into friendship seemingly dance from the kitchen to the tables, bringing both physical and emotional sustenance.
I love it there.
If you have visited me in NYC or if you plan to, I will take you to this restaurant and I will make you eat tater tots.
Tater tots are one of their staples; an option to always accompany your meal (regular! sweet potato! and if you really want true happiness, Totchos!) But recently they have become so much more. You see, on Halloween they hosted an Instagram competition and the prize: free tater tots for a year.
I have never been more proud to be a winner.
Now, every time I walk by, I go in and grab some free tots. Not only a delicious snack, but a raging river of memories flooding every corner of my brain.
When Napoleon Dynamite came out, I saw that movie 7 times in the theatre. This was especially impressive because for the first few months it was in theatres it was only at the art house movie theatre on Broadway in Denver, and I was in high school and barely drove to school and back, so I had to enlist and convince a variety of people to see it and also, then, drive me along. Thankfully it expanded later on, and I was able to see it to my hearts content close by. I loved it.
All this to say that I was proud to see the power of tater tots coming to light from this film.
My family had always treasured a bag of Ora Ida tater tots. That cheerful red bag could light up our whole freezer...that is for the short amount of time before we cooked and ate the entire bag in one sitting. And eating in our house was not for the faint of heart; if you loved something and wanted more than a normal portion, you had to eat fast. You had to get in there and grab and not feel sorry for the people around you. This was your time to shine.
Then: college! I was excited to go but freshman year was difficult as it was confined to the dorms, where I didn't have access to a full kitchen. Less frequent opportunities for tots, but the friends I made made up for it. I might not have had the tasty, golden potato cylinders at my beckoning call, but I always knew they'd be there for me if i needed them.
I was lucky enough to have a great group of people throw me a surprise party during college and the food spread brings a smile to my face just thinking about it. It reminds me of the cuisine I want to have at my wedding reception one day: trays of tots, Dino nuggets from Costco, Little Debbie snacks, and Kool Aid. Boy, did I go to sleep that night blessed by the thought of my friends and their knowledge of my love of food meant for children.
Fast forward to 2016. I move to New York City, home to the finest people and restaurants in the world. One such restaurant: Big Daddy's. I'll give all credit to my friend Todd, who has going there for years. In fact, every time I would come to the city for a visit, we would end up in one of their booths. But now, as a local, I could go anytime I wanted. And I do.
It's not a pretentious restaurant. It's a classic diner, themed with actors and logos from the 1980s. Memorabilia hangs on the wall and retro lunchboxes and gumball machines are scattered throughout their decor. The most delightful waiters I've ever had the pleasure of forcing into friendship seemingly dance from the kitchen to the tables, bringing both physical and emotional sustenance.
I love it there.
If you have visited me in NYC or if you plan to, I will take you to this restaurant and I will make you eat tater tots.
Tater tots are one of their staples; an option to always accompany your meal (regular! sweet potato! and if you really want true happiness, Totchos!) But recently they have become so much more. You see, on Halloween they hosted an Instagram competition and the prize: free tater tots for a year.
I have never been more proud to be a winner.
Now, every time I walk by, I go in and grab some free tots. Not only a delicious snack, but a raging river of memories flooding every corner of my brain.
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