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Phantom Gourmet: French Fry Heaven In Natick

NATICK - When is a French Fry more than just a French Fry? Probably when it comes from French Fry Heaven.

New to the Natick Mall, French Fry Heaven is paradise for people who get pleasure from potatoes, which is just about anybody, according to owner Aramis Jordan.

"Everybody likes fries. I mean you go to a restaurant, your order fries. You get a choice of fries, you get a choice of potatoes, or you get a choice of some vegetables. Not that vegetables are bad, but everybody chooses fries."

This national franchise has just taken root in New England, serving up what they say are the "best fries on earth."

"On our kiosk, it says 'best fries on earth,' and they think that we're joking, until they try them. And then they're just wowed as soon as they try some," said Manager Angie Michniewicz. According to Angie, it's not just the fries themselves, but the variety of toppings that really send customers into snacking nirvana.

"You have so many different flavors, whether you're in the mood for something sweet, spicy, salty, you know - a little bit of both; we have whatever you're looking for."

At French Fry Heaven, it all starts with the classic spud stick which is double fried in canola oil, tossed with Atlantic Sea Salt and served up in a cone, hot, crispy, and delicious.

"If you just like regular fries with ketchup, you can get regular fries with ketchup. Here we call ketchup 'love'. So we give love for free. Everybody gets love."

And while plain old fries and ketchup are good, it's the endless selection of sauces, salts, and seasonings that really make this place French Fry Heaven.

One of the best combinations is the Baked Tater, which looks as good as it tastes.

"The Baked Tater is just our classic fries, with melted cheese, ranch, bacon bits and chives," described Angie. "It's one of the most popular. It really tastes like a loaded baked potato."

Another winner is the strangely addicitve 'Cheeburger' fries, which have the look and taste of a McDonald's Cheeseburger.

"It has a dill seasoning on it, that we toss the fries in. So it has the dill with the melted cheese, ketchup, and a little bit of mustard," Angie explained.

"When you first taste it, it tastes just like a cheeseburger," Aramis added.

For some truly filling fries, French Fry Heaven does their own version of poutine, called The Canadian.

"If you're from Montreal or any friends for the north, you know what this is," he said. "This is gravy with cheese. You put grated cheese on top of it, and then you put the hot gravy sauce on it, melts the cheese, and it's amazing."

If you'd like a little South in your mouth, try The Cowboy which features fries smothered in barbecue sauce. Aramis likes his topped with a little bit of smoked salt.

"It feels like you were in North Carolina at a barbecue joint, and the guy just served you a spare rib that he's been cooking for ten hours. Literally, it's really that smokiness; it's awesome."

French Fry Heaven allows all form of fries, so in addition to the classics, there are also sweet potato fries on the menu. You can get them Carnival style, covered with powdered sugar and vanilla, or sweet and spicy with a hit of chili pepper sauce.

French Fry Heaven
You can order Sweet Potato Fries 'carnival style' at French Fry Heaven. (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

If you happened to skip breakfast, you'll probably want to order the Saint Smooth.

"My favorite is the Saint Smooth," Angie admitted. "It has cinnamon brown sugar, with caramel. It tastes like French Toast."

Served in a cone, with a small wooden fork, these fries are certainly fun to eat and Angie says customers also love watching them be made.

"Everybody is amazed by our fryers. They will actually stand on the one side of the kiosk where we have windows and they'll watch it. So we put them in, and they pop out of the bottom. Then they go across the kiosk to where we salt them or season them."

The folks here don't mind putting on a show, because at French Fry Heaven, they're all about creating happy souls, one fry at a time.

"Our goal in life is really to make sure that we serve you with a great happy quirkiness attitude. We try to leave you with a smile on your face, and we want to do it having fun."

You can find French Fry Heaven in the food court at the Natick Mall, or online at frenchfryheaven.com.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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