Good Ol' Days (Atlanta) Potatoes Wonderful

[Toni's Kitchen]

Hi, this is my first time posting here but I've read many posts before and this seems like a very friendly and knowledgeable group.

My husband used to work at a restaurant in Atlanta many years ago called Good Ol' Days. They had a couple of locations but he worked at the Sandy Springs one.

They closed several years back but he still raves about a menu item called "Potatoes Wonderful". I have searched extensively for a recipe but have found nothing. I've never had them, so I can only go by his description:

"Cheesy mashed potatoes put through a pastry gun deep fried and it comes out in a grid shape really crispy on the outside and soft mashed potatoes on the inside. Final product was about 1/2" thick, in a 6" by 6" square. End result similar to a funnel cake in appearance."

It sounds simple but we've both tried to do it and it never stays together and keeps its shape.

If anyone remembers this restaurant and this dish could you offer any suggestions? Or, do you know a similar recipe? Your help is greatly appreciated. Our 15th anniversary is coming up next week and I thought it would be great to surprise him. (Not on the actual anniversary date, though, of course he's taking me out!)

Thanks in advance for any help.

Toni

[Kittencalskitchen]

these are baked in the oven ....

Oven-Baked Potato Cheddar Croquettes

[Toni's Kitchen]

Thanks, Kittencal, those look delicious, but what I'm looking for is a bit different.

They're more like a square funnel cake.



Now picture that in a square, like a waffle fry. Come to think of it, it probably really doesn't have to be square as long as it has the tubular "crispy outside, creamy inside" texture. And they were definitely fried.

But thanks again for the croquette recipe, that looks good!

Toni

[Red Apple Guy]

Toni, you're request has interested me enough to look around a bit for it. So far, notta. I did find a restaurant in Montgomery, AL that has a side with the same name, but no description or recipe.

[Toni's Kitchen]

Thanks, Red Apple Guy. Hopefully you'll have better luck in your searches than I've had. I really appreciate your help!

Toni

[Red Apple Guy]

Toni, I'm in the Atlanta area and I think a lot of older recipes are missing or not used anymore. Restaurant fads of the 70's are still great dishes (chateaubriand, cherries jubilee, etc..).

[Toni's Kitchen]

I love the old recipes, no "fat free" "low sodium" etc. I'm all for being healthy, but sometimes taste is more important.

Bring on the butter!

Toni

[LoversDream]

Hi,

I have been looking for this recipe as well with no luck at all. They were absolutely delicious!

I have a different memory of them than your husband. I don't remember them being cheesy at all. What I remember is like they took mashed potatoes and put something in them for flavor. Perhaps the dry packages of hidden valley ranch dressing - or a dried mix to make onion dip - they were my favorite side dish at Good Ol Days in Buckhead. Also LOVED their coconut crab legs! Since I've been thinking about the potatoes wonderful again lately I might just have to get in the kitchen and see if I can come up with something close. I will let you know the results in a week or two when I have time to mess around a bit.

[andypandy]

Been from a restaurant they could have been a frozen product like
Birdseye Mashed Potato waffles.... is a shaped potato product; it is like mashed potato on the inside with a slightly crispy coating on the outside. It is shaped like… well, like a waffle! It is a square shape, about 10cm square with lots of square shaped holes in.

[LoversDream]

No it was definitely something made on the premises - and no two looked alike.... they were just "squirted" in to hot oil and deep fried in random shapes that would fit on a plate all alone.

I've located a source for powdered sour cream and onion which I think would be a good start to mix with the mashed potatoes and deep fry. Hate to order 10 lbs of it (only size available) if that's not going to work... I'd have 49$'s worth of powder I have no other use for lol.

[Chef #1408527]

Try to locate a guy by the name of Reggie (Reginald)Parrish. He was the head kitchen mgr for the restaurant for many years and would be about 55-60 now. I think this is his facebook page> http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&q=regginald+parrish#/profile.php?id=1059723773&ref=search&sid=1660321781.2377385036..1

I worked there back in the early 80's and the PW were definitely not frozen and were indeed squeezed through a tube into the fryer. They were great! As were the flowerpot sandwiches... Good Luck! Please post if you get the recipe.

[BlueKentucky]

Potatoes Wonderful was named right! I loved them so much. I worked as a performer in both locations durring high school and ate them every day and Never got tired of them. Between that and the flower pot bread chicken salid sandwiches... I wouldn't need any other food on the plannet. I don't remember cheese either. They were like cheese straw star shaped tubes so you get more crispy edges than just round. I'd venture to guess the were a basic garlic mash-potatoe base with herbs and then done up with flower and egg, like potatoe pancakes. Then they would keep the shape. I'll have to try that tonight and see if it works. I know potatoe pancakes well, so that might be it. The herb combo was perfect in them and the crunchy outside and mellow interior. LOVED Good 'ol Days! Thoses were the days.

[qponchick]

I loved these potatoes, too. I don't remember them being cheesy, either. I remember them having a slight onion flavor.

I would love to have the recipe for the flowerpot sandwiches, too.

I noticed that the former owner of Good 'Ol Days now has a catering business. Perhaps there is a way to contact her, and get the recipes:

http://www.kimballhall.com/vendors/sallys-events/

[LoversDream]

I think we got this one. I just submitted the following - to my taste it's pretty darn close!

"Potatoes Wonderful - Good Ol' Days Clone"

20 min | 15 min prep | SERVES 2 , 2 Plates

Clone recipe of the fantastically delicious Good Ol Days Potatoes Wonderful. Now if some one can knock out the flowerpot bread sandwiches I'll be in heaven! Please note that you will need a star shaped shooter, pastry bag, etc. About 1/2" wide - something about the size of cheese straws. This allows the outside edges of the star to cook more and get extra crunchy while the inside is wonderfully soft and delicious. Squirting these out "round" is not going to even be close to as good...but if you've got no choice... Feel free to use whatever mashed potatoes you like. I made these with the powdered "Idahoan Real Premium Mashed Potatoes" and it worked perfectly. The recipe below refers to the "4 serving" size on the Idahoan potato box - made according to the directions with water/milk/margarine.

Ingredients

4 servings mashed potatoes
2 1/2 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
oil (for frying)

Directions

1 Mix mashed potatoes, garlic, parmesan and egg well.
2 Put in to Pastry bag, cookie shooter - something with an appropriately sized star shaped tip.
3 Heat oil to approximately 325°F.
4 Squirt potato mixture in to hot oil much like a funnel cake and fry to desired doneness. Sharp edges of the stars should be deep brown - do not overcook.
5 Drain on paper towels and enjoy!


I put this together after reading a blog post By Sally - who was the lady that started Good Ol' Days and created Potatoes Wonderful:

http://sallysevents.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/potatoes-wonderful/

[Terry from VA]

I was craving a Flower Pot sandwich and Potatoes Wonderful this morning. To Toni, I've never made them, but your description is perfect. I always thought about trying to make them. Maybe they used instant mashed potatoes. When making potato pancakes, you must add an egg to bind it together. Maybe a pinch of flower. Good luck! I miss Good Ol' Days. They should have stayed a restaurant instead of a bar.[/b]