I love french fries, and—curly, waffle, crinkle-cut, wedge—I don’t discriminate. The only issue is deciding what to eat them with, as I’m still not brave enough to say, “Screw it! These are the entree!”

One Man’s Hunt for the Original McDonald’s French Fry Recipe

Writer Luke Fater’s hunt for a lost McRecipe—wherein french fries were cooked not in oil but in beef tallow—took him up the corporate ladder and to the obsessive corners of Reddit. He spoke to fast-food experts, super-fan museum curators, and a 79-year-old former employee of the very first McDonald’s. After weeks of digging, he finally procured a recipe for the original fries that one fast-food historian believes to be the real deal.

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Side of Fries

🏔️ Why is Utah so crazy about fry sauce?

AND WHAT EVEN IS IT? >

🌭 Nathan’s Famous has a special french fry fork

POTATO PRONGS >

🍟 Explore the beautiful global diversity of french fry dips

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AO Readers: Tell Us How You Travel!

Atlas Obscura has partnered with Trove Tourism Development Advisors on a survey exploring how travelers like you choose destinations, spend while on the road, and decide when you take your trips.

The survey takes 6 to 8 minutes to complete and responses will be kept confidential. Thank you for sharing your perspective with us!

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The AO Podcast

How a former nuclear missile silo in Wamego, Kansas, became the site of the largest LSD bust in U.S. history (allegedly).

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Place of the Day

LOGAN, OHIO

The Caves of Hocking Hills State Park

Thousands of years ago, when the Wisconsin Glacier began to melt and recede, its waters bled across the land, scarring the earth with winding gorges and recess caves. Old Man’s Cave is the most popular of these natural wonders and was named after the 18th-century hermit who once lived there.

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The Outer Banks Beneath the Surface

SPONSORED BY THE OUTER BANKS VISITORS BUREAU

The waters off North Carolina’s Outer Banks have claimed thousands of ships over the centuries, earning the region the name “Graveyard of the Atlantic.” This museum explores that maritime history through shipwreck artifacts, diving exhibits, and more.

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