Potatoes. They are a magnificent starch, free to be bent in any way the chef intends. They are an important part in many of America’s favorite dishes and according to the potentially biased website Potatogoodness.com they are America’s all time favorite vegetables.

The history of potatoes dates all the way back to about 7500 BCE, where the Incans first started to cultivate them. As a matter of fact, the Incas used the cook time of a potato as a measurement of time, providing excellent use for the storied starch beyond the pleasure of indulgence.  As the centuries went on, potatoes began to make their way up to the Northern colonies, but did not gain too much popularity until they received an aristocratic seal of approval from Thomas Jefferson, where he gave them to guests at the White House. After that the popularity of potatoes slowly gained popularity and now it is potentially America’s favorite vegatable.

Potatoes can be enjoyed in many different ways and are enjoyed all over the world, including our very own Fairview High School. The students of Fairview took a poll to deem the best way to enjoy potatoes, and though in many close calls and arguments, in the end it turns out the best way to enjoy a potato is in the glorious form of hash browns, with french fries a second in the running. 

One of the most well known and debated forms of potato is a mashed potato. According to Chef Cheyne, the Culinary Arts teacher at Fairview, “Mashed potatoes have to be made from the right kind of potatoes.” 

He believes that they can not be good unless they’re made from Yukon Gold Potatoes. Most people only dislike mashed potatoes because they have never had mashed potatoes made with the right kind and that they have just been ripped off.

“[Mashed potatoes] suck. I hate them,” said Kris Sahami (11).

When Fairview students took a poll, about 67 percent of Fairview students stated that they enjoy mashed potatoes.

Another big question in the potato loving community is “Mashed vs. Smashed.” Most students actually did not understand the difference between the two. For those that don’t know the difference, mashed potatoes are when you take raw potatoes, boil and mash them, and are commonly infused with butter and/or milk when mashing. Smashed potatoes, on the other hand, include two extra steps: first you boil the potatoes, then smash them with something big and flat on an oiled pan, then bake them. Again, most people did not know what smashed potatoes were, so the majority of the students chose mashed over smashed.

In conclusion, potatoes are a great, diverse starch, tasty in every occasion and always provide a different dish style for everyone. 

Indeed, Chef Cheyne said it best: “I like potatoes.”