Welcome back to Onward Chef, your go-to destination for DIY State College-inspired dishes. On this episode we’re going to master the art of Cafe 210 West’s Skillet Fries.

Cafe is a classic student and alumni hangout spot located on West College Avenue. Serving classic American grub indoors and on front and back patios, this restaurant and bar is tried and true. Though Cafe is known for their strong Long Island iced teas and decadent entrées, they have one dish no one can refuse: the skillet fries.

These fries feature seasoned, crispy french fries, melted cheddar jack cheese, chopped onions, diced tomatoes, and sour cream.

What you’ll need:

• Frozen and seasoned french fries
• Shredded cheese of your choice
• A tomato, diced or chopped
• Sour cream
• An onion, chopped
• Butter
• Optional: bacon bits and your dipping sauce of choice

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425. Pour about half of your frozen french fries onto a cooking sheet. Sprinkle a bit of cheese on top. Warm the fries in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until they start to brown.

Step 2: Once your fries are golden brown, melt some butter on a frying pan. Pour a handful or two of fries onto the frying pan and lather them in the butter, making sure they don’t get too crispy or burnt.

Step 3: Now time for more cheese! Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese right on top of the buttery fries. Once the cheese begins to melt, add in your diced tomatoes and onions. Make sure your tomatoes are fresh and not canned for maximum flavor. Mix all your ingredients together until the cheese is melted and the butter coats the fries completely. At this point your apartment should start to smell like buttery, cheesey heaven. Your roommates are probably salivating like wolves. Ignore them, chef. We’re almost done.

Step 4: Feel free to add in your own mixings at this point. Some popular options include bacon bits, or even your own cooked bacon fresh off the frying pan. I chose to drizzle some hot sauce on top to give the fries a nice kick. Finish your skillet fries off with a huge dollop of sour cream. Your neighbors are probably knocking on the door now, wailing like hungry and homeless cats. Don’t let them in– these are your skillet fries.

Ta-da! There you have it, your very own Cafe Skillet Fries. And you didn’t even have to trek down to West College!

Bon-Appetite, State College.