#BeefTallowFrenchFries Fans Steve Gillespie and Teri Fitzpatrick Wax Poetic in Coast Packing Co.’s 4th Annual ‘Tweet-to-Win’ Contest – And Bring the Sizzle Home

Continuing its magical, mystical hold on imaginations and palates alike, #BeefTallowFrenchFries have inspired award-winning declarations from creative foodies Steve Gillespie and Teri Fitzpatrick, both of whom took top honors in Coast Packing Company’s Fourth Annual “Tweet-to-Win” Contest, a celebration tied to the July 13 observance of #NationalBeefTallowDay (and, of course, #NationalFrenchFryDay), the company announced today.

In Coast’s latest quest for the public’s most engaging tweets proclaiming their hankering for beef fat French fries (the menu item that made a certain popular burger chain famous), Coast Packing — the largest supplier of animal fat shortenings in the West — attracted the passionate and the poetic in record numbers.

This year’s Tweet-to-Win contest showcased home chefs and discriminating diners alike. Across both categories, more than 150 entries made the cut; tallow fans paid tribute to some 92 eateries, from toney steakhouses like Mastro’s to notable chains Smashburger and Popeye’s, to local gems like Salt & Time in Austin, Monkey Burger in Tucson, and The Hitching Post in Solvang, Calif.

Winner Steve Gillespie, from Arlington, Tenn., served up this tweet:

(courtesy Steve Gillespie)

Gillespie is now the proud owner of a Breville Smart Fryer (valued at $150), the first deep fryer with a dedicated twice-cooked function for super crispy French fries, along with a tub of Coast Packing beef tallow.

Meanwhile, Teri Fitzpatrick of Kendall Park, NJ claimed first prize in the Diner category, a $200 gift certificate to Sammy’s in Mendham, NJ, a beef tallow-friendly steakhouse, with this tweet:

(courtesy Teri Fitzpatrick)

Among the other winners in the Home Chef category, Rick Fryar of Cottage Grove, Minn.  can now unsheath his Weston French Fry Cutter, the second prize award valued at $120, thanks to his tweet, “MMM… Homemade fries”, while Andrea Anderson of Olympia, WA took home the “Beef Tallow French Fries Book Set” ($40 at retail): The Fat Kitchen (How to Render, Cure & Cook with Lard, Tallow & Poultry Fat) and Fries! An Illustrated Guide to the World’s Favorite Food, thanks in part to her tweet:

(courtesy Andrea Anderson)

Over in the “Diner” category, Sheila Vives of Pocahontas, AR nabbed second prize, a Deep Fryer Cookie Gift Basket valued at $110, with this tweet:

(courtesy Sheila Vives)

While Barbara Janiak of Indianapolis claimed third prize, a Judith Leiber 14K Goldplated Sterling Silver French Fry Cone Charm valued at $65, with her tweet and an image tasty enough to eat:

(courtesy Barbara Janiak)

For good measure, all six winners received a tub of Coast Packing Flavor King beef tallow.

https://t.co/IU4K9IIz9s

An initiative of The Healthy Fats Coalition, #NationalBeefTallowDay is a celebration of a traditional animal fat – pure beef tallow shortening – that is now enjoying a resurgence within America’s food culture, in restaurants, fast food operations and home kitchens.

“The message of our ‘Tweet-to-Win’ contest is, ‘capture the deliciousness in 280 characters and inspire others to do the same,’” said Eric R. Gustafson, Coast Packing CEO.  “As we did last year, we made a special effort to showcase those restaurants committed to preparing beef tallow fries for take-out or delivery, and those dedicated home cooks working the kitchen.

“In terms of freshness, flavor and texture, there really is no comparison to beef tallow French fries, which is exactly why we’re so delighted when consumers can taste for themselves,” Gustafson said.  “Toward that end, we at Coast Packing are continuing our efforts to demonstrate that farm fats like tallow are tasty, traditional and amazingly palate-pleasing.  We encourage everyone to tweet their love for French fries fried in beef tallow far and wide.”