Fries…chips…potato wedges…thin cut and thick cut… straw fries…cheese-topped potato slices… Whatever you want to call their many variations, french fries delight Americans so much that we eat an estimated 29 to 30 pounds of them per person every year. Fries are such a versatile side dish that they can be served in tons of ways — plainly salted with ketchup, dusted with special herb mixes, cheesed up, spicy jalapeno covered, and even sweetened.

That much crispy, carbolicious goodness can’t be wrong. Or at least not so wrong that you should avoid it all the time. When you go out for a treat with your pals, hit the bars or take the children out for dinner, this tasty side dish is waiting for you with anticipation. It’s worth treating yourself, especially when you find fries served in a way that is uniquely outstanding.

We’ve compiled our list of favorite spots around Green Country to enjoy the best of the best in fries. To narrow the list to a manageable level (in other words, less than the entire magazine’s length), we eliminated the obvious places to get a quick fix, like fast food joints, as well as the plainly salted kind that you can find just about anywhere.

In other words, we’re highlighting Green Country’s most unusual, most special, and most favorite fries so you can eat your way around town in style.

Warm sun, spring breezes, fresh air… Ah, it’s the perfect time to be outside and enjoy the gorgeous spring weather. You’ve been cooped up to avoid the cold for too long, right? You’re ready to emerge from winter’s hibernation and reach out to friends and loved ones to get caught up on the latest news.

And what better way to do both than to enjoy some snacks and drinks outside?

You can do that with ease, making a day of it by shopping, supporting local businesses and grabbing eats and drinks on one of the area’s many patios. Yes, Green Country has many restaurants, cafés, coffee shops and bars that offer outdoor seating.

Some are casual and laid back, allowing you to put up your feet and have long talks with close pals. Others spots offer fantastic views of downtown Tulsa’s skyline, or opportunities to people watch in the busy Brookside, Cherry Street or Brady Districts. Some are secluded, perfect for an intimate drink or dinner with your significant other. All are ideal for enjoying the spring and summer in style.

So, now that spring has fully sprung and warm, sunny, breezy weather is here to stay, make plans to visit our list of Green Country’s 43 best patios.

What’s so special about diners? Oh, let us regale you with a tale full of drama, character and delectable dishes. The diner is a form of eatery with a rich history tied uniquely to American history. This is especially true of Green Country, where Route 66 diners galore meet generations of family recipes and a hard work ethic to yield up dazzlingly delicious comfort food.

Many diners hail back to the 1920s, 30s and 40s; they were often built in factories and then shipped by train or truck to the land they would call home. As a result, diners were usually narrow and small, with booths and a line of seats at a counter where customers could order simple “fast” food like hamburgers and sandwiches.

Today, diners continue to evolve. Locations along Route 66 may be designated as historic landmarks or decorated in old-fashioned style. Some diners now have expanded seating. Others incorporate local ingredients while still staying true to their comfort food roots. Many are still owned by the families that founded them decades earlier.

Green Country’s diners offer great meals for adults and children, creative decorations, historic memories and more. Check them out, and when you go, tell them Preview sent you their way.

Ah, the delights of childhood. Amid snowy days playing outside, making snowmen, throwing snowballs and sledding down the neighborhood hill, your mom kept you warm and well fed with hot chocolate and carbolicious dishes that still make your heart flutter all these years later as a grown-up. At any age, one such dish is the glorious mac and cheese — gooey, cheese laden pasta goodness that tastes like the simpler days of cartoons and sleepovers, when you lived without a care in the world.

Well, we’ve got good news: mac and cheese is still an option if it’s made for your more experienced, adult taste buds, especially when you’re out with family and friends. Many restaurants around Green Country serve up this delicious, decadent comfort food with culinary twists to make you marvel — from traditional to light,

gooey to spicy, peppers to pimentos and more.

We’re not talking about food served from a box bought in a grocery store. We’re talking homemade, creative versions of a meal you loved as a kid … and can still love without shame. Here are Green Country’s best mac and cheese dishes for your enjoyment.