Garage on Beck dishes out a nontraditional version of funeral potatoes. Instead of a casserole dish, as they're typically made, the bar's funeral potatoes are served in deep-fried ball form.
Each little ball is made up of Idaho potatoes, cheddar cheese, jalapeño, and scallions. They're rolled in a cornflake crust and "baptized in hot oil," the menu states. Diners can choose between a vegetarian version, a fiery version, and a regular version that includes bacon.
I opted for the vegetarian version, which cost $12.
Six funeral potato balls came out on an aluminum dish with a side of "Utah ranch," which tasted to me like blue cheese.
I cut open the first ball, and steam immediately seeped out. The funeral potatoes were creamy, and each ball had an Instagrammable cheese pull.
I went in for a first bite and immediately realized why the dish earned its label as comfort food.
The crunch exterior paired well with the soft interior. It was filling, it was warm, and it was anything but healthy.
While I couldn't eat six in one sitting, I'd happily hunt down a vegetarian recipe and bring it to my next cookout.