As for the Topic of the Day...
The Carlyle (Grand Cafe) in Arlington, VA, used to have an appetizer of house-made potato chips drizzled with pesto and bleu cheese. It was soooooo good. The garlic and the basil in the pesto really helped to cut through and balance the fattiness of the cheese and the fried potato chips. And you had to eat the whole bowl as soon as they were placed on your table, because once they cooled down they weren't quite so yummilicious.
The Carlyle also used to offer a side of "garlic-potato cake", but it was actually more like a slice of a potato gratin casserole. Shredded potatoes mixed with a garlic cream, then baked until crispy on the top and bottom while still creamy in the middle. Now they serve mashed cauliflower.

My guilty pleasure potato dish: A double order of The Hash Browns at Waffle House All The Way! Scattered (on the grill), Smothered (onions), Covered (cheese), Chunked (diced ham), Diced (grilled tomatoes), Peppered (jalapeño peppers), Capped (mushrooms), Topped ("Bert's Chili") and Country (sausage gravy)! -Usually the only meal I have to have all day.