By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES – New York City is doing it.
The Big Apple's board of health unanimously voted last month to mandate all restaurants in the city remove artificial trans fat from their food by July 1, 2008. Two Niles restaurants – Linda's Hob Nob Bistro and Earl's Home Plate – completed the switch two months ago to Fry On zero trans fat cooking oil.
"So many people have asked lately downtown, 'What kind of oil do you use?' And nobody had ever asked that before," said Linda Foster, who co-owns both restaurants with her husband Earl.
The Hob Nob is located downtown Niles on Main Street and the Home Plate is in the Martin's Super Market plaza on South 11th Street.
Earl said they started making the switch from traditional fryer oil and grill butter to the zero trans fat versions about six months ago. The healthier oil with no trans fat is non-hydrogenated and made of corn and canola oils.
Artificial trans fat increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and death by increasing bad cholesterol and decreasing good cholesterol.
Earl said the change was a result of wanting a healthier menu and also the increased availability of zero trans fat products. Both restaurants were already using a "higher end" and more expensive oil before, and Earl said stocking the kitchen shelves with the more costly, healthier brands was not a large jump in cost.
"For us, it was just kind of a switch," he said. "The better quality oil gives you a better quality product."
Foster also said he had pragmatic reasons for making the change.
"We're just trying to stay ahead of the curve without being forced to do it," he said.
Also new at both Foster restaurants is zero trans fat breading for deep-frying, and Earl said customers have noticed a better looking and tasting fish dinner.
"We've had a lot of good reaction on this," he said.