Why do people get so excited over a jacket potato cart?

[Soubriquet]

I see a lot of viral videos on fb and one of them is from the spud man. Now I like a jacket potato sometimes, but that still doesn’t mean I would camp out over night, or start queuing from 5.30 for a damn potato!! Even if the first order is free.

Why????

We had one at Suffolk show as a stall holder. It was bloody lovely tbh.

Only time I’d have a jacket is if i was at an event and it was either that or a burger/hot dog. Other than that no. It’s the same as the bloody milkshake places that have gone viral. My partner gets his fresh milk from there and from 4am to 10pm when it closes the place is absolutely heaving constantly with people wanting a flavoured milkshake I don’t get it.

I saw a TikTok of him prepping for opening and was nearly sick - the chilli beef topping is from cans! Practically dog food 🤢

imagine queuing 5 hours for that!

I find it weird, spud you like was cheap and filling yet closed down however put the same product on a foodcart, call it street food and it becomes trendy again (except the food cart doesn’t even provide seating!) I really don’t get why people will pay large amounts for small portions just because it’s outside???

because they're hungry?

I don’t like canned food like chilli in a can etc, but maybe heated up on the jacket it’s not that bad ?
I wouldn’t choose that anyway , but I’m sure these places all cut corners.
Ds2 likes smoothies and milkshakes , another fad that costs loads and tastes like a bag of sugar.

Oh and to replicate spud you like …

bake your potatoes with the previous day or twos dinner (last 48 hours in my experience) until nearly cooked, one hour. Chill.

rub the skins with a little sunflower oil and season and bake for 20-30 minutes until piping hot and skin crispy. You can even freeze the cooked spuds after stage one. Can be done in air fryer or even a microwave though you won’t get the crispy skin.

Spud man looks dirty and unhygienic. I’ve watched him online empty the bins and then serve food with no hand washing. He slops (tinned) food all over so cross contamination for people with intolerances could be unwell.

On the other hand Spud Bros seem great but most most will be a flash in the pan.

Years ago Finch Bakery blew up, they had long queues everyday with people travelling 100s of miles but now whoever I see them posting it’s because they’ve had no custom.

Exactly what I wanted to say too

I only like jackets done in the oven really.
I think you can tell the difference to those that are microwaved or even my trusty air fryer they tasted a bit odd.

When times are economically hard people like an affordable luxury. It's just an extension of that imo. Lots of people like to be part of a tribe and food is a talking point and social. Better than obsessing over Heather shimmer like I did because it was the in thing and it didn't suit me at all!

In his early days on TikTok he would always promote a local sweet shop

I’d vote YABU just for the no butter. No wonder you don’t understand the love for jacket spuds when you’re ruining yours

Gullible idiots, waiting hours and over paying for a basic jacket potato … because someone on Tik-Tok told them to.

What a bunch of Sheep

Social media innit. Plus, all the clubs have closed down, nobody drinks anymore and noone can find a partner. So taking selfies and posting potatoes on insta is the new rock n roll.

I miss Spud-U-Like as it used to be. The spuds they sell nowadays are tiny; you get a crap wooden knife that won't cut the skin, and a very small choice of filings. Bring back 1980s Spud-U-Like.

I don’t get it either but then I’m not a huge fan of potatoes. I’ll have a baked potato at home but it’s usually covered in so much butter and fillings you don’t notice the potato. Tacos though, I would get really excited over a taco van. 😁

Ah the one on Fargate in Sheffield was great. Not sure if it's still there. They were the size of landmines. No social media, no fuss. Just hangover cures without messing up

Messing*

go to eg an Arena show and wonder why people pay £25 for a Dominos pizza!

Ds1 is largely made of Spudmans Jacket Potatoes as I worked in a shop opposite his stall when I was pregnant in 2003 and had one EVERY DAY!
May explain the 4 stone I put on..

I love a jacket potato, however the tiktok videos of Spudman etc do nothing for me - way too much butter, mashing and slopping going!

I remember many a day sitting bored in spud-u-like with my mum and her mate in the 80s.
I used to get told off for chewing the polystyrene cups. I remember the taste of those more than I do that of the potatoes?!

Made me laugh 😆
Maybe this spud man should do a version of ‘ the monster mash ‘ for tic tok and try to break into the charts ( or whatever it’s called these days )
( hit parade?)

Some of the ‘ spud u like ‘ jackets in the 80s probably did taste like those white cups you get the tea in! Lol