Discover Birches' baked potato club

Strategizing

When Metromix visited with five friends, there was a lot of talk of strategizing a direct route to total potato domination. There are bound to be toppings you don't want. The debate is whether you should bury those unwanted scallions at the bottom of your list, or dispense with your disdain for chopped pickles immediately. In our eyes, choosing interesting combinations is the winningest strategy.

Here are a few well-planned potatoes we're looking forward to: Ground beef, chopped pickles and Vermont Cheddar (the cheeseburger baker); backfin crab, grilled shrimp and grilled scallops (the seafood extravaganza); tomato basil sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni (mmm, pizza potato); and sauteed ground turkey, black beans and colby Jack (the Southwestern).