Elvis, Trans Fats Have Left the Diner

Most patrons in Silver Diner's Rockville and Springfield locations, which switched to the new oil in July, are unaware of the swap; the chain is waiting until the full rollout happens before putting notice of the change on its menus.

At the Rockville diner the Saturday before Christmas, 4 1/2 -year-old Erika Carmody of Potomac happily munched on french fries, pronouncing them "yummicious," as mother Vivian and grandmother Katie Magana looked on. Vivian Carmody said that while she hadn't known the diner no longer used trans fat oils, she was glad her daughter was eating fries prepared that way. "We just want to have a healthy lifestyle and avoid heart disease," she said. "We try to shop at Whole Foods."

One Silver Diner constituency may remain unmoved by the promise of trans fat-free food: teenage boys. Andrew Yurko, 18, a Rockville native home from college on winter break, was eating fries that same afternoon with his friend Lauren Wolman, 16.

"I'm a teenager, and I'm a hundred percent unaware of my fat intake, because I'm active all the time," said Yurko, a loyal Silver Diner patron since age 7. "It's not very relevant."

Wolman, however, had heard about New York's ban on trans fats from her parents and lauded the diner's move.

"I'm starting to become more aware of my health," she said, pausing to shoot Yurko a dirty look as he grinned. "Will you stop? I don't really come here [to avoid trans fats], but knowing that they don't have it here, it's definitely a plus."

Worth noting, however, is the fact that even Von Hengst has his limits when preaching the virtues of a healthful lifestyle. Gazing at the generous jumbo food baskets lying on the table before him, he said customers feel cheated if he doesn't put too much on their plates.

"People want big portions, because otherwise it's, 'What the hell are you giving me?' " he said.