l' lard (rendered animal fat)..... duck fat is supposed to be the absolute ultimate, but pricey and unnecessary in a festival environment.... 3-how many ribbon fries you want to sell ?? 4-depends on your choice of potatoes really, and how thin cut, weight, etc.... anywhere from 250-325 is a good place to start 5-for as much as you can get without chasing customers away.... i would say, 3-5 dollars