Is this tattoo worth free French fries for life?

Do you think food is important? How about important enough to tattoo the statement on your body?

Matt Steigerwald, chef/owner of Lincoln Cafe in downtown Mount Vernon, does.

While vacationing in Spain this May, he got a tattoo on his arm simply saying, “food is important.”

The statement is Lincoln Cafe's motto, appearing on the restaurant's T-shirts and website, www.foodisimportant.com

He had been thinking about getting the tattoo for some time, but finally decided to go for it while in Barcelona.

“I felt their attitude about food was in line with mine,” he says. “Everybody was discussing what they were going to have for dinner and lunch. Food is emphasized in that culture.”

Since moving to Mount Vernon 10 years ago from the East Coast, he has been on a mission to bring that attitude to Midwestern culture.

“I had a sense that food wasn't that important here,” he says.

Thus, his “food is important” motto was born.

“It's a straightforward basic reminder to think about what you're eating every day,” he says. “It's easy to become lax about what you're having for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

Now, Steigerwald challenges his customers to declare their loyalty to good, real food. Customers who get a “food is important.” tattoo like his will receive free French fries for life at Lincoln Cafe.

Getting permanent ink might seem like quite a sacrifice, but these are really good fries, he says.

Hand-cut daily, the fries are triple-fried, making them extra crispy and extra tasty.

“We've gotten kinda famous for our fries,” he says. “Not a day goes by that somebody doesn't say, ‘these are the best fries I've ever had.'”

While the promotion certainly is original, Steigerwald adapted it from an old friend.

“I thought about a friend's band in San Diego when I was in my early 20s,” he explains. “If somebody had a tattoo of the band's logo, they got into all their shows for free.”

So far, nobody has taken Steigerwald up on the offer, although he has had three or four regulars “threaten to do it.”

He also has had a few children come in with the motto written on their arm or taped to their forehead. They received a free order of fries for their efforts.

But that's not the same as a real tattoo for a lifetime supply of fries. Who will be the first to do it? I'll be following up and let you know.