French fries: the origin of the popular potato dish

French fries originate from the USA? Not correct! The French and Belgians have long debated who is the inventor of the popular potato dish. Every variant of origin sounds interesting. We show you both versions here.

French fries: Description indicates French origin

French fries means fried potatoes. Because "Pomme de terre" in French stands for starchy potatoes, and "frire" means "frying in oil" or "deep-frying". The French see this as a clear argument that they are the inventors of the fried potato wedges.

• Shortly before the French Revolution in 1789, the French are said to have baked the first pieces of potatoes in oil under the oldest bridge in Paris.
• The bridge "Pont Neuf" is said to have initially given the name for the new dish: "Pommes Neuf" could be said - if you want to continue spinning this thread.
• In addition to the fried potato slices, chestnuts were also prepared in fat in the same way. This nourishing combination is therefore quite suitable for those times.
• The French prefer to eat the fat-baked potatoes as a side dish with meat, mostly steak.

Belgians make the fries the main course

Too bad that French is not just the language of the Grande Nation. The neighboring country Belgium also speaks and writes French. Accordingly, the Belgians also claim recognition of the origin and origin of the fried potato sticks. They provide the following charming explanation:

• In the south of Belgium, in a town called Namur, local residents caught fish in the Meuse river and baked it in oil. In winter, however, the food supply became scarce due to the severe frost.
• Potatoes were the solution: they were nutritious, easy to store and therefore also available in winter. So, according to the story, the potatoes were cut into small fish-shaped sticks and fried instead of the real fish: the French fries were invented.
• Even if this original version is considered unlikely by some Belgian historians, the Belgians are still considered to be absolute experts in fries production today.
• The secret of the Belgian french fries tradition: the potato pieces are fried twice, so that they are golden on the outside but crispy and well cooked on the inside.
• Because this baked version is so good, Belgians also eat their fries pure, just with a delicious sauce - and of course without cutlery as finger food.
• A piece of meat or fish - like the traditional fish and chips combination for the British - is less common.

Different countries, different french fries

Whatever the origin of french fries, they are now a hit worldwide. Each country has its own note in the preparation and its own history around the baked potato pieces.

• Great Britain : Fish and Chips - this combination is synonymous with typical British food. The chips are usually much coarser and cut more unevenly than the conventional french fry sticks. In addition, they are not so crispy on the outside.
• USA : The so-called French Fries are the American variant of French fries, which were used from the 18th century. Their very thin and fine shape is special. A model for the standardized fries of the large fast food chains. Subspecies are, for example, curly fries, which are shaped so that long, thin stripes are created.
• Canada : The worldwide supply of french fries for baking at home is largely supplied from Canada: Florenceville-Bristol, a part of the city of New Brunswick, is quite unreasonably called "French fry capital of the world", because this is the seat of a well-known manufacturer of frozen fries.

You can not only cut and deep-fry potatoes. Try the same thing with other vegetables, such as carrots.