The origin of French fries by Conny Manero
In the United States and Canada they are called fries; in France they are referred to as pommes frites; in Holland they are known as patat; while in Belgium everyone speaks of friet or frieten.
No matter what you call them, they are all one and the same. A delicious potato dish, enjoyed by young and old.
But how did French fries come about?
It was the less fortunate people of Belgium, who first sliced a potato in strips and fried them in oil. These working class folks were used to fishing for their dinner and frying the fish in oil. When fish was hard to come by, due to frozen rivers, they took a potato, sliced and fried them as a substitute of fish. As such, the French fry was born.
But why call them French fries?
It was the American and British soldiers who got to taste this dish and gave them the name French fries. One reason being is that the official language of the Belgian Army was French at the time. Another reason is that whenever a food is fried in oil, it is referred to as French. As such there is some debate as to who invented French fries.
Regardless of where the originated, the Belgians make them the best. As anyone who has tasted fries anywhere in the world will attest, the Belgian French fries win hands down. Whether you eat them in top class restaurants or from a street vendor, nobody makes them better.
Even the French will agree with that, as will the Dutch, and other Europeans.
The Belgians are the top consumers of French fries and eat them with anything and everything.
They can be enjoyed with steak; they are perfect with goulash; delightful with fish; and to die for with mussels.
Some people enjoy them with mayonnaise, other prefer ketchup. Then again, they are perfectly fine on their own, with nothing to distract you of their delectable taste.
French fries can be made in a number of ways. In a deep fryer, in a pot of oil on top of a stove, or in the oven, but made in a deep fryer they come out best.
The secret lies undoubtedly in the type of potato and oil the Belgians use, while temperature control of the oil also plays a part.
If you ever find yourself in Belgium, try them and see what you think. See if it matters where French fries originated. In Belgium you will have found a little piece of heaven on earth.
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Freelance writer for Helium
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