Did French Fries Come From France? Get Ready To Be Surprised

One crispy golden fry laced with creamy mayonnaise melting in your mouth—if that’s not love at first bite, then what is? Today the world is so obsessed with this crunchy delicacy that any country would proudly claim it as their own. But the question remains: did french fries come from France?

You must be thinking, “There is ‘French’ right in its name, duh! Of course, it’s a French creation.” But hold on—there’s another country in this tug-of-war. In fact, they are trying to convince UNESCO to give the fries its due honor and officially make it a part of their cultural heritage. So, who invented french fries truly? Let’s dive deep into the scoop behind this sizzling culinary drama.

Were French Fries Invented In France? 

The history of french fries is more complex than you might think. While we hoped for a simple ‘yes or no’ answer to the question ‘Did the French invent french fries?’, Belgium waved hard and caught our attention. We would give it a fair go and listen to both sides before settling on ‘Where are french fries from?’ once and for all:

• The Belgian side of the story: According to their version, Belgium and the fries go way back. Toward the late 17th century, the poor villagers in the valley of the River Meuse relied on fishing for survival.
  
  Fried small fish was a staple in their diet. Until one year, 1680, the river froze during a harsh European winter. Desperate for alternatives, they had to turn to root vegetables and fry sliced potatoes instead of fish. There lies the origin of french fries, according to Belgian folklore

• The French side of the story: Historian Pierre Leclercq, however, dismisses this claim swiftly. How could the Belgians have the fries in 1680 when they didn’t have potatoes until the early 1700s? Moreover, there was no concept of refined oil as we know it now.
  
  Everything was fried in fat which was an expensive commodity, something the villagers probably didn’t waste in frying potatoes all winter. Leclercq and many others trace the origin of french fries to the late 18th century. Local vendors selling pomme frites in Parisian streets, especially the Pont-Neuf bridge, was a common sight back in the day

There’s yet another person worth mentioning who single-handedly strengthens the argument for the French—agronomist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier. After the Spanish brought back potatoes from Peru, Europe continued to have pretty substandard produce for hundred-something years. Potatoes were even banned in France from 1748 for the potential health risks. 

Until Parmentier had his fair share of potato-based diet in a Prussian prison and realized it was perfectly safe. Going forward, he had his own farm and he created a buzz around spuds to increase the demand. 

Parmentier’s long petition was paid off when potatoes were declared legal again in 1772. Ultimately, the infamous 1785 famine pushed French people to embrace potatoes as a dietary staple and whip up new recipes. And that, in short, is the history of french fries in France.  

RELATED ARTICLE: 50 Weird Food Combinations People Actually Enjoy

How Did French Fries Get Their Name? 

If you ask us, “Are french fries Italian or French?”, we can say with some conviction that it’s more French than Italian. However, the ongoing dispute between Belgium and France still remains unresolved. 

So, how did french fries get their name? Why are fries called ‘French’ fries when their ancestry is so ambiguous? People in France surely didn’t baptize their fries ‘French’. Much like how the Chinese don’t refer to their noodles as ‘Chinese’—to them, it’s just food. 

The credit for this sensationalization goes elsewhere. You guessed it right; it’s America, for the most part. There are a few fascinating stories behind the etymology of this irresistible treat:

• American President Thomas Jefferson fell head over heels for the fries during his time in France. So much so, he had potatoes prepared in a ‘French manner’ served at a White House dinner spread in 1802
• In 1856, an English cookbook by Eliza Warren mentions it as ‘French fried potatoes’ and the phrase started catching on
• The fries didn’t become an American culinary obsession until World War I when the American soldiers arrived in Belgium and mingled with local food and culture. They assumed the fries were a French delicacy as the people who introduced them to this dish spoke French

That, my friend, explains ‘Why are french fries called so?’ The term ‘french fried potatoes’ was eventually trimmed down to ‘french fries’ and now, it’s just ‘fries!’

RELATED ARTICLE: Did You Know Tomato Ketchup Was Once Sold As A Medicine?

How Do People Enjoy French Fries Globally? 

It’s a long shot to close the debate of ‘Were french fries invented in France or Belgium?’ Let’s set that discussion aside for another day and zero in on the many different shapes and forms french fries come in. These four recipes from around the world are an absolute must-try for any food connoisseur:

• USA: Whether you are grabbing a cheeseburger or ordering a milkshake at a diner, the waiter will inevitably ask you, “Would you like some fries with that?” In America, fries are a staple side dish accompanying almost every meal. They have added an American twist to it by topping the fries with beef chili and melted cheddar cheese
• Europe: As the homeland of fries, Europe has many unique variants of fries, with fish and chips being one of the most iconic. This classic British platter is a combo of battered fish with a side of sliced potatoes—all deep-fried and served with a splash of lemon and dipping sauce
• Asia: If you are looking for quirky fusion dishes, Asian countries can surprise you with Chinese french fries and Japanese Furikake fries. In China, the traditional fries are julienned and tossed with soy sauce. Meanwhile, crispy Furikakes are famous for their extravagant coating of Japanese seasoning 
• Canada: Much like American chili cheese fries, Canada boasts their very own Poutine. This golden delight is loaded with gravy and cheese curds 

Did french fries come from France? This is likely a matter of great importance for both the French and the Belgians, who are keen to protect their authentic cuisine. Hopefully, one day there will be more conclusive evidence leading us to its true origin. For now, the world is grateful to both countries for introducing this absolute bliss to humankind.