11 million tons per year: this is the annual worldwide consumption of this fried potato preparation that children - but not only - love. And if Belgium is the country that consumes and exports the most, it is in France that it was born at the end of the 18th century.
French fries are one of the most spiritual creations of the Parisian genius
The fried potato stick was born on the bridges of Paris in 1789.
In order to offer another product that could be easily consumed while walking down the street, doughnut sellers had the idea of dipping the satisfying tuber in frying after having cut it lengthwise, inspired by the elongated shape of the oldest bridge in Paris.
These "Pont-Neuf potatos" were immediately very popular and even inspired the songwriters and novelists of the time who simply renamed them "frites", a word that evokes both the way the potatoes were cooked and the way they were cut into strips.
You now know why English-speaking countries call this accompaniment to their dishes "French fries".
In the 19th century, this well-kept secret began to travel outside of France, notably through the intermediary of a showman who learned to make it at the rotisserie "Chez Pèlerin" in Montmartre. In 1844, Jean-Frédéric Krieger opened his travelling stall, named Fritz, and travelled throughout Belgium. It was so successful that there are now more than 5,000 French fry shops in this adopted country, which, despite a smaller population, consumes far more chips than in France!
With vegetable or animal oil, frozen or fresh, cooked in the deep fryer or in the oven, served as a side dish or in a cone to nibble on while walking, with sauce or plain: there is no shortage of ways to prepare and eat French fries! To find out how to make perfect fries, discover the technique of a very popular food youtuber. Bon appetit!
Valerie from Comme des Français
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