Whether you call them ‘French Fries’, ‘Chips’, Finger Chips, or French-Fried Potatoes, this delicious treat is loved around the world, and French Fries day celebrates them. Not to be confused with the American ‘Chips’, which are thinly sliced pieces of potato fried until crisp, French Fries are the delicious result of ‘batons’ of potato cut to various thicknesses and then fried in oil.The outside of this staple companion food to hamburgers and other grease-ball favorites generally have a golden texture, varying from soft to crispy, and most often served with little more than a dusting of salt.
History of the French Fry
French Fries are one of many foods whose name is most misleading, as the origins of this fat fried food seem to be in Belgium. The story of their creation can be found in a family manuscript dated 1781, which reveals that potatoes were originally cut into the shape of fish and served in lieu of the fish normally caught in a series of small villages in Belgium.It seems the river had frozen over and the fish they normally caught and fried were unable to be caught.
Why they’re called French is often attributed to troops coming over during World War I who got their hands on Belgian Fries.The official language of the Belgian army at that time was French, and as a result the men thought they were in France rather than Belgium.Interestingly, in that region of the world, they are still called “Flemish Fries” to further complicate matters.Now these treats are loved the world round, even becoming the ‘national snack’ of the Netherlands.
How to Celebrate French Fries Day
With the popularity of French Fry, it’s not surprising that the world has come up with as many different varieties of this delicious food as you could imagine.So one of the best ways to celebrate French Fries Day is to host a party dedicated to celebrating the international menu the fried potato has created.The simplest variation is simply to put chopped raw onions in some ketchup, and eat them up like they do in the Netherlands.For the more adventurous, try some of the varieties below!
Canadian Poutine
This recipe is a classic way to have French Fries, originating in Canada.This dish is incredibly decadent, combining the crispy soft texture of the French Fries with a rich beef gravy, and topped with cheese curds.
American Bacon Cheeseburger Classic
There is little Americans love more than to add cheese and bacon to just about anything.French fries are no exception, there is little that is as well-loved as a rich, greasy accompaniment to any meal.To make this classic you start with a basic of fries, and layer on bacon, chopped onions, cheese, and ground hamburger before tossing them in the oven just long enough for everything to get melty. Then grab a handful and dig in!
Greek French Fries
The Mediterranean rarely fail at making an already delicious food rich and full of the smells of home.If you love the classic Greek flavors of parmigiano-reggiano or romano cheese, garlic, and oregano, then these fries are going to leave you smiling.The key ingredients here are Extra Virgin Olive Oil to fry them in, after which you toss them in garlic salt, Greek Oregano, and your choice of cheese such as those mentioned ahead.To get the full impact you’re going to want to stick to the white crumbly cheese of the region, the truly adventurous might use Mazithra cheese.
These are a few dishes that can help enhance French Fries Day, and really bring out the amazing versatility of this centuries old treat.So get out your deep frier, chop up some potatoes, and celebrate French Fries Day by eating yourself into a starch filled stupor!
