French fries…we all know and love them. Whether dipped in ketchup or mayonnaise, smothered in cheese or gravy, baked or deep fried, french fries are a staple of today’s modern diet that will never go out of style.
History
Long before they became known as the scrumptious treat that is to hamburgers what peanut butter is to jam, french fries were a thing of the future. To truly understand the origins of french fries therefore requires a trip back to 750 BC.
Wild potatoes were first discovered in South America by the Andean Incas and used for not only eating but also for telling time, treating illness and injury, and even for divination. After conquering the Incas in the early 16th century, potatoes were introduced to Spain by the Spaniards and then later to the English, Scots, Austrians, Swiss, Germans, and Italians. A century and a half later, potatoes were brought to North America via the hands of an Irishmen who settled in New Hampshire. The potato gained widespread acceptance by 1813 and it wasn’t long after this that french fries were first born. Discovered by a French countryman or a Belgian one (depending on who you talk to), deep fried potatoes became a popular taste sensation in the 1830s. It wasn’t until the 1930s though that they became a fast food staple in North American when soldiers returning from World War I brought with them a hunger for the fried potatoes they had tasted while on duty.
So the next time you mound a heaping helpful of crisp french fries onto your plate, take a minute to appreciate the history behind them. From humble origins as a simple farmer’s potato to a treat that has spawned a multi-billion dollar fast food industry, today’s french fries have come a long way.