July 13th is National French Fry Day #NationalFrenchFryDay. I would like to ask you which restaurant has the best French Fries and why? When Mc Donald’s Fries are fresh they are so goo. Then there is Red Robin and there unlimited Fries and the Fries with there Seasoning is amazing. But there those Homemade French Fries with Onions and nothing beats those Fries.
Come and share your favorite recipe for French Fries with us. What seasoning do you use and why? Air Fryer or Stove? Or even in the oven there is nothing like a piping hot pan of Fries with Ketchup or without Ketchup is the question to be asked. Before you ask no, Ranch for me. How about you?
National French Fry Day falls on July 12th which is a great opportunity to take the time to sample golden-brown Potato slices. But did you know that the origin of French Fries is more than likely not French at all? Potatoes were being fried in Belgium way before the French, but more on that later. When it comes to the tastiest French Fries on the planet, everyone seems to have an opinion.
It’s a time-consuming decision to find your favorite French Fries because no two restaurants seem to have the same recipe. French Fries do have a nutritional stigma attached to them, however, due to high-caloric and fat content. But it’s tough to say no to a hot batch of French Fries even the ones at the bottom of the bag.
Did you know estimates say Americans eat around 30 pounds of French Fries per person each year. That seems like a lot, but when you think about all the ways you can eat French Fries, it adds up quickly. French Fries easy to gobble down, whether they’re straight out of a fast-food French-Fry container or whether you’re an expert at creating French Fries at home. Add in all of the different condiments, and French Fries become even more popular.
Here is a fun fact for you the term ‘French Fries’ refers to deep-fried slices or strips of Potatoes. While the precise origins are unknown, the item hit the culinary scene sometime in the 1700s. It had taken an entire century for Potatoes to become widely accepted as food, arriving in Europe in the 1600s.
Like most iconic foods, the French Fry has an interesting folk story about how French Fries was created. Belgians call dibs on the origins of French Fries, claiming French Fries to be an invention of their people. According to a manuscript by Joseph Gerard, the residents of the Meuse Valley, located near Dinant in Belgium, consumed a lot of Fish, since they lived near the River. During Winters, when the Rivers would freeze and fishing would become difficult, the idea to slice Potatoes like Fish fillets and fry them in hot fat was born.
But all credit does go to the French for popularizing frying foods and selling them in public on street carts called ‘Frites,’ in the mid-1700s. Eventually, Potatoes were cut in all sorts of shapes and fried. As to how French Fries arrived in America, there are two versions of that story, too. The more popular and accepted fact is that Thomas Jefferson brought the dish to the U.S.A. While serving time as an ambassador, Jefferson spent a lot of time in France and went on to serve “potatoes served in the French manner” at a White House dinner in 1802.
The other theory is that World War I soldiers who were stationed around Dinant in Belgium took a liking to the local finger food known as ‘Pommes Frites’ and took the idea back with them. This is when French Fries really took off and became mainstream in the U.S. Looks like we might need to visit Belgium to try “Pommes Frites’.
Regular Fries, Waffle Fries, Belgian Fries, Steak, thick-cut Fries, crinkle-cut Fries. Or Cottage Fries, wedge, curly, shoestring, Tornado Fries, and of course, the smiley face, today is the day when Fries are celebrated in all shapes and sizes. It is truly amazing how all these variations of Fries just seem to taste different and have their own softness and crunch-factor.
Try as many as you can today without worrying about your waistline. To add to the fun, there are countless condiments and toppings that go with Fries. Reach out for good ol’ Ketchup, or try different sauces and obscure flavors like Nutella! Or for a lot of people they use Ranch or Chili. Join us for a French Fry Bar this evening.
NATIONAL FRENCH FRY DAY ACTIVITIES
- Americans usually eat their French Fries with Ketchup, but you should consider experiencing another culture’s condiment on National French Fry Day. Folks in Great Britain eat Fries with Malt and Vinegar. Which I will pass on. How about you? others use melted Butter and Sugar on there Fries in Vietnam. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a new favorite.
- Most people cook their French Fries in Salt, and leave it at that. But you can sprinkle all kinds of Seasonings on French Fries, giving them a unique taste. Some people like to use a Cajun Seasoning with Fries, for example. Find the right seasoning, and, as crazy as it sounds, you might even decide to skip dunking French Fries in Ketchup.
- t’s going to be tough to outdo your favorite restaurant’s French Fries, but you can use National French Fry Day as an excuse to try to make French Fries at home. This can be a messy process, especially the frying step, but you can try a few different variations and Seasonings this way. Even if you don’t succeed, you’ll have a much greater appreciation for the fry cook at your favorite local restaurant.
FACTS ABOUT FRENCH FRIES
- French Fries were originally known as ‘French Fried Potatoes’ in the U.S. By the 1930s ‘Potatoes’ was dropped.
- The skin of Potatoes has important nutrients and vitamins that are at times not peeled when making French Fries.
- Did you know Steak Fries have lower fat than regular cut French Fries.
- The slang term for Potato, ‘spud,’ comes from the spade-like tool that is used to harvest the Potatoes.
- To burn off calories from consuming a medium-sized order of McDonald’s French Fries, one will have to bowl for 90 minutes, bicycle for 58 minutes, or engage in high-impact aerobics for 50 minutes.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL FRENCH FRY DAY
- The best way to find free French fries on National French Fry Day is to follow the Social Media accounts of restaurants. A few different places offer Free Fries with a meal purchase or by using a digital coupon. We’re not sure people need an excuse to eat more, but free certainly works.
- The pairing of French Fries and Hamburgers is ingrained in the American diet. French Fries taste great with many different kinds of food, including Sandwiches, Steak, and Eggs. Although most people will dip their French Fries in Ketchup, you’ll find people also dipping French Fries in plenty of other condiments, including Ranch-flavored Salad dressing, mustard, and even Milkshakes. Heck, as strange as it sounds, some people even eat French Fries plain.
- The thin French Fry sticks, known as Shoestring Fries, that are popular with fast food restaurants are the most common type of fry variation, but you can’t stop there. Todau you should try a new French Fry you’ve never have like Waffle Fries, Crinkle-cut fries, or Wedge Fries. We wouldn’t recommend trying every variation on National French Fry Day, but we won’t discourage those of you who like a challenge.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
