Posted
on July 13, 2013
Potatoes
were a New World food that probably got their start as human-food in
Peru and Bolivia, in South America. The were brought to Europe by
Spanish explorers in the 1500s. Many historians (and probably every
last Belgian) will tell you that “French fries” – that is,
potatoes cut into long strips and fried in oil or other fat –
probably started in what is now Belgium (but was then ruled by
Spain).
 |
| Tornado fries! |
French fries come in a lot of variations: they can be ultra-thin “shoestring”
fries, thin straight fries, curly corkscrew fries, thick wedge-like
“steak fries,” waffle-cut fries, crinkle-cut fries, and even
cubed “home fries.” The most unusual fry in my life (as in, I've
never ever seen this!) is the Tornado Fry. For this dish, a potato is
cut into one thin, continuous spiral and is served on a stick!
And
they are popular all over the world!
Have
you ever tried...
fries
with mayonnaise?(This is a common treat in Belgium and the Netherlands.)
poutine—fries
with fresh cheese curds and gravy?
(This
is a yummy food available in Canada, especially French Canada.)
“Irish nachos”—fries topped with cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, and onions?
(This dish is called “Irish nachos,” not because it is popular in Ireland, but it because people often associate the potato with Ireland, and the toppings are the same as those used on tortilla chips-based nachos.)
- Animal Fries—fries served with melted cheese, grilled onions, and Thousand-Island dressing?
(This
popular treat is served at In-and-Out.)
For more, check out “America's Most Outrageous French Fries.”
Also
on this date:
Plan
ahead:
Check
out my Pinterest pages on July
holidays, historical
anniversaries in July,
and July
birthdays.
And
here are my Pinterest pages on August
holidays, historical
anniversaries in August,
and August
birthdays.
