CHIPS OR FRENCH FRIES? (LITTLE FOOD CURIOSITIES) by Sylvia Garda

Chips or French fries? by  Sylvia Garda

The Brits are very sensitive over chips; they love chips. They only grudgingly admit the French were there first: «le frites» or French fries i.e. chips.  There’s also the argument that real chips, English way, must be just slightly soggy. Whereas French fries are very dry and crispy. It’s for you to decide which you like best.  In addition, in Britain, it is very popular to sprinkle chips with vinegar, perhaps  to make them soggier. As to the origin, stop fighting: French? English? Neither!

The Yankees were there first, as back as 1824, from shaving of potatoes they produced chips, that soon became very popular. But also the British were quick to catch up, because as early as 1860 a Josep Malin prepared fish and chips in London, and the lucky Josep was rapidly very successful distributing chips to hungry Londoners. And the French? «Les frites et les moules»? Folks! So, they had to cross the Channel!

However, French sources testify that at the time of the French Revolution Parisian street vendors distributed the frites to the revolutionaries.

(novembre 2018)