where was french fries invented
French fries were most likely invented in Belgium , though France also claims part of the history. The most common story says people in the Meuse Valley began frying potatoes in the late 1600s when fish was scarce in winter.
Why thereās debate
- Belgiumās claim: Fried potatoes were reportedly made as a substitute for fried fish when rivers froze.
- Franceās claim: Some historians point to fried potatoes being sold in Paris in the late 1700s.
- The name: āFrench friesā may have become common after American soldiers encountered them in French-speaking Belgium during World War I.
Quick scoop
Most food historians lean toward Belgium as the likely birthplace, but the exact origin isnāt fully settled.
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