International Goodies: Are French fries even French?
Or are they, in fact, from Belgium?
Who doesn't like chips/French fries/Pommes Frittes? They are golden, crispy, and just so delicious if done right. They can also be a soggy mess, and in that case they are vile.
In any case, chips come in all shapes and sizes. Some are thin, while others are of a thicker cut; there are curlies and there are straights. And I kinda like them all, with mayo, or vinegar, or just not ketchup.
With a heap of Mayo.
But where did it all begin? The French obviously claim fries for themselves, but so do the Belgians.
All I know/have found out is that a document claims that the treat was already over a hundred years old by 1781. It also claims that they originated in an area that is now in Belgium, quite far from the modern day border.
In any case, the first chips were apparently shaped like fish and eaten by the poorer folk, or when the rivers were iced over and fishing was impossible.
Some delicious Poutine.
Here in Germany, the most popular way to have our chips is with ketchup and mayo together - or as we call it: Pommes Schranke. After that comes straight ketchup, while straight mayo, my personal favourite, comes in third.
Another great way to have chips is with malt vinegar, or better yet apple cider vinegar. I just love those two combinations.
The undoubtedly best chip-based dish is poutine though. Cheese curds and poutine just make them so much more delicious. Sadly, a good one, or really any old poutine is hard to come by here in Germany - so I kinda miss it from my Canadian days.
Tell us your favourite way to have chips in the comments down below!
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Comments (47)
Eh, Belgium is basically France. In other news, it was the Dutch who introduced me to Pommes Schranke. Not bad, but I still prefer malt vinegar.
Though as Dutchmen go, I heard prefers to dip them in vinegarised wine from the 1980s.
I heard the Dutch pretty much deep-fry anything. And Malt Vinegar is really nice with Fries.
I'd deep fry anything, if I wasn't a Tier 3 Fire Risk
Ohh I love those. I always get them in Utrecht (city in the Netherlands), Where they have Belgium chips and sooo damn delicious
I do remember Utrecht. Been there a few Years ago.
Time for you to go back, they have build and rebuild so much
Ketchup is my preference. 😋
Not a big Fan of just Ketchup. 😬
That's okay, I'll trade you my vinegar for your ketchup! 😁
I've never had poutine. I love fries with a bit of salt and pepper 😍
I presumed Salt to be a part of the Chips. Never had them with Pepper. But once with a Curry-infused Mayo. 😋
What I decide to have with my fries depends on my mood and the type of fries as well.
Same here. But I do miss Poutine.
I've never truly had it.