National French Fry Day 2021: Who Invented Fries And Where Did It Originate?

Considering America's intense love for french fries, National French Fry Day might as well be just another regular day. Thousands of eateries across the country include it in their menu, with some even adding their own twist. But for those interested in its history, why are they called "French fries" and where did they originate?

As it turns out, French fries may not actually be French.

Some have claimed that fries originated in Belgium, according to the BBC. Stories surrounding the history of the French fry said that villagers living along the River Meuse used to fry fish as part of their daily diet. During winters, however, their fish supply would be scarce, so they fried potatoes instead.

It wasn't until World War I came when American soldiers were introduced to the dish upon arriving in Belgium. Since the dominant language of southern Belgium is French, the soldiers dubbed the snack "French" fries.

However, some argue that fries are indeed of French origin and were first sold by street vendors on Paris’ Pont Neuf as early as the 1780s.

Thomas Jefferson credited the French with inventing the dish, having encountered them during his service as American Minister to France from 1784 to 1789. According to National Geographic, Jefferson referred to the fried potatoes as "pommes de terre frites à cru en petites tranches" (potatoes deep-fried while raw, in small cuttings).

Despite the opposing opinions on the origins of the French fry, Belgium petitioned UNESCO to endorse the dish as an official icon of Belgian cultural heritage, leading some to question their claim.

Pierre Leclercq, a culinary historian at the University of Liège, said that Belgium's version of the French fry's history is "not plausible." Leclercq noted that it is highly unlikely for the story to have taken place in 1680 since potatoes weren't introduced in the region until 1735. For him, it is more likely that the villagers began cooking potatoes in 1739.

Leclercq also questioned the way the villagers cooked their potatoes, suggesting that they probably did not deep-fry the root vegetable.

“In the 18th Century, fat was a luxury for people of limited means,” he explained. “Butter was expensive, animal fat was rare, and cheaper vegetable fats were consumed with parsimony. That’s why peasants ate fat straight, without wasting it, on bread or in a soup.”

Regardless of where it came from, one thing is certain -- French fries are here to stay.