The origins can be found in Belgium, where historians claim potatoes were being fried in the late-1600s. For those who do not adhere to the belief that the fries were of French origin, another name is preferable. Over time, people cultivated potato variants . Pommes frites, pommes meaning apple and frite meaning fries is the name given to French fries in the French language. So, to rephrase Sorensens expert words, the following Mary Randolph 1824 recipe: To fry sliced potatos might get you as close to Thomas Jeffersons round or curly French fries as you can get today: Peel large potatoes, slice them about a quarter of an inch thick, or cut them in shavings round and round, as you would peal a lemon; dry them well in a clean cloth, and fry them in lard or dripping. And we all have our favorites. Ney was the Chairman of the House Administration Committee and this committee had authority over House cafeterias. One story is that the phrase "French Fried Potatoes" first appeared in English in 1856 in the cookbook Cookery for Maids of All Work by E. Warren. In the []. Fries have been around in Germany since 1838. In Belgium, they are sold in shops called friteries. Though he wanted to replicate the production process in America, Jefferson ultimately decided it was impossible to recreate the flavors in the cheese since it was made from the milk of Italian cows. The Belgian Contribution Several historians claim that what we enjoy today as French fries, may not be a French creation but a Belgian one. Why apple, you may ask. Potato chips got popular in the States early on, and they called them chips, because they were slices of potato. Idaho potato processor J. R. Simplot had chemists develop frozen french fries for his company in 1953. Also called crinkle cut fries or even waffle fries, these are also French in origin, from the pommes gaufrettes. He settled in Philadelphia and later in Baltimore. The British have their thick cut chips while the French have their Parisian steak fries. Khoser Download Brochure Download Julian P. Boyd (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1953), 229). It was the Spaniards who first brought the potatoes to the European continent after the South America exploration. One of the dinner party guests, Massachusetts congressman Rev. While the food menu goes above and beyond the call of "bar food" duty with items like cashew butter and fig jam sandwiches, wood-grilled butternut squash, and German apple cake, the only dish . . They also have a huge number of French fry vendors, known as fritkots. This week I was reviewing Muster, Payrolls and List of Effectives for Capt Gross Scruggs company of the Fifth Virginia. Different cultures prefer different condiments with their fries and may even be downright horrified by the other versions. Dextrose and glucose are essentially the same thing. The first occurrence of French fries in America was when Thomas Jefferson had potatoes served in the French mannerat a White House dinner in 1802. They sell more than 1/3 of all the French fries sold in restaurants in the U.S. each year. As per this recipe, the fries were probably not the long thin strips as we know them today but thin rounds of potatoes. Thomas Jefferson, that American President who was also a connoisseur of good food, had a dinner at the White House in 1802 and served potatoes served in the French manner. This meant cutting potatoes into thin slices and shallow frying them. History of French fries, as fries themselves, begins with potato which was known in South America since the 8000BC and was a staple food of territories where corn didn't grow since then. In the Mediterranean countries, you can find fries wrapped in pita bread, whether that be in a Greek gyro or a Lebanese shawarma on the street corner. [] to the South Florida Reporter, french fries have been enjoyed in the United States since the time of Thomas Jefferson. The Philadelphia contact who supplied President Jefferson with a cook equal to my wishes was French minister plenipotentiary to America Philippe de Ltombe, who had enthusiastically recommended Honor Julien. However, the influence between the two countries was not one-sided: It was during his travels that Jefferson was introduced to the simple delights of French cuisine and adored it so much he arranged for Hemings to train in traditional French cooking while in Paris (viaThe Jefferson Monticello). Fries are also a regular side dish eaten in various South American countries. While the general story is that it was the American soldiers during World War I who popularized the name of French fries, are there any other names that the fries could have been known by? [5]The French word htel previously and still can also refer to a townhouse or even hospital. Parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella, and swiss are all suitable choices but cheese is typically reserved for basic crinkle or julienne-cut fries. If your web page requires an HTML link, please insert this code: . Cutler of Massachusetts) seems to be all Federalist congressmen: James Hillhouse (CT), Theodore Foster (RI), James Ross (PN), Peleg Wadsworth (MA), Henry Woods (PA), Seth Hastings (MA), Samuel Tenney (MA), and Nathan Reed (MA); which leaves the unknown General Bond. To link to this article in the text of an online publication, please use this URL: https://historycooperative.org/origin-of-french-fries/. Potato Champion. Chelsea Davis for Insider. And how did it become such a staple in the United States? The 100 Best American Revolution Books of All Time, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-07-02-0171, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-27-02-0127, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-33-02-0037, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-35-02-0449, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-33-02-0080, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-35-02-0460, www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jefflife.html#070, https://www.heritageharvestfestival.com/speakers/dr-leni-sorensen/, https://www.monticello.org/site/blog-and-community/posts/jefferson-era-recipe-fried-potatoes, From Cuckoo to Charlottesville: Jack Jouetts Overnight Ride, Perspectives on the Ten Crucial Days of the Revolution, This Week on Dispatches: Gene Procknow on Ethan Allen and Revolutionary-Era Newspapers. What exactly is the origin of the French fry? In 1967, McDonalds reached out to them to supply McDonalds with frozen fries. Sorensen is a PhD expert in 18th- and 19th-century cooking methods used by Virginia housewives and slaves, including those who cooked for Thomas Jefferson. https://www.heritageharvestfestival.com/speakers/dr-leni-sorensen/accessed September 12, 2019. The great cheese referred to was a giant block of cheddar cheese weighing 1,235 pounds, presented to President Jefferson in January 1802 by the town of Cheshire, Massachusetts, and its 900 cows. A little salt also adds to the taste. 2. In 2005's Hamburgers and Fries, John T. Edge went so far as to say that burgers are "modernity encapsulated, an entire meal stuffed into a streamlined vessel and ready for portage." The American President Credited For Bringing French Fries To The US Hannah McQueen 10/5/2022 Venture into an American restaurant or pub these days, and you're likely to encounter classic. This is a classic dish from Quebec. In Belgium, French fries are the star player and not just as added garnish to a plate of hamburgers or sandwiches. It's possible it was incorrectly annotated. To say Thomas Jefferson was an important figure in U.S. history would be putting it mildly. How French fries are eaten is quite a point of controversy. According to the Wikipedia entry, Thomas Jefferson served potatoes "fried in the French manner" at the White House in 1802. And what Americans refer to as potato chips are called crisps by the denizens of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Unfortunately, he was taken prisoner by the Prussians and was given potatoes for rations. In the meantime, in a large bowl, mix the olive oil, chopped garlic and oregano. Later, Sally and Thomass daughter Polly sailed to Paris in 1787. Robert youre welcome and in that case congratulations on your extended family tree members! Whatever the origins may have been, if you want to eat good fries while in the Francophone region, you should head to Belgium rather than France in this day and age. He gets creditprobably too muchfor introducing some popular European foods into American cuisine. The Meuse river had plenty of fish that villagers would catch and slice up to fry. 5. Chicken Fries. It's was supposedly a Bavarian cook who learned how to prepare fried potatoes in Paris that brought them back to Germany. So perhaps the most "American" quality of the "french fried potato" is its culturally-adaptive nature. The French Fry, that innocuous sounding name for potatoes deep-fried in oil and served without fail at all American fast food joints, are probably not even French after all. French fried by the 20th century was a synonym in the United States for deep fried and was used in the case of fried onions and chicken as well. Shortly afterward, in the early 20th century, the term "French . The WWI story, as endearing as it might be, almost certainly isn't true. Indeed, the name French fries has become so well-known in food history, become popular among cultures throughout the world, and has spawned such lively debates that it would be futile and foolish to do away with it. After sampling some of Frances finest champagne, TJ insisted on serving the beverage at most formal dinners he hosted. Jefferson to William Evans, February 22, 1801,Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-33-02-0037, accessed April 11, 2019 (Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. Find your nearest Jack in the Box here. [15]Evans offered Jefferson his own perceived reason: as I am rather inclined to believe that, he would not answer your purposes from his being overly fond of liquor.[16]Three weeks after becoming president in March 1801 and still with no word from Hemings, Jefferson wrote to Evans that, after having so long rested on the expectation of having him . No recipes or menus exist from the dinner parties Jefferson hosted. Really? Journal of the American Revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the American Revolution and Founding Era. According to a McDonald's menu from the '50s, fries cost 10 cents. Homemade French fries using sweet potatoes or purple potatoes can offer some great benefits, but other French fries calories cause major health issues. According to them, it was in Belgium where potatoes were being fried in the late-1600s. As a highly skilled professional, Hemings always found work as a cook. The expression French Fried Potatoes first occurs in print in English in the 1856 work, Charles Dickens, who was surprisingly something of a 17th-century foodie, was the first author to pen french fries into literature. Yes, there are certainly local versions. [26]Mrs. Mary Randolph, The Virginia House-Wife or Methodical Cook(F. Thompson, Washington, 1824), 97. Besides being elected as the nation's third president, Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independenceand brokered the Louisiana Purchase, acquiring land for 13 future states for 3 cents an acre. I know versions of his diary exist elsewhere, but the war time entries can be found, Thank you for sharing that, Adam. Another story, which is more likely, is that they were first called "French Fries" by American soldiers stationed in Belgium during World War I. Who brought French fries to America? CALL US NOW. President social. Thomas Jefferson is credited with introducing French fries to America. Co-founded by brothers Harrison McCain and Wallace McCain in 1957, they have outstripped their competition and they send their products all over the world. Today, Americans on average eat 30 pounds of French fries a year many as a salty fast-food side dish (via The Daily Meal). French fries were introduced to America just after World War I. Nowadays, they are a symbol of American fast-food culture. Belgium has even petitioned UNESCO so that the French fry may be recognised as a prominent part of Belgian cultural heritage. He was being called back to America to assume the new cabinet position of secretary of state in the new federal government. 27, 1 September31 December 1793, ed. Who brought french fries to America? It was said, no Federal cow [a cow owned by a Federalist farmer] be allowed to offer any milk, lest it should leaven the whole lump with a distasteful savour. Obviously by late summer 1803 and with no refrigeration, it was agreed to get rid of the great cheese.. This could explain the rumor that "fries" became popular in Belgium . McDonalds fries are shoestring fries, with a few more items added in. At face value, it would seem that Jefferson wouldnt have had much exposure to many exotic foods, living up at Monticello, his home perched atop a mountain overlooking the town of Charlottesville, Virginia. French fries are made by cutting potatoes into long, even strips and then frying them. Who brought French fries to America? Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor [wheat And Milk Derivatives]*), Dextrose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate (maintain Color), Salt. Guests were delighted and somewhat baffled by the delicacy. Burger King popularized the chicken fries, which are simply pieces of chicken cut and presented similarly to a typical bag of French fries. Many Belgians insist that the name French fry is a misnomer, coming about because the wider world cannot differentiate between the different Francophone cultures. How To Warm Up French Fries In The Microwave? The ultra patriotic yet ultimately silly gesture didnt have too many fans. and yet the fear of his drinking . National French Fry Day on July 13th recognizes a staple food on menus across the country. Lets take a quick look at the historical record of Jefferson, his preference for French foods and how it came about. Even though they are gross with less gravity, they were also the first vegetable grown in space because of NASA. Barbara B. Oberg (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2006), 38-39). In 1864, a brilliant (but, alas, unknown) Brit teamed French fried potatoes (called "chips" in English) with fried fish, to create the famous and popular fish and chips. Jefferson was working through Evans as a third party to see if Hemings would be interested in the executive chef position at The Presidents House (the previous name for The White House): You mentioned to me in conversation here that you sometimes saw my former servant James, & that he made his engagements such as to keep himself always free to come to me. McDonaldsuses about 7% of the potatoes grown in the United States for its French fries. Later in the 19th century, the term "french fried potatoes" showed up in an English cookbook called Cookery for Maids of All Work by E. Warren. Mason-Dixon Line This is the recipe that has survived and has been preserved in Mary Randolphs book, The Virginia House-Wife, from 1824. No, it's not McDonald's or Five Guys, although those both showed up repeatedly in our research. At the Boise Fry Company, you get your choice of six different potatoes (russet, gold, red lady, sweet potato, yam and purple) and cuts (regular, homestyle, curly, shoestring and the Tater Tot-like po'balls), plus . The fry is thought to have originated in Belgium in the 1600s, but America has really adopted fries as a central facet of our culture. Anequivalent serving of friescontainsover 500 calories, over 30 percent of which come from fat, and over a dozen additives carefully calibrated to make fries taste yummy. This story has been disputed by Leqlercq, who asserted first that potatoes were not introduced in the area until the 1730s and so French fries could not have been discovered until later. But certainly Thomas Jefferson himself didnt formally introduce French fries to the American continent. Who brought French fries to America? In 1802, a Congressman from Massachusetts wrote, Ice cream very good, crust wholly dried, crumbled into thin flakes. Representative Samuel Latham Mitchill described balls of frozen material inclosed [sic] in covers of warm pastry, exhibiting a curious contrast, as if the ice had just been taken from the oven.. North Americans refer to any elongated pieces of fried potatoes asfries, while in theUnited Kingdom,Australia,IrelandandNew Zealand, long, thinly cut slices of fried potatoes are often calledfriesto distinguish them from the more thickly cut strips calledchips. Their main competitors are J. R. Simplot Company and Lamb Weston Holdings, both American. Jefferson wouldn't recognize the modern french fry unless he came across an order of curly fries. Canadians serve a dish called poutine, which is a plate full of French fries and cheese curds, topped with brown gravy. Even if the origins of the French fry are murky, what is certainly clear is that no country consumes French fries in the way Belgium does. In direct opposition to this are the shoestring fries, which are much more finely cut than the regular French fries. . Maybe They Should Be Called Francophone Fries, How to Best Consume Them: Differences of Opinion, Belgium consumes the largest amount of French fries, Why Are Hot Dogs Called Hot Dogs? Let sit for 10 minutes. Im glad you enjoyed the article & thank you for the nice words! [22]Miller, The Presidents Kitchen Cabinet, 75. They can be found in all kinds of restaurants and eateries around the world, whether that be pubs and diners or fast food joints or chip chops in the United Kingdom. In between these two achievements, Jefferson did another thing that has had an enduring impact: He introduced the country to french fries. According to the 1986 census, 16 percent of the population spoke both English and French, again with the province of Qubec leading the way. The president and Founding Father credited with bringing french fries to the new world was none other than Thomas Jefferson quite the gourmand, food enthusiast, and experimental gardener in his home state of Virginia. Ice-cream very good, crust wholly dried, crumbled into thin flakes; a dish somewhat like a puddinginside white as milk or curd, very porous and light, covered with cream-saucevery fine. Seasoned with salt and a variety of optional spices, French fries can be served with a bunch of condiments, which differ from place to place depending on which country you are in. The idea to rename the French fries was the brainchild of Republican politician from Ohio Bob Ney. A couple of pictures from 1891, portraying the french fry stand from this era along with an unpublished document by the famous Belgian historian, Jo Gerard, shows proof that the fries were invented in the region of the Meuse in 1680. It really only stands to reason that the state best known for potatoes also knows how to fry them. Cutler? Required fields are marked *. Another fun version of the dish is curly fries. A fine Frenchy fry, but far from Jack in the Box's best-fried potato side (the Bacon Cheddar Wedges beat these, too). Thank you, this helps to further place these men in the historical context and also to place Wadsworth, Hastings and Tenney in my extended family tree. Some sources, including Belgian journalist Jo Gerard and chef Albert Verdeyen, claim that French fries originated in Belgium long before it came to France. The Origin of Hotdogs, Vesta: The Roman Goddess of the Home and the Hearth, iPhone History: A Timeline of Every Model in Order, US History Timeline: The Dates of Americas Journey, Ancient Civilizations Timeline: 16 Oldest Known Cultures From Around The World, The History of Boracay Island in The Philippines. . Folklore states they were invented in the Meuse Valley by the poor villagers living there. I tried 10 chef-approved tips for making frozen french fries taste better to see which I'd do again. He first served the delicacy at a state dinner in 1802and back in those days, anything served at the White House became the talk of the town. And even with the same dish, as with French fries, there are so many different ways in which potatoes are prepared, cooked, and served. Taken from the original, straight-edge Belgian style to the "small cuttings" popular in 1700s France, the french fry as we know it continues to evolve and meld with other cultural influences from the dense, comforting, and traditional poutine to chili cheese fries, trendy truffle fries, and more. [16]Evans to Jefferson, February 27, 1801,Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-33-02-0080, accessed April 11, 2019 (Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, 33: 9192). It needed to fill the slot of the third Minister Plenipotentiary working in Paris assisting Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Fries, or French fries, are one of the most popular side dishes in the world. Just add your email and youre on the list. Journal of the American Revolution also produces annual hardcover volumes, a branded book series, and the podcast, Dispatches. The post-war Confederation Congress had recalled John Jay from diplomatic duties in France. It comes in so many different cuts and styles, theres a favorite for everyone to enjoy! We couldn't find a french fry specialist to confirm this theory. Accessed March 4, 2023. My understanding is that U.S. president Thomas Jefferson, a staunch francophile who obsessed over all things French, returned to America from a trip to Paris and had "French-fried potatoes" served at White House dinners he had been served these in France and was quite fond of them. Sanborn, F. Webster, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. Thanks to American fast food joints and franchises, everyone the world over knows about and eats French fries. Your email address will not be published. In. Its also quite likely that the dish (because of its simplicity) may have been copied and spread by the multitude of Jeffersonian guests. The fries are cut fresh to order at this food stand and patrons can pick from a half-pint, pint, or quart-size topped with chili, cheese, or gravy. During this time, the king was fed excessively opulent meals, featuring extravagant dishes using the most sought-after ingredients. Two years before Jefferson died, Mary Randolph, the sister-in-law to Martha Jefferson Randolph (Jeffersons daughter living at Monticello) began writing a cookbook from collected recipes. As the gravity gets stronger, the fries get crispier. Once there, he opened his own business and began to sell fries under the name la pomme de terre frite linstar de Paris which translated to Paris-style fried potatoes.. Welcome to South Florida Reporter, your go-to source for news and information for the Sunshine State. Photo Credit: Potato Champion Instagram Page 1. Thinner fries may be referred to as skinny fries. After all, Belgium is the only country in the world to have an entire museum devoted to French fries. The restaurant is quick and easy with outdoor tables to enjoy the summer weather. [21]W. P. Cutler and J. P. Cutler, Life, Journals and Correspondence of Rev. Seasoning and salting the fries straight out of the oven helped the flavoring stick better. To tackle this huge task, we first asked some of the most famous French chefs in the world to weigh in: Le Bernadin's Eric Ripert, Mr. Chocolate Jacques Torres, Cronut creator Dominique Ansel,. jewelz 2y ago LIVE Points 56 Rating Want to help make Alexa smarter? It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. But if youre a fan of mac and cheese, ice cream, or french fries, you should really be grateful: Apparently a great lover of carbs, Jefferson introduced all of these delicious treats to America. Many other jimcracks, a great variety of fruit, plenty of wines, and good. While French fries is the name given to the thinly cut strips of potato, fried in oil or fat, there are versions in Europe, the Americas, and Australia, that are slightly more thickly cut but still prepared in much the same way that French fries are. But if youre American and you love a bowl of mint chocolate chip or a waffle cone stuffed with Rocky Road, you probably do have Jefferson to thank: His obsession with the tasty treat is what made it popular in the United States. Sweet potatoes arent actually potatoes. Not being able to access the small fish that they caught from the river and fried, the people instead cut potatoes into strips and fried them in oil. ), Leni Sorensen was Monticellos African-American Research Historian and a culinary historian.[24]Sorensen chimed in on the Jefferson-French-fries controversy a few years ago: I hope with this final recipe of the year to help lay aside the French Fry/Thomas Jefferson origin myth. french fries, also called chips, finger chips, fries, or French pommes frites, side dish or snack typically made from deep-fried potatoes that have been cut into various shapes, especially thin strips. Except for not being sliced into what we think of as the long skinny rectangle French fry shape, these round sliced and fried potatoes of Mary Randolph are clearly pretty darn close.[25]. French pharmacist and agronomist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier famously. What are the controversies surrounding this food item and the name that it carries? A month and a half before newly-elected President of the United States Thomas Jefferson was to take the oath, Jefferson wrote to Baltimore inn keeper William Evans. But since the gravity in space is less, the fries would be soggy and gross.
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