Whether you call them ‘French Fries’, ‘Chips’, Finger Chips, or French-Fried Potatoes, this delicious treat is loved around the world, and French Fries day celebrates them.
Not to be confused with the American ‘Chips’, which are thinly sliced pieces of potato fried until crisp, French Fries are the delicious result of ‘batons’ of potato cut to various thicknesses and then fried in oil.
The outside of this staple companion food to hamburgers and other grease-ball favorites generally have a golden texture, varying from soft to crispy, and most often served with little more than a dusting of salt.
Learn about French Fries Day
Of course, French Fries Day was created in order to celebrate this amazing food dish! Whether you have French fries when you get McDonalds or you often cook your own fries at home, there is no denying that the addition of this potato dish can take any sort of meal to the next level. Therefore, it is only right that we have a French Fries Day, so that we can indulge in as many French fries as we want and not feel guilty about it.
History of the French Fry
French Fries are one of many foods whose name is most misleading, as the origins of this fat fried food seem to be in Belgium. The story of their creation can be found in a family manuscript dated 1781, which reveals that potatoes were originally cut into the shape of fish and served in lieu of the fish normally caught in a series of small villages in Belgium. It seems the river had frozen over and the fish they normally caught and fried were unable to be caught.
Why they’re called French is often attributed to troops coming over during World War I who got their hands on Belgian Fries. The official language of the Belgian army at that time was French, and as a result the men thought they were in France rather than Belgium. Interestingly, in that region of the world, they are still called “Flemish Fries” to further complicate matters. Now, these treats are loved the world round, even becoming the ‘national snack’ of the Netherlands.
How to celebrate French Fries Day
With the popularity of French Fry, it’s not surprising that the world has come up with as many different varieties of this delicious food as you could imagine.So one of the best ways to celebrate French Fries Day is to host a party dedicated to celebrating the international menu the fried potato has created.The simplest variation is simply to put chopped raw onions in some ketchup, and eat them up like they do in the Netherlands.For the more adventurous, try some of the varieties below!
Canadian Poutine – This recipe is a classic way to have French Fries, originating in Canada. This dish is incredibly decadent, combining the crispy soft texture of the French Fries with rich beef gravy, and topped with cheese curds.
American Bacon Cheeseburger Classic – There is little Americans love more than to add cheese and bacon to just about anything. French fries are no exception, there is little that is as well-loved as a rich, greasy accompaniment to any meal. To make this classic you start with a basic of fries, and layer on bacon, chopped onions, cheese, and ground hamburger before tossing them in the oven just long enough for everything to get melty. Then grab a handful and dig in!
Greek French Fries – The Mediterranean rarely fail at making an already delicious food rich and full of the smells of home. If you love the classic Greek flavors of parmigiano-reggiano or romano cheese, garlic, and oregano, then these fries are going to leave you smiling.
The key ingredients here are Extra Virgin Olive Oil to fry them in, after which you toss them in garlic salt, Greek Oregano, and your choice of cheese such as those mentioned ahead. To get the full impact you’re going to want to stick to the white crumbly cheese of the region, the truly adventurous might use Mazithra cheese.
These are a few dishes that can help enhance French Fries Day, and really bring out the amazing versatility of this centuries old treat.So get out your deep frier, chop up some potatoes, and celebrate French Fries Day by eating yourself into a starch filled stupor!
Of course, you don’t need to take inspiration from around the world in order to make your own French fry creation. One thing that we have really noticed as of late is the boom in the use of truffles and truffle oil when it comes to French fries. Black Truffle and Parmesan Fries are super indulgent, offering a decadent way of enjoying this traditional treat. After all, truffles are often called the diamond of the culinary world. They are a rare type of mushroom that has a very intense aroma and distinctive flavour. They are harvested with the aid of truffle dogs or female pigs, which can detect their strong smell.
There are many different kinds of this mushroom, but mainly those in the genus Tuber are delicacies. Two of the most popular types include the white truffle (Tuber magnatum) of Alba and the expensive French black truffle from the Perigord region. Black Truffle and Parmesan Fries are crisp, salty and rich in distinct and delicious truffle flavour. The Parmesan complements the black truffle really well. When Black Truffle and Parmesan Fries are teamed with beef, you have a meal that is going to make everyone jealous!
In fact, you may not have heard of the name ‘steak frites’ before, but it is simply the fancy name for steak with a side of fries, and I am sure you have not only heard of this dish, but also enjoyed it yourself. Steak and fries is served all over the world. People enjoy it in a variation of ways. Some people eat it as it is. Others enjoy it with a side of vegetables or a sauce, whether it is peppercorn, garlic, gravy or something else.
Béarnaise sauce is a popular accompaniment with this dish. This is made using egg yolks, clarified butter and herbs. If you want to have friends or family around on French Fries Day and you are looking for a way to impress, we would certainly recommend that you team your French Fries with steak. Do this and you can’t go wrong!