English speakers call them French Fries, much to the dismay of the Belgians. The latter have been claiming for decades that frites are Belgian. Unfortunately for them, frites are French. And they're even Parisian! And it's a Belgian who says so: gastronomic historian Pierre Leclercq.
This debate has been raging for a long time, and continues to pit France against Belgium. French fries are loved by all, so whichever nation produces this gastronomic gem will have the upper hand.
In 1984, a Belgian historian by the name of Jo Gérard thought he had found the official proof, the act of paternity linking the frite to Belgium. In an 18th-century text, it was stated that the inhabitants of Namur fried potatoes in the shape of fish, a common practice in Europe at the time.
However, Pierre Leclercq rejects this origin: " But his conclusion is just as fanciful as it is hasty. In fact, the text refers to thin slices of potato browned in a tiny bit of fat, as found elsewhere in Europe. So it's not a question of our fried potatoes, i.e. sticks dipped in a frying bath ", explains the historian in a program transcribed on theUniversity of Liège website.
According to the researcher, French fries actually originated on the Pont-Neuf in Paris. In the 18th century, the bridge's merchants came up with the idea of slicing potatoes into sticks and dipping them in fried food, creating a dish that was easy to take away and eat in the street. Fries became a symbol of popular culture, linked to workers, street vendors and theatrical performers.
" It was born in the Parisian street, in the hands of Parisian street fry sellers. And it was they who made the fried potato the emblematic dish of 19th-century Paris before it was exported to Belgium. So it's clear that the frite is of French origin ," confirms Pierre Leclercq in an interview with Brut in 2021.
In the 20th century, frites disappeared in France, but became a national dish in Belgium, casting doubt on the origins of the dish.
No matter what your nationality, you can always find a good plate of fries in one of Paris's restaurants.
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