ExpatsParadiseHi, I am finally settling into my new apartment in Ghent and I am loving the food here so much. I went to a local fritkot yesterday and had the best meal of my life. It got me thinking while I was eating, did Belgium invent French fries? I feel like I hear people arguing about it all the time in the cafes. Cheers
Accepted answer
the_pro_guide2People always argue about this because some say they came from the Meuse Valley in 1680 to replace fried fish, but others say the modern style started on Paris streets in the 1800s or even from Spain since they got potatoes first ! In my experience the term French fries is just an Americanism 🍟
newbie_notes2Somewhere I read the name might just come from the way the potatoes are cut - rather than where they are from
Discovery_JourneyActually disagree with the whole 1680 story, think it's a bit of a myth because peasants back then could not afford that much fat to deep fry everything!
expats_eyeAre you staying in Ghent for work or just for school?
been_there_done_thatYour confusion is understandable... it probably started with American soldiers in WWI who thought the French-speaking Belgians were actually French!