French fries are the world’s most sought after snack. They have a variety of names around the globe; some call them ‘Chips’, mainly in the U.K where the favourite combination is ‘Fish and Chips’. Some call it ‘frites’. Whatever be the names, it has become the world’s most popular food. In Belgium, they are eaten with freshly boiled hot mussels served in the shells. This ‘moules frites’ is the national food of the Belgium people, making them the highest per capita consumers of this snack. Like the popular Belgian Beer, the frites unite the multi cultural and multi lingual people of this small European country. You can find fry stalls in almost all the streets here.

If we examine the history of French fries, it may however not suggest any connection with France. Then how come they are ‘French’? Was that a naming blunder by someone unknown? Yes, says many in the Flemish speaking Belgium because according to the Belgians they are the inventors of this delicacy. They prefer to call it ‘Belgian Fries’ instead! The official potato variety for Belgium fries is Binijte, which is nearly 3/4th of all the potatoes grown in Belgium. The potatoes are peeled and cut into 1cmx1cm sticks. They are deep fried twice; once for cooking the thick cut potatoes and then to give them a crispy, golden crunch.

According to the Belgian legend, the then poor village inhabitants in Belgium ate their meals with fried small fish, but when the river froze during winters they were unable to fish, so they cut potatoes lengthwise and fried. The fries were introduced to the British and American World War1 soldiers fighting in Belgium, who would have given the prefix ‘French’ as the language of the Belgium army then was French.>

Are they side dish or main dish?>

This differs from people to people; from country to country. But commonly they are eaten with Mayonnaise or Ketchup as a snack.

In Belgium, fries are accompanied with hot cooked mussels (moules frites), sometimes with horse or beef steaks called ‘biefstuk-friet’ or just seasoned fries with Belgium sauce, or a fried egg on top of the fries.

In Norway, Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, they are served with hamburgers and sausages.

In U.K, it is served with fish fry (‘fish and chips’) or double egg and chips.

In the Middle East, they are served in Pita bread with chicken.

In France, they are served with grilled steak (‘steak-frites’).

French Fries may be tasty but not healthy. They contain sodium and saturated fats.

Acryl amide is a chemical substance produced when starch rich food stuffs are baked, fried, grilled or micro-waved at very high temperatures. It is carcinogenic; that is, can cause tumor and cancer. French Fries are fried at 190°C.