Why are French Fries called French Fies? (Are they really French?)?

Answer 1

The logical explanation of the origin of the North American name of the dish is that it derives from potatoes that have been "fried in the french manner". The English verb fry is ambiguous: it can refer to both to saut�ing and to deep-fat frying, while the French verb it derives from refers unambiguously to the latter.

Some feel that the word "french" in "french fries" is refers to the verb "to french", which means "to cut in thin lengthwise strips before cooking" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Ed.) On the other hand, "to french" is defined as "to prepare, as a chop, by partially cutting the meat from the shank and leaving bare the bone so as to fit it for convenient handling." (Oxford English Dictionary) in other dictionaries, seeming to suggest that the meaning of this process is not necessarily as set as it may appear. In addition, the verb "to french" did not start appearing until after "french fried potatoes" had appeared in the English-speaking world.

Read all about it at the site below.

Answer 2

It is only in the United States that the nomenclature of fried potatoes insinuates a French connection. In England they are called "chips," in France "pommes frites" (which means, literally, "fried apples"), and in Belgium and Holland "patat" (not the word for potato, which is "aardappel"). The French fry has little to do with France other than the fact that it's popularity spread to that country as quickly as it did to others. In fact, the French, like most of Europe, eyed the potato with suspicion until the last century or two.

Answer 3

All of the above is actually wrong, including cited references. They obviously share this common misconception. However, I have seen a few bits of the truth in some of the answers, particularly a bit about Belgium.

French Fries are so termed because of a simple confusion of terms.

The original idea of frying potato strips was rumored to have begun with the French-speaking population of Belgium in the mid-1800's. Therefore, the method of frying the potato strips, and the food product invented as such, were termed French frying and French Fries when brought to the U.S by troops returning from WWI in 1918. (Remember, it is only in the US where they are called French Fries. Elsewhere they are exclusively known as "chips.")

Answer 4

It was not long after this widespread embracing of the potato that some genius decided to drop slices of it into a pot of boiling fat. The identity of this individual is unknown; the friespotat3.gifFrench claim it was one of their countrymen, while the Belgians fiercely hold that it was one of their own who first frenched a fry. Expert opinion on this matter is divided as well. Whatever the case, by the 1830's deep fried potatoes had become a popular taste sensation in both France and Belgium. It took another hundred years for them to become a fast-food staple in the United States. Although Thomas Jefferson is rumored to have served them in Monticello as early as 1802—a daring thing to do at the time, since tubers were still believed to lead to death unless the poisons were boiled out of them—it was American soldiers, having been stationed in France (or Belgium, depending on who you ask) during World War I who brought back a hunger for the fried potatoes they had eaten while overseas. Although today fries are commonly eaten in many other countries, they are only associated with the Gallic culture here in the U.S.

Answer 5

Yes, the French originally fried potatoes. They call them, plomb frit (fried potatoes). For Americans, the name "French fries" would go over better than the French name.

Answer 6

No because they have a french cut that's why they're called french fries

Answer 7

They have been around a while but the name stuck after they were made popular at the 1902 World's Fair in St Louis. Angelo French. He was a large man. But kind.

Answer 8

No clue why their called french fries, but no thier not french

Answer 9

The French just wanted to be acknowledged for getting something right even if it was made up!

Answer 10

They are not really French they were invented by someone named French.