IZULAT Info : The Irony Of French Fries

One probably thought when they hear “French fries” French people love potatoes and they are the one started the potato fries so-called in the world “French fries” Think again.

“French fries” are actually do not come from France rather French people then on the 1700 (between 1748-1772) abhor potato and consider potato a poisonous tuber that causes sickness specifically leprosy. It is banned and illegal to cultivate then in France. It was banned by French Parliament that time. Clergymen even see potato not intended by God to eat. The banned was overturned when a French medical army officer prisoner name Antoine Augustin Parmentier was fed with potato and found out it is not poisonous and harmful that will cause one a disease. He is the one that promote potato as food and that make potato popular. He is a French pharmacist and agronomist.

Potato is not of the France land but it is an exported vegetable where Spanish conquerors brought to Europe thus French farmers have a doubtful and distrustful reaction to it. Spanish conquerors came it from the Inca Empire at South America in 16^th century.

Frying slice potatoes actually originates from the people of Belgium wherein it is their alternative food or meal in the case they do not have catch a fish for meal in the late 1600s.It is their original culinary invention and their national dish. They have even a day for it. However, the way the potatoes were cut and fried which is the French way where the “French fries” got its name “French fries.” Moreover, soldiers who learned the potato fries where people who spoke French though they are in Belgium and it is known that Belgium has three official languages – French, German, and Dutch.

Potato fries from Belgium is called “Belgian fries” or “frites”