French fries[/B] are a side dish that goes with everything, eaten at all hours, loved by children and adults alike. And of course they are in the Top 10 most popular dishes on the planet!
Which country first cooked potatoes like this? Although we all think they are French, there is a fierce dispute between France and Belgium over their paternity. However, both countries agree on one thing: French fries were born as a luxury product.
The first reports of their consumption in France date back to the 19th century. In newspapers of the time, journalists referred to them as "Pont Neuf potatoes". The name derives from the place where one could buy this new product in Paris, the Pont Neuf Bridge. As the newspaper Le Parisien recounts, itinerant merchants sold the potatoes in baskets made from unsold books. Their speciality? They sold for a high price!
Why were potatoes so expensive?
Their price depended on the oil they wasted to prepare them. 200 years ago there were no seed oils, which are cheaper, nor were there any other solutions that would lower the price - but also the quality - of the product. Olive oil was very expensive and that is why this product ended up in the stomachs of those who could afford it!
When did the price of French fries start to go down
They started to become more affordable when they started to be used as a side dish for mussels in French restaurants. This happened after the middle of the 19th century. In fact, this was the time when they started to be exported to other countries, and as a result, this new delicacy quickly gained worldwide popularity.
Today, over 11 million tons of French fries are consumed worldwide every year! Belgium is the leading exporter.
Source: olivemagazine.gr
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