Why are French fries called 'French' fries even though they are originated from Belgium?

[Apulu_Imback]

Honestly I really thought it was a French dish till the time I heard it in Food Factory show of Discovery.

[purplepoppy]

It's unclear where they came from, some say France, Belgium even Portugal. We know there's been versions of them eaten since the 1600s. A common myth is they were called French fries by confused Americans, usually this is used to reinforce the "dumb American " stereotype but Americans had been eaten them since thomas jefferson introduced them to America.
In truth the language of cooking has always been French so it's likely pommes frites got anglicised to French fries for marketing purposes.

[Apulu_Imback]

It is seriously a very confusing topic.

[erin_ireland]

I think people in the US assumed they were invented in France and coined the term, here in Europe we call them chips not fries or french.

[penteractgaming]

The etymology of "french fry" isn't really clear. Potatoes were first available in Spain and could have been prepared this way earlier. The story about people frying potatoes when rivers froze over in Belgium seems historically dubious for economic reasons (lack of availability of fat to common people in large quantities) in which case, french fries would have been frankophone (named due to French being the dominant language in that area and the recipe origin assumed to be France) and numerous examples from France that I suspect aren't the origin, just early examples of french fries being prepared. The reality of how french fries got their name and where they began may be complicated.

[Apulu_Imback]

Yeah this is a pretty confusing topic

[andreasderjuengere]

There was no such thing as ''Belgium'' before 1830.
Fried potatoes are mentioned as early as 1680.
During that time the place where they are said to come from (Namur) belonged to the ''Spanish Netherlands''.
Germans call them ''pommes frites'' - the British: ''chips''.
We can only guess that the term ''French Fries'' was invented by some simpleton who didn't know it better... and WHICH country in the world is known for generally being weak in geography? ... :D

[Apulu_Imback]

I only know Belgium Chocolate or Belgium Chocolate chip ice cream lol. I knew Belgium is famous for its world class chocolate.

[erin_ireland]

@Apulu_Imback Swiss are also good at making chocolate

[WonderBell99]

You'll read this in 10th grade..

In Belgium, people speak 3 languages: French, Dutch and German. (The German speaking population is a minority).

Over 55% of the population lives in the Wallonia region and speaks Dutch, and over 40% live in the Flemish region and speak French. Historically, the French speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. The Dutch speaking community only got the benefit of economic development and education much later. So that is probably why "french fries" though originated in Belgium, is referred to as "French Fries" and not "Belgium Fries"

This is just a theory, so don't quote me on that!

[WonderBell99]

Belgian Fries*

[WonderBell99]

In the UK, people refer to French Fries as "chips" or just "fries"

French Fries is an American given name, I believe.

And many Americans are weak at geography, lol (it's a stereotype, not judging anyone. y'all don't come at me, lol)

[Apulu_Imback]

Lmao 😂 seems like interesting topic.

[EssenceOfLight]

On theory said while WWI Americans who fought in Europe ate fried potatoes in Belgium. People in Belgium speak french that's why french fries are called that way in US. In Europe no one calls potato fries that way.

[Apulu_Imback]

So basically it's names 'French' fries due to the language

[Apulu_Imback]

*named

[HighlyVolatile]

Brussels, France, same thing to Americans! :-D You know, they speak French along with Dutch and German. That's probably not the reason. I don't really know. I call them "Jean-Claude Van Damme fries".

[HighlyVolatile]

JCVD fries!
https://youtu.be/QpY3j84fCQ0

[HighlyVolatile]

Also as @EssenceOfLight noted, it's usually Americans who call them "French fries". People in the UK tend to call them "chips".

[HighlyVolatile]

I keep imagining Americans eating those "chips" for the first time from a French speaker and saying, "Dem be French-fried potaters ain't it? French fries!"

[HighlyVolatile]

No disrespect to my American friends. I say with love. Please tease me back about Japan.

[Apulu_Imback]

Haha now that I think it must be due to the language. Well my American friends, you can tease back India too because I highly agree with this joke lol

[HighlyVolatile]

JCVD is my spirit animal! I eat fried potatoes in his name!

[Apulu_Imback]

Great!

[FunkyMonkee]

Well? Isn't Belgium a part of France? I used to hunt records for Europeans and one of my customers was from Belgium and said that he mostly spoke French because he's from Belgium.

[Apulu_Imback]

Yes French is spoken in 26 counties as native so it is possible

[andreasderjuengere]

''Belgium'' has had many nationalities before. It's an artificially created country, similar to Israel.

[Apulu_Imback]

@andreasderjuengere Oh

[FunkyMonkee]

Are frankfurters from Frankfort? Are hamburgers from Hamburg? Are Swedish meatballs from Sweden? Is Canadian bacon from Candaia? Is Swiss cheese from Switzerland? Is French toast from France? Are English muffins from England? Is Canada Dry from Canada? Is Scotch tape from Scotland? Is Chinese Checkers from China?

[andreasderjuengere]

Errrmmm: yes? :D

[Cubus]

I guess because half of Belgium speak French.

Besides "french fries" is an American name (in British it's "chips"), and Americans usually know nothing about map of Europe.

[Apulu_Imback]

Makes sense
Thank you!

[Cubus]

You're welcome

[FunkyMonkee]

What's Europe?

[Sixgunsound]

@FunkyMonkee who cares? Old Glory is awfully lonely on the moon though🤠

[FunkyMonkee]

@Sixgunsound It shouldn't be, with all the aliens living there.

[Sixgunsound]

@FunkyMonkee I meant bereft of company from other flags from countries whose citizens like to look down on us.

[exitseven]

becuause French Fries is cooler sounding than Belgian Fries. Besides they already had waffles named after them.

[Apulu_Imback]

I see

[andreasderjuengere]

Now... explain ''Hamburgers", please :D

[exitseven]

@andreasderjuengere They are made of beef and not ham but I think they were named after Hamburg Germany.

[andreasderjuengere]

That would be very sad :D Hamburg has some own specialties that ''rock''.

[LiamSawyer]

The potatoes are frenched similar to Frenched beans thus French fries

[Apulu_Imback]

Wow I didn't knew this. thanks for sharing!

[OddBeMe]

I’ve been there. Belgium might as well be France. Like Austria and Germany.

[Apulu_Imback]

I see

[NathanDavis]

we just call them fried potatoes...

[Apulu_Imback]

Oh I thought it was called French Fries. At least that is how I knew it.

[NathanDavis]

yes, they're called French fries... I meant in Mexico, lol

[Apulu_Imback]

Oh I see

[Sam_The_Savage]

Only 13yr old can ask intelligent question.

[Apulu_Imback]

Nah. Actually this question popped up when I was doing maths lol. Most creative thoughts come when you study the most boring subjects.

[Sam_The_Savage]

Hehe you're awesome

[Apulu_Imback]

Thank you!

[blissinanarchy1]

*hits blunt*

[Apulu_Imback]

Lmao 😂

[Still-alive]

drugs are bad kids mmmkay www.cointalk.com/.../

[Apulu_Imback]

@Still-alive Drugs aren't available in my school. Once a kid bought cigarettes and alcohol and was caught in bus. That's it. No more such criminal record.