Happy National French Fry Day!

July 13 is National French Fry Day! Folks everywhere can participate by enjoying one of the many varieties of the classic food.

French fries, also known as chips, fries, finger chips or French-fried potatoes, are sticks of deep-fried potatoes and are common fixtures at fast food restaurants that are loved by adults and kids alike!

A wide selection of condiments such as ketchup, ranch dressing, vinegar, mayonnaise, honey mustard, cheese and many more compliment French fries. Sweet potatoes make an alternate, healthier offering of fries found on menus around the United States. Other varieties are baked and come assorted shapes such as curls, waffles and crinkles.

The expression “French Fried Potatoes” first occurs in print in English in the 1856 work Cookery for Maids of All Work by E. Warren.

It is believed that the term “French” was introduced to the potatoes when American soldiers arriving in Belgium during World War I tasted tasted Belgian fries and called them “French”, as it was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time.