French fries are actually Belgian
Belgian historian Jo Gerard recounts that potatoes were already fried in 1680 in the Spanish Netherlands, in the area of “the Meuse valley between Dinant and Liège, Belgium: “The poor inhabitants of this region had the custom of accompanying their meals with small fried fish, but when the river was frozen and they were unable to fish, they cut potatoes lengthwise and fried them in oil to accompany their meals.”
So why are they called “French fries” and not ” Belgian fries”? It is claimed that the term “French” was introduced when British or American soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I and tasted Belgian fries. They supposedly called them “French”, as it was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time.
Whether or not Belgians invented them, “frites” became the national snack and a substantial part of both national dishes — making the Belgians their largest per capita consumers in Europe, and their “symbolic” creators.
You can find ‘friteries” everywhere on the street. And don’t forget, we don’t eat fries with ketchup but with mayonnaise. Our guests ate them this way when traveling with us in Belgium and they loved it.
My name is Jackie Grandchamps. In 2003, I founded French Escapade, offering another way to travel in small groups of 8. "Don't be a tourist, be our guest" is the moto and spirit of my company.
Check www.frenchescapade.com
Through this blog, I will provide information about France, Belgium, California, (soon Italy) but also some stories from my guests on the tours.
Learn more about the company in the French Escapade section of this blog.
September 13th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I’ve heard some good things about this blog. Remember to balance the pics with the text tho. cheers!
December 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I want to know if you guys tried the Advocaat? the lesson i got was that it is 3 different things- an attorney, an avocado, and a delicious brandy-laced pudding- is this true?
December 3rd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Well, maybe French Fries are also good dipped in guacamole, if that is what you mean. You try and let me know.
Yes, in French the word “Avocat” means avocado and lawyer. Imagine in English, somebody who seriously tells you “Hi, my name is Kent Miller, I’ll be your avocado”. Would you hire him?
As for the pudding, I ”ve never heard about it. I’ll check on google images.
December 24th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Hey there I am Belgian, Flemmish which is the dutch speaking part of Belgium. Advokaat has the meaning of lawyer but also the eggnog like desert liquor.
It does not mean avocado because we do not translate avocado. When buy an avocado we call it avocado not een advokaat.
Take care!
January 1st, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Thanks so much for the clarification and thanks for taking the time to respond.
March 5th, 2010 at 6:52 pm
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