Let’s be honest! Hardly any snack is as popular as crispy fried potato – in any shape or form. And it really does not matter whether you are vegetarian, vegan, or not, fries are loved by almost everyone and are undoubtedly a staple of Western cuisine.
Yet the origin of fries remains disputed to this day, with Belgium and France in particular still arguing over who invented them. Belgium claims the now world-famous fries were already being served in the 17th century around the Namur region.
At the time, people often fried and ate fish, but when no fish was available, they turned to potatoes instead. According to historical accounts, the potatoes were cut into the shape of fish, fried and then eaten. The French, meanwhile, insist they are the true inventors of fries, claiming pommes frites originated in Paris in the 18th century.
US Americans, for example, call them ‘French fries’, though this is probably because US soldiers first encountered the snack in French-speaking Belgium during the First World War and simply began referring to them as ‘French’ fries. What is certain, however, is that fries truly rose to prominence once they were more heavily promoted by France.
Whether served simply with salt, with a special fries seasoning mix or topped with creative extras, fries have long become more than just a side dish. They are a quick snack, a symbol of street food and simply something familiar that almost everyone loved as a child, dipped in mayonnaise or ketchup.
Today, there are countless variations: thick-cut or thin-cut, in the form of wedges, made from sweet potatoes, cooked in the oven, air fryer or traditional deep fryer. It is precisely this variety that has made the potato, or rather the fry, an absolute star, and it was only a matter of time before it too joined the Readers’ Choice lineup.
Be sure to let us know your opinion and help catapult your favourite spot to the top of our current Readers’ Choice!
Take part in our survey now, every vote counts!
Tell us where you most enjoy going out for fries! Cast your vote below, because once again, your opinion matters most! The winner will, of course, be the place that receives the most votes from our readers and listeners, meaning from you, and will earn the RTL Readers’ Choice award for the best fries in Luxembourg.
Every venue that manages to place in the top 10 will receive a sticker showing that it is officially among the 10 best in Luxembourg.
