Potatoes are arguably the starchy staple with the highest exposure rate in continental cuisine, and the most popular one is French fries. From the English name of the fries "French fries", many people may intuitively think that France is the birthplace of French fries, but then Belgium will jump out in protest and hold the hot golden fries in their hands, solemnly proclaiming to the world that Belgians are the true ancestors of creating this delicious dish.
Who should you choose for the authentic fries?
Belgium and France are always locked in a battle of words over the authenticity of the fries, and the debate is often more heated than the race for the World Cup.
First of all, the French cite that the first appearance of French fries was in 1789, when potatoes were cut into strips and fried in the Pont Neuf district of Paris. Belgians say that about 100 years earlier, Belgian fishermen came up with the idea of making potatoes into french fries in the 1680s in order to survive the winter when there was a shortage of fish. The golden finished product fished out of the hot oil pan is more delicious than the fishermen expected. So, the fries stepped on the hot oil footsteps and stepped into the traditional Belgian meal.
The Americans, on the other hand, mistakenly voted for France; During World War II, when the U.S. military was passing through Belgium, they tasted the freshly fried French fries of the local army, and in addition to their crazy love for the delicious taste, they also mistook the French-speaking Belgian soldiers for French, so they were given the title "French fries". However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on the side of Belgium, and it is said that her private hobby is this crispy french fries on the outside and soft on the inside, and she can also be seen in the long queue in front of the French fries stand in Brussels. The photo that Merkel was waiting for was included in many people's cameras, making Merkel the best international ambassador for Belgian fries.
The world's most delicious fries to start with: deep-fried twice with a sumptuous sauce
In terms of ingredients, potato knowledge is the first requirement. In Belgium, people choose to use the locally produced "Bintje" variety of potatoes. In terms of shape, you should definitely cut it into 1 cm, which is twice as wide as McDonald's fries to maintain a thick texture. Finally, the same crucial method is frying, which must be fried at 120 to 150 degrees Celsius, drained and fried at 180 degrees Celsius. French fries must be fried twice, which is the secret ingredient to ensure that the fries are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Finally, a little bit about choosing oil: Belgians usually choose to fry them in butter or duck fat to give the fries a tempting aroma.
Another feature of Belgian fries is that they come with a variety of gorgeous sauces; The most standard is Aioli, Tartar sauce or Sauce Andalouse with a hint of spiciness. But if you're a fries connoisseur, you'll want to have your own sauces to pair with, such as cocktail sauce, curry tomato sauce or Brazilian sweet sauce made from pineapple tomatoes and mayonnaise. As for the ketchup, which is the most popular in the United States, it does not get the loving eyes of Belgians. After the fries are dipped in a thick and dense sauce, they feel sticky, crispy, hot and tender, which can be said to be a kind of happiness that is both churning and dripping.
Integrating into life is a fanaticism and a national belief worth defending
Belgium, which is proud of being the country of French fries, has the largest potato production in Europe despite being smaller than Taiwan, thanks to its temperate oceanic climate, which creates a suitable environment for potato growth. In Belgium, the french fries industry is like Jack's beanstalk in the fairy tale, with 5,000 french fries stands located in the territory alone! Order a french fries and deliver a golden meal in your hand, mostly in a conical paper tube or rectangular cardboard box. Squeezing some sauce and eating it hot is the best way to experience the local flavor.
Don't underestimate this simple takeaway snack, Europeans often joke with each other about their country, and it is said that as long as a Belgian has fries in his hand, no one can kill him! Because of the current food, whoever dares to grab the fries, the Belgians will definitely fight with their lives to the end. This is not an exaggeration, because in Belgium, the local map that is given to tourists for free will almost always show the french fry stalls there, and you are afraid that you will not experience the soft and soft aroma of the oil.
A fan of French fries, Bruges in the north of Belgium also has a French fries museum that is unique in the world, which has been converted from an old building that is more than 600 years old, and is definitely a temple for fries lovers. In addition, Chris Verschueren, a french french fry stall owner, has set a Guinness World Record for french fries for 83 hours without sleep.
In addition, Belgium, which was once in a state of anarchy in 2010, was forced to march in the streets, many of whom were holding slogans in one hand and hot french fries in the other.
Belgium, which is similar in shape to potatoes, has conquered diners around the world with its soft and delicious flavors. Get some chips today! After all, it's never too late to surrender unconditionally to a delicious sin that breaks the guilt index.