who created french fries

The creation of French fries is disputed between France and Belgium, with both countries having claims to their origin. The modern method of making French fries, especially the double-frying technique, likely originated in Belgium in the late 1600s or early 1700s, where villagers in the Meuse valley would fry potatoes as a substitute for fish during winter. A German man named Krieger, later known as Mr. Fritz, is credited by some historians for popularizing the double frying method and the modern cut of fries in Belgium around the mid-1800s. On the other hand, France also claims French fries, pointing out culinary contributions such as the popularity of potatoes in France in the 1700s aided by Antoine-Augustine Parmentier, and records of fried potato recipes in French cookbooks since at least 1803. Auguste Escoffier’s 1903 recipe in France also refers to fries, naming them after vendors on Paris’s Pont-Neuf bridge, although these early fries were different from today's style. Additionally, American history credits Thomas Jefferson for introducing French fries to the United States after encountering them in France during the late 18th century. In summary, French fries as known today are likely a product of culinary development involving both Belgium and France, with Belgium strongly linked to the double-frying technique and the specific form of fries, and France to the early promotion of potatoes and frying methods in cuisine.