who made french fries

French fries were likely invented by vendors on the Pont-Neuf bridge in Paris around 1789, making them French in origin according to some historians. The recipe was popularized in France by chefs like Auguste Escoffier. However, the modern double-frying technique, which produces the crispy texture familiar today, probably originated in Belgium in the 19th century, spreading from there. Belgian fry history also claims origins from the late 1600s or 1700s when villagers fried potatoes as a substitute for fish during winter. The name “French fries” likely came from American soldiers in World War I who called them that because French was the language of Belgian soldiers they encountered. So, both France and Belgium have strong claims to the invention of french fries, with France credited for the initial fried potato sticks and Belgium for the modern form of fries widely known today.