It is the most consumed side dish at American restaurants…French Fries. According to the DailyMeal.com, the average American eats almost 30 pounds of fries a year. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition, fried potatoes are the most frequently consumed vegetable for children ages 2 to 4. We have a long history with the deep fried potato.
President Thomas Jefferson is responsible for Americans’ fry consumption. He brought them to public awareness after discovering them while working abroad as American Minister to France. His chef continued to make them for the president when they returned to the United States.
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Charles Dickens included a reference to French fries in his 1859 novel “A Tale of Two Cities.” Dickens described the dish we now know as fries as, “husky chips of potato, fried with some reluctant drops of oil.”
In 2003, when France opposed the U.S. plan to invade Iraq, Republicans in Congress took the “French” out of fries. The then-chairman of the Committee on House Administration, Bob Ney, changed the title of the menu option in Congressional cafeterias to “Freedom Fries.”
There are at least 15 different styles of fry in existence: standard, waffle, thick-cut, Belgian, curly, steak, shoestring, crinkle-cut, sweet potato, cottage, side-winding, tornado, wedge and smiley face and even tots.
In the 1950’s, McDonalds French Fries cost 10 cents. Approximately 7 percent of the potatoes grown in the U.S. become McDonald’s French fries.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Who Has The Best French Fries In Indianapolis?
If you consider yourself a connoisseur of fries, you might want to try these locations:
- Burger Theory located at 8555 Stansted Drive in Indianapolis features USDA ground chuck/brisket/short rib beef
burgers with house-made marinades & sauces. Wash it down with a local craft beer. And remember the fries!
- Bubba’s 33 can be found at 7799 South US 31 in Indianapolis. They offer hand-tossed pizza, fresh ground burgers, and dang near freezing beer. This is a family friendly Sports Eatery!
- The Tap features dill fries. It’s all about the fries and the drinks at The Tap as their their fry appetizer is a must with four different dipping sauces. You can find The Tap at 306 N Delaware St in Indianapolis.
- Baby’s is located at 2147 N Talbott St in Indianapolis. Baby’s is a casual, fun and approachable spot suited for families and cocktail enthusiasts alike.
- Clancy’s Hamburgers offers quality food at a reasonable price. They provide 100% pure beef, grade A potatoes, aged cheddar and top quality name brands for everything from mustard and ketchup to sesame seed buns and dill pickle chips. You can find Clancy’s at 906 Carrollton Ave Ste 380 in Indianapolis.
Eat This, Not That says the best fries in the entire state of Indiana can be found at Ziffles Rib Bar in Fort Wayne.
For a real treat, try dipping your fries in a Wendy’s Frosty. You’ll get the delightful burst of salty and sweet!