I’m happy to identify with the cliche – I’m Irish and I LOVE my spuds! So on a recent trip to Bruges, I had to take myself off to the FRIET MUSEUM – the only one in the world dedicated to fries!
The building itself dates back to the 14th century and displays are spread over a few floors – going through the history of the potato, showcasing farming techniques and tools and moving on to the preparation of frites – with the option of sampling the product in the medieval cellars before you leave.
So what can one possibly discover in a Friet Museum ?
Read on and learn my friend!
1. There are more types of spud in the world than I ever imagined!
Won’t see many of these in Tesco!
Luckily this potato was never introduced to Ireland!!!
2. A very brief history of the potato
First cultivated by Peruvian Incas around 8000 – 5000BC
Introduced to Europe by the Spanish in 16th century.
Sir Walter Raleigh owned vast tracts of land in Ireland and that is why he is accredited with the introduction of the potato there. Irish climate was perfect for cultivation. Eventually Ireland was to become almost totally dependent on the potato as a primary food source. In the 1840’s, a catastrophic famine occurred when a fungus wiped out the crop.
Today the potato is the world’s 4th largest food crop after rice, wheat and maize.
In 1995, potato plants became the first food grown in space.
3. So did fries originate in Belgium?
There’s no historical evidence alas that this is where they originated. The most popular story is that residents along the River Meuse used to catch small fish and fry them before eating. In the 1750’s a series of harsh winters meant there was no fishing on the frozen river. So the residents cut potatoes into small slices resembling the fish and fried them …. and the rest is history!!!
4. There are fries … and there are fries….
5. But why do we say French Fries?
The story goes that during the First World War, Belgian Soldiers shared their frites with US troops. The US soldiers thought the others were French and so called the frites ‘French Fries’.
6. There’s more than one way to chip a chip!
7. What makes the Belgian frite so special?
Belgian fries are unique in that they are cooked in two separate phases and served in a paper cone with sauce – usually mayonnaise – on top and eaten with a small wooden fork.
8. Ideally they should be eaten on the go rather than sitting down…
9. Frite Stands
The first frite stand can be traced to Liege in 1838
Today there are over 5000 stands in the country!
In Leuven – about 30km from Brussels – you can enrol in an academy and spend a year devoted to all the tricks of the frite vending trade. You even have to write a thesis to graduate!
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Small Stuff
Friet Museum Brugge is open daily between 10.00a.m. and 5.00p.m.
Entrance Fee – €7
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Belgian chips with mayo are awesome!
I think the first time I tried chips with mayo was in Germany – 1979!. I was very wary about ordering them …. we had very little money so this was probably going to be my dinner…. I thought then that it was one of the best things I’d ever tasted!!!
In a warming pie or a spicy stir fry; we love potatoes too, although while in Bruges instead of Frites we opted to sample sweet treats! Had no idea there’s a Friet Museum in Bruges! Have a good day and thanks for sharing. Aiva
Is the potato a main staple in Latvian cooking? Or is that something you took on in Ireland?
I missed the Museum but will catch up on that on next visit, but I’m a big fan of frites anyway. In fact, a dinner isn’t a dinner without spuds of some sort, but frites I save for ‘special’ occasions due to their ‘moreish’ taste.
A woman after my own heart!!
So interesting there is a museum dedicated to fries. We have a museum here in Tassie dedicated to ‘poo’ of all things. It’s surptisingly interesting but I haven’t been game enough to do a post on it.😁😁😁
I brought back paper from Sri Lanka made from elephant poo….
Looking forward to reading all about your museum some day!!! I promise I’ll ‘like’ anyway!!!!
What a neat museum! As someone who is Dutch, I appreciate the frites and fritessaus! Mmm.
Well as a museum, if its going to succeed anywhere then it has to succeed in Belgium because everyone who visits the country is going to try frites at some stage. Bet half the population are kicking themselves that they didn’t think of it first!!!