We went to the surprisingly interesting Fries (not French) Museum, where we learned that potatoes originated in the Andes in Peru. I didn’t think a museum about the humble potato could be so interesting, and yet it was. At the end, we got to sample fries with three different kinds of sauces: Samurai, Andalouse, and Pepper (although most Belgians just top their fries with mayonnaise). Don’t expect to find ketchup available for your fries in Belgium.
Belgians say that they – and not the French – invented the fried potato sticks that are now popular all over the world. Belgians are proud that they double-fry their potatoes. They say that this creates the perfect combination of a crispy golden exterior with a soft fluffy interior. They fry the potatoes the first time at a relatively low temperature, which cooks the inside without browning the outside. Then, they let the fries rest and cool down, which allows excess moisture to evaporate from the surface. Finally, they fry it a second time at a higher temperature which makes the outside crispy.
If you’re health-conscious, be aware that Belgian fries are usually cooked in beef tallow, a practice that has virtually disappeared in the United States. Beef tallow has a high smoke point which makes it work well with that second high-temperature frying stage. It’s also more flavorful – something I’m old enough to remember from when beef tallow was still used in the U.S.. However, many modern vendors have moved to using plant-based oils to better cater to health-conscious people and vegans/vegetarians, so if it’s important to you, you should ask how they’re cooked. Fries (or fritjes, as they’re called here) are ubiquitous here in Belgium; you see them on almost every restaurant plate.
Potatoes came to us from the Andes mountains of Peru.
There are many kinds of potatoes, and their plants have pretty flowers.
Rachelle is enjoying her first taste of double-fried Belgian fries.
The Frietmuseum is located at Vlamingstraat 33 in Bruges. It’s open from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily. Admission is 12€.