Fun French fries fact! In Japan, they use the English words "fried potato" to refer to them, but this is often shorted to just "potato". This creates confusion when talking with native English speakers.
This series is my favorite. It takes the only theory Course I've ever enjoyed, and makes it even longer. Shout out to Dr. Costura for having the coolest class in culinary school.
As an Oregonian, I've always seen the Ore-Ida brand in the store, but I never knew that it stood for Oregon-Idaho. Now that I know Tator Tots were an Oregon invention... it's tots over fries all day.
Growing up, my family liked French fries so much, my parents bought a propane set-up (think turkey fryer today) just so we can make enough for everyone's fill in one batch ( 4 of us, about 8 medium to medium/large Idaho russet potatoes). We probably averaged using it 3 times a week.
Tots forever!! Also, can we have a video all about George Crum? I wanna know more. The tiny crumb (heh) of information was not enough! Love this series. Love the channel. 💗
Thanks, and interesting suggestion! It's a more personal lens than we usually take, but I wonder if we could do a video about the "Celebrity Chef" as a phenomenon and have a section of George Crum. Adding it to our list of ideas (which seems to get ever longer...)!
@@MentalFloss No worries whatsoever. Now I don't know if this works w/ any other topic cause I don't think it'll work on its own but there is this myth/rumor that banana flavoured ice cream doesn't taste like banana because our banana's got the designer fruit treatment and their taste changed. I am still not sure what to think of that.
Thanks! And weird-we had a line scripted in there-"Examples of potato pancakes include Irish boxties and Jewish latkes." Somehow it didn't make it in the video!
@@MentalFloss If I were the kind who was triggered by such "slights" I would notify you of the impending lawsuit. I'm mainly amused by such oversights. Thanks for clarifying and mentioning an Irish treat I had not heard of. BTW, you can ask Jews of a certain age about how our mothers had us help in the making of latkes by grating the potatoes on an old-fashioned grater. Bloody knuckles often ensued. Really. To which our mothers said in the snarkiest way possible: "It'll add to the taste."
Definitely a fries guy, but I do enjoy a tot. Also, board game history when? I think I've identified most of the ones you have on that shelf, but there are still a few I can't quite make out.
I prefer fries, but tots are good. Something about that crispy exterior and fluffy interior of a perfectly cooked French fry just does it for me. Perhaps working as a cook at a restaurant where we made our fries from scratch has biased me. Toss them in Cajun seasoning, or better yet some Middle Eastern spice blend and you're golden.
French fry grease constitutes at least 1% of my blood sooo. Ps I saw the board game collection in the back, I absolutely love it! Have you tried Smash Up yet? It's made by the same people that made King of Tokyo, and they currently have a buy one get one half off deal. You can also play the game on Table Top Simulator (if you use the updated mod by someone with the name, lazer as part of the creator name) there's even a discord for playing it online and for free I can link you to if you're interested.
An honorable mention to Papa Rellena, which is mashed potatoes formed into an egg-shaped nugget, then deep fried. It's like a tater tot but creamy and smooth. Oh, and they're stuffed with meat and things!
@@Obiwancolenobi Yeah, I think it is a croquette, but the fillings are generally different than what you'll find in France/Spain, and the size/consistency seemed a bit different, as well-maybe different binding agents?
I like both but prefer the fries because they have more structural integrity. Tots fall apart if not cooked. Fries can be dipped and taste more of potato than deep fried tots.
tots or fries? tough one... are we talking the thin fries such as McDonalds, or a thicker fry? Tot's over thin, Thick over Tot's, Thin with ice-cream Of course Phillip J wins every time
I would probably agree that hash browns are my favorite form of potato overall, but it also just depends on my mood at the time. Sometimes you're just can't beat a good baked potato with butter, salt, and pepper
"I went into a McDonald's yesterday and said, 'I'd like some fries.' The girl at the counter said, 'Would you like some fries with that?'" - JAY LENO. 🥔🍟
Smashing that like button to get this video 1k likes for the Beach Boy look alike, talking about those good french fry vibrations! keep up the good work :)
Spanish explorers are actually responsible for bringing potatoes to Europe in the first place. A Spanish explorer described potatoes in a journal entry dating back to 1577 as "a kind of earth nut which, after it is boiled, is as tender as cooked chestnuts." It was pretty typical at the time in Spanish tradition to fry basically anything, so fries definitely could have been on the menu back in the 16th century. Apparently, fries were first served in Galicia (an autonomous area of northwest Spain), and eventually made their way up to Belgium. Belgium, at the time, was called the Spanish Netherlands. So fries became popular in Belgium because the tradition moved through Spanish communities.
Tader Tots hands down over French fries but good homemade hashbrowns beat both but still losses out potato cakes unless it is a cold winter's night at a football game where the hand warming winner are baked potatoes. FYI: I do love my spuds. Now on to which variety of potato is best for which use. . . let the blood bath begin. Too bad about that world peace thing. ;-) And we haven't even got to "fancy" potatoes like mashed or scalloped or . . . .
6:36 - While the story is regarded as a myth, it does show that at that time "French fried potatoes" were thin slices of potato, just like those served by Jefferson, and not batons.
I knew that British people called them chips, but it literally just clicked for me that this is a really apt name for them. They are like wood chips, but potatoes.
As far as origin is concerned, here are the facts: the Spanish did indeed bring potato and tomato plants with them from the Americas in the 16th century. The first to actually eat the fruits of both were the gastronomically curious Florentines...they were also the first to deep-fry ANYTHING in Europe at the time, so fries are originally ITALIAN.
French Fries, but really both. They are but vessels for great sauces and/or vinegar. Very fun video! That said, is it me or is your shirt in focus and your face is slightly blurred?
When I was a kid the cool thing to do was go to Kesge’s at the mall and get Cokes and hot fries drowned in ketchup. It didn’t get much better than that back then.
Fries are best as a side, but if you're going to make a meal of it, you can't beat totchos -- Nachos Grande made with tater tots instead of chips. *smacks lips*
I love latkes, fries of all shapes and sizes, hash browns, potato wedges, and even gnocchi... but that creation of Ore-Ida will always be my favorite, whether it be the original or one of many, many knockoffs. There's something about the form factor, and the blend of crunchy browned outside and the warm, soft, savory inside of Tater Tots™ that will always beat out any other potato delight for me.
English chips all the way. They are bigger than fries and contain fluffy potato inside. Fries are just a crispy shell where the inside is all fried out.
Im a fry
When a French fry comments on your video about French fries, you have to pin it.
Stephen Fry? I think he's English.
@@MentalFloss …Or…is it a young fish?…
I'm a French.
"Show me a person who doesn't like french fries and we'll swap lies." Happy hungry! Cheers, Domenico.
Fun French fries fact! In Japan, they use the English words "fried potato" to refer to them, but this is often shorted to just "potato". This creates confusion when talking with native English speakers.
Fries are amazing and I prefer those as the stand-alone side. Tots, however, are invaluable for tater tot hotdish (aka Minnesota ambrosia).
Fries, for sure. Always felt like tots were something somebody already chewed....
Justin, please do not make me decide which type of fried potato I like!! Between tater tots, hash browns, and french fries- I love them all!!!
Me either plz
This series is my favorite.
It takes the only theory Course I've ever enjoyed, and makes it even longer.
Shout out to Dr. Costura for having the coolest class in culinary school.
In Australia, tatertots are called potato gems.
An episode on burritos or mushrooms would be a great idea i think
As an Oregonian, I've always seen the Ore-Ida brand in the store, but I never knew that it stood for Oregon-Idaho. Now that I know Tator Tots were an Oregon invention... it's tots over fries all day.
Growing up, my family liked French fries so much, my parents bought a propane set-up (think turkey fryer today) just so we can make enough for everyone's fill in one batch ( 4 of us, about 8 medium to medium/large Idaho russet potatoes). We probably averaged using it 3 times a week.
One of my fav series!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
This is a great watch, xxxx
This made me thoroughly hungry.
Fries!
Tots v Fries.... It's all about the Mood, the meal, and time of Day
French fries with a little salt or with vinegar ? In Ocean City , MD. fries with Old Bay seasoning.
Tots forever!! Also, can we have a video all about George Crum? I wanna know more. The tiny crumb (heh) of information was not enough! Love this series. Love the channel. 💗
Thanks, and interesting suggestion! It's a more personal lens than we usually take, but I wonder if we could do a video about the "Celebrity Chef" as a phenomenon and have a section of George Crum. Adding it to our list of ideas (which seems to get ever longer...)!
French Fries rule, but not the vegetable/canola oil crap today. Deep fry those puppies in lard and put lots of salt on them.
My great great grandmother came from Namur, Belgium 🇧🇪 and I always felt special there. I love Belgian fries 🍟 especially with it being from Namur
hey I remember I suggested this on your first video. so happy to see it now. awesome job!
Oh man, now I feel bad that we didn't shout you out! In any case, your comment(s) and loyalty are much appreciated!
@@MentalFloss No worries whatsoever.
Now I don't know if this works w/ any other topic cause I don't think it'll work on its own but there is this myth/rumor that banana flavoured ice cream doesn't taste like banana because our banana's got the designer fruit treatment and their taste changed.
I am still not sure what to think of that.
I like french fries. My last name even has fries in it 🍟
The Giant Eagle Grocery Story brand of tater tots are called tater treats :)
Fun video. I do wonder why you didn't mention the name of the potato pancake made with matzoh meal, the humble "latke."
Thanks! And weird-we had a line scripted in there-"Examples of potato pancakes include Irish boxties and Jewish latkes." Somehow it didn't make it in the video!
@@MentalFloss If I were the kind who was triggered by such "slights" I would notify you of the impending lawsuit. I'm mainly amused by such oversights. Thanks for clarifying and mentioning an Irish treat I had not heard of.
BTW, you can ask Jews of a certain age about how our mothers had us help in the making of latkes by grating the potatoes on an old-fashioned grater. Bloody knuckles often ensued. Really. To which our mothers said in the snarkiest way possible: "It'll add to the taste."
I'll take fries, but Sonic's tots are great. And Hugs to Justin. 🤗🤗
Question: How did this video about fried potato goodness go on for almost 10 minutes and not even mention potato logs/wedges?
I was wondering that very same thing. They are high up on my personal list of deliciousness!
Everyone knows it was Sir Walter "Oooh I've got a big boat" Raleigh that imported potatoes (Go watch S02E03 of Blackadder called Potato)
french fries for the win. also, is the difference between tater tots and croquettes just the breading?
Tots, hands down
Also are you related to Tim Dodd!? I have to know!
Tater tots with ranch dressing dipping sauce... but I love potatoes in any form or fashion; scalloped being one of my favorites.
Definitely a fries guy, but I do enjoy a tot. Also, board game history when? I think I've identified most of the ones you have on that shelf, but there are still a few I can't quite make out.
Haha a history of board games is definitely on our wishlist. We just need to clone our video team and we will be ready to make it!
I prefer fries, but tots are good. Something about that crispy exterior and fluffy interior of a perfectly cooked French fry just does it for me. Perhaps working as a cook at a restaurant where we made our fries from scratch has biased me. Toss them in Cajun seasoning, or better yet some Middle Eastern spice blend and you're golden.
Tater tots! Freshly deep fried tater tots dunked in ketchup, please.
French fry grease constitutes at least 1% of my blood sooo.
Ps I saw the board game collection in the back, I absolutely love it! Have you tried Smash Up yet? It's made by the same people that made King of Tokyo, and they currently have a buy one get one half off deal. You can also play the game on Table Top Simulator (if you use the updated mod by someone with the name, lazer as part of the creator name) there's even a discord for playing it online and for free I can link you to if you're interested.
Jack-N-the-Box curly fries 🍟.
Fries especially ones from 5 Guys
Cheesy tots but chili cheese fries. Or sweet potato fries!
I prefer (potatoe) croquettes or Kroketten in German. Even crispier than fries
An honorable mention to Papa Rellena, which is mashed potatoes formed into an egg-shaped nugget, then deep fried. It's like a tater tot but creamy and smooth. Oh, and they're stuffed with meat and things!
Oo yes, had these in Peru-delicious!
*Frantically begins googling recipes*
That's basically...a croquette, lol
@@Obiwancolenobi Yeah, I think it is a croquette, but the fillings are generally different than what you'll find in France/Spain, and the size/consistency seemed a bit different, as well-maybe different binding agents?
@@MentalFloss Yes! Good distinction, and credit to Peru (in reference to your other comment) being basically the motherland for taters.
I like both but prefer the fries because they have more structural integrity. Tots fall apart if not cooked. Fries can be dipped and taste more of potato than deep fried tots.
tots or fries? tough one... are we talking the thin fries such as McDonalds, or a thicker fry?
Tot's over thin,
Thick over Tot's,
Thin with ice-cream
Of course Phillip J wins every time
I would probably agree that hash browns are my favorite form of potato overall, but it also just depends on my mood at the time. Sometimes you're just can't beat a good baked potato with butter, salt, and pepper
5:25 I'm not sure what this is, but it's definately not real English fish and chips
The first snackbar/cafetaria in the Netherlands opened already in 1915. Fast food existed apparently before the USA took a run with it.
"I went into a McDonald's yesterday and said, 'I'd like some fries.' The girl at the counter said, 'Would you like some fries with that?'" - JAY LENO. 🥔🍟
Tots, but the flat round kind.
Potatoes are the real MVP 🍟
Smashing that like button to get this video 1k likes for the Beach Boy look alike, talking about those good french fry vibrations! keep up the good work :)
Spanish explorers are actually responsible for bringing potatoes to Europe in the first place.
A Spanish explorer described potatoes in a journal entry dating back to 1577 as "a kind of earth nut which, after it is boiled, is as tender as cooked chestnuts." It was pretty typical at the time in Spanish tradition to fry basically anything, so fries definitely could have been on the menu back in the 16th century.
Apparently, fries were first served in Galicia (an autonomous area of northwest Spain), and eventually made their way up to Belgium. Belgium, at the time, was called the Spanish Netherlands. So fries became popular in Belgium because the tradition moved through Spanish communities.
Tater tots are called potato gems 🥔 where I live in Australia
The best fries in the world come from the Netherlands, hands down.
**Laughs in Belgian**
You said what?
Uniting the world, one fried potato at a time!
Aloha 😉😊🥔🤙🏼
Tader Tots hands down over French fries but good homemade hashbrowns beat both but still losses out potato cakes unless it is a cold winter's night at a football game where the hand warming winner are baked potatoes. FYI: I do love my spuds. Now on to which variety of potato is best for which use. . . let the blood bath begin. Too bad about that world peace thing. ;-) And we haven't even got to "fancy" potatoes like mashed or scalloped or . . . .
3:30 Potato guns don't work nearly as well as guns that fire bullets.
Taylor Tots. They have cheese inside. As far as I know you can only get them at SteelFire Grill
I like them french fried potaters
Potato gems!
French fries obviously
Hash Browns, Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Peppered, Chunked & Diced!
Another first for me: being jealous of an imaginary guy named Brian 🥲
6:36 - While the story is regarded as a myth, it does show that at that time "French fried potatoes" were thin slices of potato, just like those served by Jefferson, and not batons.
Back in the day when I ate starch, I preferred the crosscut fries. I think that Arby's has them.
French fries because poutine.
Curley Fries and Potatoe Gems for me...
Fries, of course, but good tots are rare so I'll always take them when I can get them.
5 Guys has the best fries in the US!
If I have to choose *tater tots*
Tater Tots over fries
Tots for the win!😊
I knew that British people called them chips, but it literally just clicked for me that this is a really apt name for them. They are like wood chips, but potatoes.
Fries
As far as origin is concerned, here are the facts: the Spanish did indeed bring potato and tomato plants with them from the Americas in the 16th century. The first to actually eat the fruits of both were the gastronomically curious Florentines...they were also the first to deep-fry ANYTHING in Europe at the time,
so fries are originally ITALIAN.
No Freedom Fries?
Tots are the superior potato snack.
French Fries, but really both. They are but vessels for great sauces and/or vinegar. Very fun video!
That said, is it me or is your shirt in focus and your face is slightly blurred?
Tater tots all day long over fries!!
Fries. I hate tots. About the only potato style I don't like. (Why did you skip Poutine??)
I know, right??? Of all the potato dishes to skip, especially with all the mention of other French foods lol
Big, floppy, chips. I don't think we have tater tots in England, so I can't say I've tried them!
Where are Justin's glasses? 🙂
Spanish took the potato to Europe from America, so how did Jefferson come to introduce it to America?
He got them from the French 😉
French fries is best fries
Tater tots are the cheap deli meats of the 'tater world - scraps held together with some kind of glue.
When I was a kid the cool thing to do was go to Kesge’s at the mall and get Cokes and hot fries drowned in ketchup. It didn’t get much better than that back then.
Tater tots win out on my family. Super crispy outside and soft inside. Dipped in ketchup, bbq sauce, or even A1 sauce, they win.
Best potato snack whilst playing boardgames ?
Fries are best as a side, but if you're going to make a meal of it, you can't beat totchos -- Nachos Grande made with tater tots instead of chips. *smacks lips*
Oh yeah baby!!! FTW!!!
I love latkes, fries of all shapes and sizes, hash browns, potato wedges, and even gnocchi... but that creation of Ore-Ida will always be my favorite, whether it be the original or one of many, many knockoffs. There's something about the form factor, and the blend of crunchy browned outside and the warm, soft, savory inside of Tater Tots™ that will always beat out any other potato delight for me.
Nothing beats home made fries cooked in beef tallow ... I know I know....Bad for the environment but the taste is so superior. #MalcolmGladwell
That’s pronounced Née fi. Uncle Nephi thanks you.
English chips all the way. They are bigger than fries and contain fluffy potato inside. Fries are just a crispy shell where the inside is all fried out.
No mention of poutine???
Why not both!
🍟
We don't get tater tots here so, fries/chips all the way!
FRIES1 Hot, crispy, salty!
I'm fond of French fried tater tots.
French fries. I want to know when did ketchup get paired with fries?
Fish and chips done dirty with that picture smh
When we were kids, tots were sometimes called "American fries". Too bad the name didn't stick. It's more awkward for an adult to order "tots".
Tots
French fries are older than Belgium itself.
French Fires!
What is the origin of
fried chicken?