You probably think that French fries is a legacy of France. This is not true. In fact, this delicious snack originates from Belgium.
One day, a cook in Belgium was preparing a stew for his employer's guests. He chopped up several potatoes into small slices to be thrown into the stew. However, while he was transferring the potato slices to the pot, he accidentally dropped them into the frying pan. The cook stared at the potatoes in dismay. He had no more potatoes left in his kitchen and he did not know what to serve his guests.
While the cook stood wondering what to do next, the aroma of fried potatoes enveloped the kitchen. The cook eyed the sizzling potatoes with curiosity. He took a slice and tasted it. He realized it was delicious.
His guests also found this dish delicious. When his guests asked his for the name of the dish, he told them it was 'Pommes frites' which means 'fried potatoes' in French. From then onwards, people began ordering potatoes the French way. These potatoes eventually came to be known as 'French fries'.