Shortly after the discovery of the Americas by Europeans, sometime in the early 1500’s, there was a not uncommon famine in France. The French king at the time was fascinated with the potato, among other foods new to Europe from the Americas.
The French people, though starving, were dubious and wouldn’t plant them or eat them. The brilliant king had his potato field surrounded by armed guards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Of course, the people thought, if the king valued this foodstuff so highly, it had to be something truly great. Thus was ultimately born the French fry, amid other delights French chefs have created. Lee O'Hara