TheHistoryofthePotatoChips1853,SaratogaSprings,NewYorkAsaworldfood,potatoesaresecondinhumanconsumptiononlytorice.Andasthin,salted,crispchips,theyareAmerica'sfavoritesnackfood.PotatochipsoriginatedinNewEnglandasoneman'svariationontheFrench-friedpotato,andtheirproductionwastheresultnotofasuddenstrokeofculinaryinventionbutofafitofpique.Inthesummerof1853,AmericanIndianGeorgeCrumwasemployedasachefatanelegantresortinSaratogaSprings,NewYork.OnMoonLakeLodge'srestaurantmenuwereFrench-friedpotatoes,preparedbyCruminthestandard,thick-cutFrenchstylethatwaspopularizedinFranceinthe1700sandenjoyedbyThomasJeffersonasambassadortothatcountry.EversinceJeffersonbroughttherecipetoAmericaandservedFrenchfriestoguestsatMonticello,thedishwaspopularandseriousdinnerfare.AtMoonLakeLodge,onedinnerguestfoundchefCrum'sFrenchfriestoothickforhislikingandrejectedtheorder.Crumcutandfriedathinnerbatch,butthese,too,metwithdisapproval.Exasperated,CrumdecidedtoriletheguestbyproducingFrenchfriestoothinandcrisptoskewerwithafork.Theplanbackfired.Theguestwasecstaticoverthebrowned,paper-thinpotatoes,andotherdinersrequestedCrum'spotatochips,whichbegantoappearonthemenuasSaratogaChips,ahousespecialty.Soontheywerepackagedandsold,firstlocally,thenthroughouttheNewEnglandarea.Crumeventuallyopenedhisownrestaurant,featuringchips.Atthattime,potatoesweretediouslypeeledandslicedbyhand.Itwastheinventionofthemechanicalpotatopeelerinthe1920sthatpavedthewayforpotatochipstosoarfromasmallspecialtyitemtoatop-sellingsnackfood.Forseveraldecadesaftertheircreation,potatochipswerelargelyaNortherndinnerdish.Inthe1920s,HermanLay,atravelingsalesmanintheSouth,helpedpopularizethefoodfromAtlantatoTennessee.LaypeddledpotatochipstoSoutherngrocersoutofthetrunkofhiscar,buildingabusinessandanamethatwouldbecomesynonymouswiththethin,saltysnack.Lay'spotatochipsbecamethefirstsuccessfullymarketednationalbrand,andin1961HermanLay,toincreasehislineofgoods,mergedhiscompanywithFrito,theDallas-basedproducerofsuchsnackfoodsasFritosCornChips.Americanstodayconsumemorepotatochips(andFritosandFrenchfries)thananyotherpeopleintheworld;areversalfromcolonialtimes,whenNewEnglandersconsignedpotatoeslargelytopigsasfodderandbelievedthateatingthetubersshortenedaperson'slife—notbecausepotatoeswerefriedinfatanddousedwithsalt,today'sheartandhypertensionculprits,butbecausethespud,initsunadulteratedform,supposedlycontainedanaphrodisiacwhichledtobehaviorthatwasthoughttobelifeshortening.Potatoesofcoursecontainnoaphrodisiac,thoughpotatochipsarefrequentlyconsumedwithpassionandaretoutedbysometobeassatisfyingassex.Editor'sNote:Ifyouenjoyedthisstoryyouwilllove"Panati'sExtraordinaryOriginsofEverydayThing".ItisinprintandIgotmycopyatBarnesandNobles.
