Spoiler Alert: The Fries Made the Dish.
If you travel to Belgium or France, you will surely enjoy a bucket of mussels paired with thinly-cut fries. And that will definitely be a food memory to last a long time. Read about the moules frites history and the origins of how it is a Belgian creation.
Moules Frites History & Origins
The origins of moules frites often get confused between France and Belgium, as when one travels around France, the dish is quite common. To know the origins is to know the history of fries in Europe.
Potatoes came to Europe from the Americas in the 1600s. Like tomatoes, Europeans did not embrace the potato right away. It was the Belgians, or at that time, the Flemish who were the first to fry up the potato as a part of their regular diet.
A Flemish manuscript in 1781 documents how frites were made from potatoes that were cut into long slices and in the shape of small fish. The shape resembled fish as there were no river fish during winter months. Adding to this, the Flemish were the first to pair these frites, or fries, with mussels.
At that time, and now, mussels were cheap and plentiful – perfect for the everyday diet. Plus, mussels were in season from July to April, making them readily available throughout most of the year.
The dish and its pairing quickly spread throughout Europe, particularly in Northern France and the Netherlands. After World War I, it WAS popularized throughout Europe for its reputation as a quick, filling, and comforting meal.
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