Bet you didn’t know…

No funny husband stories this week, no family member engaged or married and no new news on the home front. Instead of lamenting the end of summer (and my pathetic Atlanta Braves), I thought I’d actually write about food for a change of pace.

There are thousands of great dishes in the world. Knowing this, it’s not surprising that so many people mistake where certain foods originate. Following are some of the common ones that might surprise you. 

French Fries

French Fries are incredibly popular all over the world. While the French have tried to claim them, they were invented by the Belgians and are still quite popular there. Some folklore stories say that some Belgians would often fry very small fish, and when they had no fish, they would make potatoes in the shape of small fish instead. 

Egg Rolls

The Egg Roll that we eat in many parts of the western world isn’t all that much like similar Chinese food. The egg rolls westerners know was created by Chinese immigrants to America who were using what ingredients they had to make something that would seem like theirs, but was meant to appeal to Americans. The thick hard-shelled egg rolls are nothing like the actual spring rolls that you will find in Hong Kong or elsewhere in China. Spring rolls are much more delicate and light, while western egg rolls are more like deep fried dough stuffed with lettuce and other ingredients.

Nachos

Nachos were invented by a Mexican, out of extra ingredients that were on hand, but designed to satisfy the appetites of visitors from the United States. The man who invented them was known by the name “Ignacio,” which is where the name nacho comes from. A man named Frank Liberto eventually starting selling them at stadiums and the rest was history. They became a very popular concession food. 

Sushi Rolls