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Cheese fries or cheesy chips (latter British English) is a dish consisting of French fries covered in cheese, with the possible addition of various other toppings. Cheese fries are generally served as a lunch or dinner dish. They can be found in fast-food locations, diners, and grills mainly in English speaking countries.
 | |
| Alternative names | Cheesy chips, chips and cheese |
|---|---|
| Type | Fast food |
| Course | Side dish, snack |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Main ingredients | French fries, cheese |
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Origins
editThe origin of the dish is not known. Cheese fries have been said to have grown in popularity in the United States after canned cheese products such as Cheez Whiz were introduced in 1952.[1] Don A. Jenkins is said to have invented the chili cheese fry variation at the age of 16, in Tomball, Texas. Another report claims that a young fry cook named Austin Ruse was the first to serve this dish while working at Dairy Queen in St. Charles, Missouri.[2][3] [4]
Variations
editUnited States
editThroughout the Southwest US, loaded fries are often covered in melted cheddar cheese, bacon bits, jalapeño slices, and chives, and served with ranch dressing. Alternately, they are also served as carne asada fries.[citation needed]
In Philadelphia, pizza fries are topped with melted mozzarella and served with pizza sauce on the side, while "mega fries" are topped with cheddar (or sometimes Cheez Whiz) and mozzarella cheese and bacon, usually served with a side of ranch dressing.[citation needed]
In New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey, they are covered with melted American, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese. Disco fries have the addition of brown gravy.[citation needed]
In other parts of the US, nacho cheese is often used, especially at snack stands.[citation needed]
Chili cheese fries are topped with chili con carne. The cheese is usually either American or cheddar. In Cincinnati, Ohio, they use their own Cincinnati chili for their chili cheese fries at the local chili restaurants. In New Mexico, they use New Mexico chile for their chili cheese fries, often adding chopped lettuce, tomato, and olives as garnish.[citation needed]
Gourmet Fries are Charleys Philly Steaks rendition of cheese fries. The cheese is similar to cheddar nacho cheese and can include bacon bits or ranch.
In Puerto Rico, they have gained some popularity on fast food trucks known as crazy fries (papas locas). Potatoes, yams, batata (a white sweet potato with purple skin), cassava fries or Mofongo are coated with bacon, cheese with roasted pork, chicken, beef or all three, drizzled with ketchup and mayonnaise. Corn, chopped lettuce, cilantro, avocado, tomatoes, and bell peppers, are often added as a garnish.
Internationally
editIn Ireland, a variation called "taco fries" consists of fresh-cut fries covered in ground beef, tomato, peppers, onions, and various seasonings. This is covered in taco sauce and shredded cheddar.[5][6][7] Another staple of Irish fast food restaurants, both stand-alone chippers or chains such as Supermac's, is "Garlic Cheese Chips", which consists of chips covered in garlic sauce and cheese, usually cheddar.[8][9][10]
In Bulgaria, a common side dish offered in most restaurants consists of French fries, topped with grated or crumbled sirene.[citation needed]
In the Netherlands, a dish named 'kapsalon' is served as fast food. This consists of fries covered with cheese, salad, and shawarma or doner kebab. It is often consumed with large amounts of garlic sauce or chili sauce.[citation needed]
In the United Kingdom, cheesy chips are often served in pubs. Preparation includes the pouring of cheddar sauce over chips or sprinkling cheddar over chips and then putting the dish under a grill. A popular version in pubs is loaded fries which are made with french fries served with nacho sauce, crispy onions , sour cream and bacon bits. A variation adds beef gravy or curry sauce.[11] In some cases mozzarella cheese is used rather than cheddar, particularly in takeaway restaurants which sell pizza.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Not-So-American History of Cheez Whiz". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ Zorn, Marc (2014-08-18). "Who Invented Chili Cheese Fries - Vision Launch". Vision Launch. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ "5 to Try: Cheese fries". Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
- ^ "Poutine Vs Loaded Fries: Everything You Need to Know". 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Healthy Taco Fries". virginmediatelevision.ie. 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ "WATCH: The ultimate fakeaway - Taco cheese chip with less than 400 calories". Irish Independent. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ "Maria's Valentine Taco Fries Recipe". TodayFM. 2017-02-14. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ Barrie, Josh (2019-08-09). "Supermac's: The Irish McDonald's rival coming to the UK". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ Varley, Declan (17 September 2020). "No more naked fries as Supermac's chips get dressed up for going out". Galway Advertiser. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ O'Connor, Amy (8 June 2018). "'Few celebrity chefs would eat whirly burgers in Roma II, but Anthony Bourdain did and that's what made him so magic'". www.dailyedge.ie. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ "Chips, Cheese and Gravy Day proposed". BBC News.