Ohhh potato salad!! I have been craving some good potato salad!
Potato sald is a big thing here in Japan. It is totally different from what I know in France (salade nicoise for example).
Oooh I would love to have the recipe!!
That is fascinating!!yes yes and yes.
I do love fries but it depends on what I eat my potatoes with.
If I grill fish for example I prefer boiled tatoes. I guess it has always been the way we eat pan grilled fish in my family and I love to make my own tartare kind of yogurt/mayo sauce to eat with it.
I also love purée.
It's just too hard to pick!!
Did you know that when potatoes first arrived in France, people were suspicious of it?
I had to check if my memories of this story from junior high-school lessons were founded and Chat GPT helped be. I guess I love so much potatoes this story stuck with me
The short version:
When potatoes first arrived in France, people were deeply suspicious of them. They thought potatoes were:
It took one clever man — Antoine-Augustin Parmentier — to change that, using a mix of science, persuasion… and psychology.
- unsafe,
- linked to diseases like leprosy,
- suitable only for animals or the desperately poor.
And if you know the recipe of "hachis parmentier" you will understand why it is also one of my favs too. My mum used to cook it often and I still do now.
The real historical story
1. Potatoes arrive… and everyone panics
Potatoes came to Europe in the 16th century, but in France they had a bad reputation for a long time:
- They grow underground → seen as “unclean”
- They’re not mentioned in the Bible → suspicious
- They’re part of the nightshade family → very suspicious
In 1748, France even banned potatoes for human consumption in some regions.
2. Enter Parmentier, the potato’s PR genius
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was a pharmacist and agronomist.
While a prisoner of war in Prussia during the Seven Years’ War, he survived largely on potatoes — and realized:
Back in France, he became obsessed with convincing people.
3. The guarded fields trick (this part is real )
Parmentier planted potato fields near Paris and did something very clever:
Naturally… people stole the potatoes.
- He had soldiers guard the fields during the day
- At night, the guards conveniently disappeared
- The message to peasants was:
And once people stole them, they tried them.
And once they tried them… well
So yes — the “guarded fields to make people steal them” story is historically documented, though historians note it may have been encouraged by Parmentier rather than a single dramatic event.
4. Winning over the elite sealed the deal
Parmentier also played the long game:
Once the upper classes approved, common people followed.
- Hosted potato dinners for intellectuals
- Served potato dishes to Louis XVI
- Marie-Antoinette allegedly wore potato flowers in her hair (peak 18th-century influencer behavior)
Did France end up loving potatoes?
Absolutely yes — though it took time.
Today:
- France is one of Europe’s top potato consumers
- Fries (frites), gratins, purées, pommes dauphines… it’s everywhere
- It became a staple food, especially important during famines
Calling it the #1 favorite is debatable (bread and cheese would like a word ), but potatoes are undeniably core to French cuisine now.
Nini, I didn't know about this. I love this story. Thank you, Parmentier!yes yes and yes.
I do love fries but it depends on what I eat my potatoes with.
If I grill fish for example I prefer boiled tatoes. I guess it has always been the way we eat pan grilled fish in my family and I love to make my own tartare kind of yogurt/mayo sauce to eat with it.
I also love purée.
It's just too hard to pick!!
Did you know that when potatoes first arrived in France, people were suspicious of it?
I had to check if my memories of this story from junior high-school lessons were founded and Chat GPT helped be. I guess I love so much potatoes this story stuck with me
The short version:
When potatoes first arrived in France, people were deeply suspicious of them. They thought potatoes were:
It took one clever man — Antoine-Augustin Parmentier — to change that, using a mix of science, persuasion… and psychology.
- unsafe,
- linked to diseases like leprosy,
- suitable only for animals or the desperately poor.
And if you know the recipe of "hachis parmentier" you will understand why it is also one of my favs too. My mum used to cook it often and I still do now.
The real historical story
1. Potatoes arrive… and everyone panics
Potatoes came to Europe in the 16th century, but in France they had a bad reputation for a long time:
- They grow underground → seen as “unclean”
- They’re not mentioned in the Bible → suspicious
- They’re part of the nightshade family → very suspicious
In 1748, France even banned potatoes for human consumption in some regions.
2. Enter Parmentier, the potato’s PR genius
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was a pharmacist and agronomist.
While a prisoner of war in Prussia during the Seven Years’ War, he survived largely on potatoes — and realized:
Back in France, he became obsessed with convincing people.
3. The guarded fields trick (this part is real )
Parmentier planted potato fields near Paris and did something very clever:
Naturally… people stole the potatoes.
- He had soldiers guard the fields during the day
- At night, the guards conveniently disappeared
- The message to peasants was:
And once people stole them, they tried them.
And once they tried them… well
So yes — the “guarded fields to make people steal them” story is historically documented, though historians note it may have been encouraged by Parmentier rather than a single dramatic event.
4. Winning over the elite sealed the deal
Parmentier also played the long game:
Once the upper classes approved, common people followed.
- Hosted potato dinners for intellectuals
- Served potato dishes to Louis XVI
- Marie-Antoinette allegedly wore potato flowers in her hair (peak 18th-century influencer behavior)
Did France end up loving potatoes?
Absolutely yes — though it took time.
Today:
- France is one of Europe’s top potato consumers
- Fries (frites), gratins, purées, pommes dauphines… it’s everywhere
- It became a staple food, especially important during famines
Calling it the #1 favorite is debatable (bread and cheese would like a word ), but potatoes are undeniably core to French cuisine now.
I know they seem like they are a toddler food, but I love how crispy they are on the outside and tender inside! I also love mashed potatoes, potato salad, au gratin, hashbrowns, little mini potatoes with butter and garlic, thyme and rosemary, baked and stuffed potatoes... oh so many delightful ways to enjoy potatoes.