Chips & Crisps
  • Home
  • Chips & Crisps World
    • History of Chips & Crisps >
      • Thomas Jefferson Potato Chip Inventor
      • The Legend of George Crum
      • Potato Chips & Crisps Go On Sale
      • Bag ‘em Up & Fry Continuously
      • Flavour Pioneers
      • Chips OR Crisps?
      • If That’s What The President Calls Them
      • Fried Police
      • The Potato Crisp
      • History of Chips Packaging >
        • Early Packaging Including Boxes
        • Packaging Alternatives
        • Cardboard Canisters
        • Post-War Packaging Including Boxes
        • Worldwide Boxed Packaging
        • Packaging - What We've Learned
    • Facts & Figures >
      • 10 Fun Facts
      • World Records >
        • More World Records
      • 10 Tips & Tricks >
        • Bag Folding for Freshness
        • How to Turn a Potato Chips Bag into a Serving Bowl
        • How to Shrink a Chips or Crisps Bag
        • How to Draw a Chips or Crisps Bag
      • Health & Nutrition >
        • It's All in the Flavor
        • Are Potato Chips & Crisps Companies Committing Murder?
        • The [Un]healthy Potato Snacks Alternatives
        • Rats! I Can't Stop Eating Chips
    • Recipes >
      • Style - Fried Chips & Crisps >
        • Style - Oven Baked Chips & Crisps
        • Style - Microwave Chips & Crisps
      • Ingredients - The Best Potato >
        • Ingredients - Cooking Oils
        • Ingredients - Seasoning
      • Recipes - Crispy Chipped Chicken >
        • Recipes - Spicy Meatballs with Crispy Crunch
        • Recipes - Eazy Cheezy Crizpy Frittata
        • Recipes - Fish & Salt 'n' Vinegar Chips
        • Recipes - Macaroni Cheesy Chips Carbonara
        • Recipes - Hot Chicks & Chips Pizza
        • Recipes - Cross Channel Crisp Croque
        • Recipes - Hot 'n Spicy Chippy Chick Sandwich
        • Recipes - Shortbread Chip Cookies
      • Dip Mixes
    • Other Bagged Snacks >
      • More: Other Bagged Snacks
      • Even More: Other Bagged Snacks
      • Strangest Tastes
    • Chips & Crisps Marketing >
      • Mascot Match Up >
        • The who and why of Chips & Crisps Mascots
        • Always Work with Animals & Children
        • Kid's Stuff
        • A Grown Up Approach
      • TV Commercials '60s
      • TV Commercials '70s
      • TV Commercials '80s >
        • TV Commercials '80s 1
      • Design: Staying Modern
      • Crisps in Outer Space!
      • Potato Chips & Crisps Art
      • A Super Bowl of Potato Chips
      • The Chip Festival USA 2017
      • National Potato Chip Day
      • SNACMA
      • 2017 UK Crisps Market Analysis
    • Collectables: An eBay Day >
      • Collectables: One Day on eBay 2
      • Collectables: One Day on eBay 3
    • Other Famous Chips >
      • The Toga Chip Guy
    • Snackmongers >
      • The World's Best Chips & Crisps 2018
      • The World's Best Chips & Crisps 2019
      • Saratoga Chips >
        • Saratoga Chips Spoons
      • Pepsico World >
        • Walkers Do Us A Flavour 2014 Review
      • Paqui One Chip Challenge
      • Are Pringles Chips or Crisps?
      • The Strange Case of the Missing Sainsbury's Flavour
      • How to Start a Chips & Crisps Company >
        • How to Start a Chips & Crisps Company 2
        • How to Start a Chips & Crisps Company 3
        • Other Ways to Start a Chips & Crisps Company
      • A World of Varieties: Africa >
        • Asia >
          • Japan's Most Popular Flavors
        • Australasia
        • Europe
        • North America
        • South America
      • United Chips of America >
        • United Chips of America - A
        • United Chips of America - A-C
        • United Chips of America - C-D
        • United Chips of America - F-H
        • United Chips of America - I
        • United Chips of America - I-K
        • United Chips of America - L-M
        • United Chips of America - M
        • United Chips of America - M
        • United Chips of America - N
        • United Chips of America - N
        • United Chips of America - N-O
        • United Chips of America - O-P
        • United Chips of America - R-S
        • United Chips of America - T-U
        • United Chips of America - V-W
        • United Chips of America - W
      • Chicago Tribune's 200 Chip Reviews
      • Inactive Brands >
        • Outback Chip Company
        • Crispo Denmark
        • Biona
        • Boxerchips
        • DP Connolly & Sons
        • Great British Sauce Co.
        • Jackpots
        • Leighton Brown
        • Mr Trotter's
        • Phileas Fogg
        • Scott Farms Sweet Potato Chips
        • Tags
        • Tasty Little Numbers
        • The Dorman Food Company
        • The Great British Crisp Company
        • The Amazing Potato Chip Company
        • Art's & Mary's
        • Beer Chips
        • Bickel's
        • Bops
        • Broad Ripple Chip Co.
        • California Chips
        • Chip Peddler
        • Classic Foods
        • Dale Jr. Foods
        • Diego's Chips
        • Doctor Dread's
        • Eat Smart Naturals
        • Garden of Eatin'
        • Glenny's
        • Glutino
        • Good Health Natural Products
        • Gourmet Basics
        • Hoff
        • Jackson's Honest Potato Chips
        • Larry the Cable Guy Tater Chips
        • Laurel Hill Foods
        • Lesser Evil
        • Madhouse Munchies
        • McClure's Pickles Potato Chips
        • Michael Season's
        • Mitchum Chips
        • Moore Chips
        • Moore's
        • Nando's Crisps
        • Nathan's Famous
        • One Potato Two Potato
        • Paqui
        • Shearer's
        • Snapz
        • Tato Skins
        • Terra Chips
        • The Whole Earth
        • Tio Carlito's
        • Troyer Farms
  • Reviews: UK
    • Asda
    • Bobby's Foods
    • Boots
    • Brown Bag Crisps
    • Burts Potato Chips
    • Corkers Crisps
    • Co-Op
    • Fairfields Farm Crisps >
      • Ten Acre Crisps
    • Farraday's Tasty
    • Fiddler's Lancashire Crisps
    • Glen's of Antrim
    • Hot Headz
    • Iceland
    • Jones o Gymru
    • Just... Crisps
    • Kent Crisps
    • Kettle Chips
    • KP Snacks >
      • McCoy's
      • Popchips
      • Tyrrells
    • Lister's Potato Crisps
    • London Flavours
    • Mackie's >
      • Taylors Welsh Crisps
    • Marks & Spencer
    • Mr Singh's Sauces
    • Sainsbury's
    • Salty Dog Crisps >
      • Darling Spuds
    • Savoursmiths
    • Seabrook Crisps
    • Shindigs
    • Slabs
    • Taste of Game
    • Tayto >
      • Golden Wonder
      • Jonathan Crisp
      • Real Crisps
      • Tavern Snacks
    • Tesco
    • The British Crisp Co.
    • The French Kitchen
    • The King's Deli
    • Two Farmers
    • Walkers >
      • Pipers Crisp Co.
      • Smith's Crisps
      • Walkers Baked
      • Walkers Limited Editions
      • Walkers Market Deli etc.
      • Walkers Ridged
      • Walkers Sensations
      • Walkers Snacks
    • Yorkshire Crisps
  • Reviews: USA
    • Alaska Chip Co
    • Archer Farms by Target
    • Backer's
    • Ballreich's
    • Barrel O'Fun >
      • Barrel O' Fun
      • Rachel's
    • Better Made
    • Blair's Death Rain
    • Brim's
    • Brother Kane
    • Carolina Kettle
    • Charles Chips
    • Clover Club
    • Conn's
    • Dakota Style
    • De-Lish-Us
    • Detroit Friends
    • Dickey's Barbecue Pit
    • Dieffenbach's
    • Downey's
    • Einstein Bros Bagels
    • Feast & Fury
    • Fox Family
    • Full of Chips
    • Giant Eagle
    • Gibble's
    • Golden Fluff
    • Good's
    • Great Lakes Potato Chips
    • Grippo's
    • Guy's Snacks
    • Hartley's
    • Hartville Potato Chips
    • Hawaiian Island Gourmet
    • Hen of the Woods
    • Herr's >
      • Herr's Kettle
      • Herr's Snacks
    • Jimmy Johns
    • Joe Tea
    • Jones' Potato Chips
    • J.R.'s Taters
    • Kaldi Coffee Farm
    • Kona Chips
    • Krakatoa Hot Chips
    • Laura Scudder's
    • Lay's >
      • Doritos
      • Lay's Kettle Cooked
      • Lay's Wavy
      • Maui Style
      • Ruffles
    • Lowcountry Kettle
    • Lunds & Byerly's
    • Manischewitz
    • Martin's Potato Chips
    • Mediterranea Seawater
    • Middleswarth Potato Chips
    • Mikesell's
    • Mister Bee
    • Morgan Handmade Rations
    • Mrs Fishers
    • Mrs Mike's
    • New York Chips
    • Nicks Potato Chips
    • North Fork Potato Chips
    • Old Dutch
    • Old Vienna of St Louis
    • Ole Salty's
    • Pioneer Chips
    • Popchips
    • Pringles
    • Rap Snacks
    • Route 11 Potato Chips
    • Rusty's Island Chips
    • Sarasota Springs Kettle
    • Saratoga Chips
    • ShopRite
    • Snak King >
      • El Sabroso
      • Granny Goose
      • Vitners
    • Snyder's Lance >
      • Cape Cod
      • Jays
      • Kettle Brand
      • Krunchers!
      • Tom's Snacks
    • Spudlove
    • Sterzing's Potato Chips
    • Symphony Chips
    • Terrell's Potato Chips
    • The Billy Goat Chip Company
    • The Saucy Ladies
    • The Whole Shabang
    • Tri-Sum Potato Chips
    • Uncle Ray's
    • Utz Snacks >
      • The Bachman Company
      • Bob’s Texas Style
      • Boulder Canyon Natural Foods
      • Dirty Potato Chips
      • Golden Flake
      • Hawaiian Snacks
      • Husman's
      • Kitchen Cooked
      • Poore Brothers
      • Snyder of Berlin
      • T.G.I. Friday’s
      • Tim's Cascade Snacks
      • Zapp's
    • Wegmans
    • Wise Snacks >
      • Deep River Snacks
    • Zingerman's
  • Reviews: World
    • Afghanistan >
      • Mr Kachaloo
    • Algeria >
      • Chips Mahboul
      • Chipsou
    • Albania >
      • Replay
    • Argentina >
      • Alwa
      • Trym's
    • Australia >
      • DK Potato Chips
      • PepsiCo Australia >
        • Red Rock Deli
        • Smith's Chips
      • Snack Brands
    • Austria >
      • Kelly's
    • Bangladesh >
      • Bombay Sweets
    • Belarus >
      • Belproduct
      • Mashpischeprod
      • Onega
      • Talan M
    • Belgium >
      • Croky
      • Nutradia
      • Roger & Roger
      • Waltson Chips
    • Belize >
      • Mama Belize
    • Brazil >
      • Aritana
      • Fritop
      • Karitos
      • Yoki
    • Bulgaria >
      • Chio
      • Chipi Chips
    • Cameroon >
      • Dream Big Snacks
    • Canada >
      • Aubrey D Rebel
      • Covered Bridge
      • Hardbite Potato Chips
      • Miss Vickie's
      • Neal Brothers Foods
      • Old Dutch
      • President's Choice
      • Sobeys
      • Spudniks
      • Yum Yum
    • Chile >
      • Kryzpo
      • Marco Polo
      • Tika Artesan Chips
    • China >
      • Copico
      • Oishi
      • PepsiCo China
      • Yunnan Lishi
      • Zidi
    • Colombia >
      • Ramo
      • Super Ricas
      • Yupi
    • Croatia >
      • Cipi Cips
      • Kanaan
    • Cyprus >
      • Handy Snacks
    • Czech Republic >
      • Bohemia
      • Petr Hobza
    • Denmark >
      • KiMS
      • Taffel
    • Ecuador >
      • Inalecsa
      • Kiwa
      • Samai
    • Egypt >
      • Senyorita
      • Tiger
    • Estonia >
      • Estrella
    • Ethiopia >
      • Sun Chips
    • Fiji >
      • Thumbs Up
    • Finland >
      • Estrella
    • France >
      • Bret's
      • E.Leclerc
      • Flodor
      • Sibell
      • So Chips
      • Vico
    • Georgia >
      • Frixx
    • Germany >
      • Eco United
      • Intersnack >
        • Chio
        • Funny Frisch
        • Lisa's Bio-Kesselchips
      • John & John
      • Land Kartoffel Chips
      • Lorenz Snack-World
      • XOX Chips
    • Greece >
      • Chipita
      • Tottis
      • Tsakiris
    • Hungary >
      • Chio
    • India >
      • Aakash Namkeen
      • Atop
      • Balaji Wafers
      • Bingo
      • Kettle Studio
      • Pogo
      • Yellow Diamond
    • Indonesia >
      • Potabee
      • Chitato & Lays
    • Iran >
      • Bato
      • Maz Maz
    • Iraq >
      • Jabal Al-Rahma
    • Ireland >
      • Caffrey's
      • Keogh's
      • O'Donnells
      • Tayto >
        • Hunky Dorys
        • King
    • Israel >
      • Mr Chips
      • Tapuchips
    • Italy >
      • Amica Chips
      • Crik Crok
      • Lay's Italy
      • Pata Snacks
      • Salati Preziosi
      • San Carlo >
        • Pai
      • Tartuflanghe
    • Japan >
      • Calbee
      • Koike-Ya
      • UHA Mikakuto
    • Kenya >
      • Tropical Heat
    • Kosovo >
      • Vipa
    • Kuwait >
      • Fico
      • Hectare's
      • Kitco
    • Latvia >
      • Adazu
      • Jersika's Chips
    • Lebanon >
      • Master
    • Libya >
      • B&C Mr Crunch
    • Lithuania
    • Macedonia >
      • Stiza
    • Mexico >
      • Barcel
    • Morocco >
      • Chipsy D'Or
    • Netherlands >
      • Go Pure
      • Hoeksche Chips >
        • Boerderij Chips
      • Trafo
    • New Zealand >
      • Bluebird
      • Eta
      • Heartland Potato Chips
      • Proper Crisps
    • Norway >
      • Maarud
      • Sorlands Chips
    • Oman >
      • Al Juffair Food Industries
    • Pakistan >
      • Snack City
    • Peru >
      • Inka Chips
    • Philippines >
      • Jack 'n Jill
      • Leslie's
      • Oishi
    • Poland >
      • Lorenz Snack-World
    • Portugal >
      • Lay's
    • Qatar
    • Romania
    • Russia >
      • KDV
    • Rwanda >
      • Winnaz
    • Samoa >
      • Samoa's Favourite Chips
    • Saudi Arabia >
      • Fesh Fash
    • Senegal >
      • Crax Chips
    • Singapore >
      • Flavours of the East
      • Irvins Salted Egg
      • The Golden Duck Co.
    • Slovakia >
      • Slovakia
    • South Africa >
      • Frimax
      • Krunch
      • Messaris
      • Simba
      • Willards
    • South Korea >
      • CU Convenience Stores
      • Orionworld
    • Spain >
      • Acho
      • Aitana
      • Bandera
      • Bonilla a la vista
      • Cumba
      • Delval Artesanas Patatas Fritas Chips Review
      • El Tio Papilio
      • El Valle >
        • Hacendado
      • Facundo
      • Flamencas
      • Fritoper
      • Fritos Sevilla
      • Frit Ravich
      • Lay's
      • Martirelo
      • Mediterranea
      • Patatas Espinaler
      • Pijo
      • Risi
      • Rubio
      • San Nicasio
      • Sarriegui
      • Torres
      • Vallucas
      • Vicente Vidal >
        • Marinas
    • Sweden >
      • Axfood
      • Bjare Chips
      • Estrella
      • Gardschips
      • OLW
      • Svenska Lant Chips
    • Switzerland >
      • Bischofszell
      • Chio
      • Zweifel
    • Taiwan >
      • Huayuan
    • Thailand >
      • Tasto
    • Trinidad & Tobago >
      • Associated Brands
    • Tunisia >
      • Mad Chips
    • Turkey >
      • Gesa Food Co.
      • Lay's
    • UAE >
      • Bakeman's
      • Hunter Foods
      • Notions Group
      • Tiffany
Picture

The Legend of George Crum

The legend reads something like this – During a hot and balmy 1853 summer afternoon, George Crum, a chef at Cary Moon’s Lake Lodge Restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York, was a bit hot and bothered.
A fussy diner sent a dish of French Fried Potatoes back to the kitchen for being sliced too thickly – more than once, allegedly. Crum was having a bad day. He sliced the next batch so thinly that “the fork could not skewer them” and seasoned them far too heavily. 
Ta da.

Rather than expressing further dissatisfaction, the diner was apparently overjoyed, and ordered more. No-one knows who was responsible, it could have been Crum’s wife or sister, but nevertheless this is the generally accepted origin of what we now call the Chip or Crisp.
The popularity of the paper thin chip proved so popular with diners that soon, other restaurants in the area started serving them and George Crum even went on to open a Restaurant, with Chips as the specialty.

Legends are often born through repeating stories until they become fact. George Crum was born George Speck, but obviously great chefs all had nom-de-plumes. Actually, it was said to be his father's professional jockey name, which he took when he was in work, but never mind that unverifiable oddity...
The fussy customer was also allegedly, shipping magnate, and one of the richest men in the world, Cornelius Vanderbilt. 
Your children can even read a cracking illustrated tale called; The Greatest Potatoes, by Penelope Stowell, which re-tells the “loosely based story” with pictures.
Picture
Picture
George Crum
The above three photos are the only pictures of George our research uncovered. 
Curiously, none of the three men look like the same person, and if the first photo of a very young man is George Crum, maybe the history of photography has its time-line wrong!

What was happening in Europe during this time is unknown, but we do know that a Historical Blue Plaque is erected on the original site of Tommyfield Market in Oldham, to mark the origin of the first British Fried Chips.
Not to be outstripped by the confusion between Legend and Fact, Charles Dickens mentions a “Fried Fish Warehouse” in Oliver Twist, which was published in 1838.
The Fish accompaniment was called Chips, not Fries. It's a good job trademarks didn't exist otherwise George would have had to come up with another name.

Evidence suggests Fried Potatoes had been available in Continental Europe during the late 18th century. It would therefore be churlish to presume no-one experimented with a super-thin version. It is indeed highly likely that the thinly sliced deep fried potato snack was invented in Europe, possibly France, during this period.
There was also a very good article in the Pulitzer winning Postsar that suggests whatever the truth of this story, it is riddled with holes. Here is the LINK

However, just because something existed doesn’t mean someone had yelled “Eureka” and claimed it as their own.
So, as the Legend of George Crum is the best one, who are we to argue? 

But who first put them in packaging and sell them commercially? 

Next - Potato Chips and Crisps Go On Sale

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.