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  • The creation of the potato chip is a rather snarky, surprising, and idiosyncratic story.

  • When French fries made their way to America, they soon became a restaurant mainstay.

  • Many restaurants served fries as their signature dish.

  • Believe it or not, they were once considered very hoity-toity.

  • In 1853, George Crum was a chef at the Moon's Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York.

  • Their signature dish was none other than Moon's Fried Potatoes, or as the aristocrats would say, "Potatoes served in the French Manner."

  • One day, just like any other, a customer some believe to have been Cornelius Vanderbilt himself ordered fries.

  • Upon being served, Cornelius scoffed and sent them back.

  • He deemed the fries soggy and not crispy enough.

  • This insanity continued a few more times until Crum lost it.

  • I mean, he really lost it.

  • He fired back, cutting the potatoes paper-thin and frying them up.

  • You see, back in 1853, eating with your hands was a major faux pas, making Crum's revenge even more diabolical.

  • By cutting the potatoes paper-thin, there would be no way that Cornelius could use his fork, forcing him to use his hands.

  • Crum's plan backfired, kind of, as the patrons dug in with both hands, and loved them.

  • Saratoga Chips were born.

  • They became a Saratoga dining staple.

  • Soon thereafter, they took the world by storm.

  • Crum himself even opened his own restaurant with baskets of chips displayed on each and every table.

The creation of the potato chip is a rather snarky, surprising, and idiosyncratic story.

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