Chips or Fries?

[NaperVic]

I got into a discussion a while back with a previously active GA member about what we American's call Fries (French Fries). Apparently in the UK, they call them chips...and what we call chips are Crisps.

 

Well, knowing that we have members from around the world, what do you call them?

 

1) the finger size wedges of potato that are then deep fried (US - Fries, UK - Chips)

2) the thin slices of potato that are then deep fried and usually sold in a sealed bag (US - Chips, UK - Crisps)

 

 

And if I said 'Tater Tot', you'd know what I meant, right?

Edited December 19, 2007 by NaperVic

[Benji]

I got into a discussion a while back with a previously active GA member about what we American's call Fries (French Fries). Apparently in the UK, they call them chips...and what we call chips are Crisps.

 

Well, knowing that we have members from around the world, what do you call them?

 

1) the finger size wedges of potato that are then deep fried (US - Fries, UK - Chips)

2) the thin slices of potato that are then deep fried and usually sold in a sealed bag (US - Chips, UK - Crisps)

 

 

And if I said 'Tater Tot', you'd know what I meant, right?

 

.........Don't forget those wonderful "curlycues" from Wendy's.

[TalonRider]

Then we have that creamy dish known as Pudding, a type of desert in the U.S. I believe in the U.K., the word is used to indicate desert in general.

[Graeme]

Chips is the generic name in Australia for both of these things. We understand Fries and Crisps, too, but (at least where I live), most people just say "chips". Which type is derived from the context. If we're talking as part of a meal, it'll be french fries. If it's a packet of chips, it's crisps. If it's party food, it'll usually be crisps.

[FrenchCanadian]

we call them, at least in quebec, respectively fries and chips.

 

In french here, you'd call them "frites" (sometimes "patates frites") and "Chips" (tho the right term would be "croustilles")

 

Also as a quebecois slang, you could call fries "une graisseuse" but that really, really show a lack of education.

 

Calling "Chips" here "crips", I certainly wouldn't understand that.

[Rabble_Rouser]

In Canada, I guess we are the same as the Aussie's. You can have Fries or Chips with a meal but if some says they're going to buy a bag of chips, they mean crisps.

 

I don't know if this is a regional thing but when you go to chain burger place, you order Fries but at least here (in and around the province of Quebec) we have fantastic ones made from double fried fresh potatoes from a Chip Truck.

 

Just to muddy the waters more, in the French parts of the country they refer to them as Frites.

 

Steve

[Trebs]

And then... there's poutain...

[FrenchCanadian]

And then... there's poutain...

 

Ya, but poutine that's an entire different things than fries. But ya, if you ever come to Quebec you just have to try poutines. it's simple they have some in every fast food franchise (A&W, burger king, McDo,,, and so on)

[Menzoberranzen]

Ya, but poutine that's an entire different things than fries. But ya, if you ever come to Quebec you just have to try poutines. it's simple they have some in every fast food franchise (A&W, burger king, McDo,,, and so on)

 

Poutine is, in my opinion, among the most revolting foods ever invented... Mmmm, cheese curds and gravy poured over deep fried potatoes

 

I had this problem when I first moved to London, as I used the American terminology, but now I'm fairly used to saying chips and crisps. I rarely eat either, but I still occasionally ask for chips when I mean crisps, and then get funny looks from people.

 

As an aside, it's interesting to note that even in America, nobody orders 'Fish n' fries,' they order 'Fish n' chips.'

 

Menzo

[wildone]

Interesting regional differences, even in Canada.

 

Like elsewhere, if you want french fries, you'd ask for fries.

 

With the "bag of chips", we do call them potato chips, both words. So it would be "grab me a bag of potato chips, will ya?"

 

The crisps, I think we are usually referring to Mr.Christie (Nabisco in the US) "Crispers", which are flavoured baked, shaped thin crackers. (Not too sure, as I never really bought them for myself.

 

Steve

[FrenchCanadian]

Interesting regional differences, even in Canada.

 

The crisps, I think we are usually referring to Mr.Christie (Nabisco in the US) "Crispers", which are flavoured baked, shaped thin crackers. (Not too sure, as I never really bought them for myself.

 

Steve

 

Steve's right on,, if someone were to tell me to buy some crips,, the only thing that would come in mind would be a "crispers" bag from Mr Christie

[JamesSavik]

I got into a discussion a while back with a previously active GA member about what we American's call Fries (French Fries). Apparently in the UK, they call them chips...and what we call chips are Crisps.

 

Sigh. We English speaking peoples are separated by a common language.

 

 

And if I said 'Tater Tot', you'd know what I meant, right?

 

You are Ron White's youngest son??? Ron "Tater Salad" White

[CarlHoliday]

You are Ron White's youngest son??? Ron "Tater Salad" White

 

Definitely Tater Tots!

[Ieshwar]

1) the finger size wedges of potato that are then deep fried (US - Fries, UK - Chips)

I call it Fries. (must ave been americanised a bit! ) Though, some do say chips.

 

2) the thin slices of potato that are then deep fried and usually sold in a sealed bag (US - Chips, UK - Crisps)

 

Chips!!

 

Ieshwar

[Former Member]

I'm not from an English speaking country, but anyway:

 

1) the finger size wedges of potato that are then deep fried (US - Fries, UK - Chips)

 

Pommes

 

2) the thin slices of potato that are then deep fried and usually sold in a sealed bag (US - Chips, UK - Crisps)

 

Chips

 

Tob

[rknapp]

Fries and Chips, end of discussion.

 

The last time I went to an Outback Steakhouse was in Knoxville, Tennessee. The waiter asked me if I wanted chips with my burger and I replied, "Uh, fries?" He said, "Same thing, we call them chips here." He was cute, so I forgave him for forgetting exactly what country we were in. I don't care if the servers have to act Aussie there, they're still serving Americans! In America! Not Australia! Were this the land down under, then I would understand... but it's not!

[Graeme]

Fries and Chips, end of discussion.

 

The last time I went to an Outback Steakhouse was in Knoxville, Tennessee. The waiter asked me if I wanted chips with my burger and I replied, "Uh, fries?" He said, "Same thing, we call them chips here." He was cute, so I forgave him for forgetting exactly what country we were in. I don't care if the servers have to act Aussie there, they're still serving Americans! In America! Not Australia! Were this the land down under, then I would understand... but it's not!

I've eaten at an Outback Steakhouse. The food isn't Australian, anyway....

[TalonRider]

With the "bag of chips", we do call them potato chips, both words. So it would be "grab me a bag of potato chips, will ya?"

Steve

Especially true since we have 'corn' chips as well.

[writeincode]

i call both of them chips.. but 'fries' r sometimes 'hot chips'

 

And I have noooooo idea what tater tots are....

[NaperVic]

Poutine is, in my opinion, among the most revolting foods ever invented... Mmmm, cheese curds and gravy poured over deep fried potatoes

I think the only thing revolting about this Poutine is that they forgot to include cooked bacon or sausage in it .

 

 

And I have noooooo idea what tater tots are....

 

Oh, Tater Tot's are one of the worlds greatest inventions for nutrition and feeding of school children across america... Here's Wikipedia's entry & here are the Ore-Ida® brand tater tots (scroll down)

[Dalmatia]

It depends, I call what I get from Mc Donalds, fries, and what I get from a Fish and Chip shop chips

 

And then what you call chips I call crisps

[Graeme]

Oh, Tater Tot's are one of the worlds greatest inventions for nutrition and feeding of school children across america... Here's Wikipedia's entry ...

Ah! Now I know what they are. Sadly, they aren't that popular with my two boys -- we've tried them....

[Hylas]

French Fries are fries and chips are chips.

 

We also have a local dish in which we deep fry thin round slices of sweet potato. We call it patatas. Heh

[rknapp]

Ah! Now I know what they are. Sadly, they aren't that popular with my two boys -- we've tried them....

Meh, I'm not fond of the ones sold by my local school system. Those are the only ones I've eaten.

[colinian]

Especially true since we have 'corn' chips as well.

And don't forget about:

Tortilla chips

Bagel chips

Terra (vegi) chips

Pita chips

Sweet potato chips

Yam chips

Mushroom chips

Cassava chips

Banana chips

Cheese chips (Yes, cheese chips, and that's basically what's in them, really! Go here)

Pringles (genuine artificial imitation chips)

 

There are others, but I only listed the ones that are crunchy. Some of the fruit "chips" aren't crunchy, they're chewy. Some may sound exotic, but they're available in stores around where I'm going to college, and in my home town too.

 

Colin