Skinny Fries?

Rimsy · 13 Jul 2015 at 13:44

I don't know if I'm not getting something here but why are fries (which are by definition skinny) now generally referred to as "skinny" fries?

Is there are new medium sized chip which has appeared on the scene which has caused mass confusion when identifying the difference between chips and fries?

brendy · 13 Jul 2015 at 13:45

Cant stand them myself so cant answer your question, proper chippy chips for me every time!

O.D. · 13 Jul 2015 at 13:45

I have a followup to that..

Why can't all restaurants have an option for chips or fries? Yes. I get it. You sell chips. I don't like chips because the middle is always just.. Wrong. Give me fries, dammit!

Liquiduk · 13 Jul 2015 at 13:47

Advertisement schemes? Makes you feel better about stuffing your face with an unnecessary type of food.

the_r_sole · 13 Jul 2015 at 14:19

skinny fries describes what you are getting - after living in canada for a while I'd say that "fries" are not always skinny but "skinny fries" are.

Maybe you should stop worrying before you have a heart attack

randomshenans · 13 Jul 2015 at 14:23

Allumettes.

d_brennen · 13 Jul 2015 at 14:31

Skinny fries are chips for the weight conscious, no? It's probably just marketing crud though. I've been necking 10 pints of Coors Light an evening and not lost a single gram of belly fat

Scam · 13 Jul 2015 at 16:46

Do the yanks ever do anything other than (skinny) fries though? I can't recall ever eating a fat chip. I think the term is useful so you know you're getting a thin chip. Depressingly though, it's probably more a marketing term to make people think they're good for them

robfosters · 13 Jul 2015 at 17:01

I took an American to a chip shop once. He looked at a fat chip with a great sense of mistrust. However, he loved them and said the salt and vinegar made them nicer than the fries he eats back home.

Now whenever he's over, he's straight to the chip shop for saveloy and chips.

Bunka · 13 Jul 2015 at 17:20

I've always found fries lose their temperature way too quickly. Ergo, Chips > *.

Scam · 13 Jul 2015 at 17:30

Bunka said:
I've always found fries lose their temperature way too quickly. Ergo, Chips > *.

The only good thing to come out of hipster restaurants is the habit of putting fries in a metal tin cup-type thing. They keep their heat really well.

D.P. · 13 Jul 2015 at 17:59

Scam said:
Do the yanks ever do anything other than (skinny) fries though? I can't recall ever eating a fat chip. I think the term is useful so you know you're getting a thin chip. Depressingly though, it's probably more a marketing term to make people think they're good for them

Yes, they will cal them things like steak fries.

Scam · 13 Jul 2015 at 18:13

Ah that's right. Funny, considering I'd always want a skinny fry with a steak

(Although to be honest, potato dauphinoise is far superior)

cainer · 13 Jul 2015 at 18:16

O.D. said:
I have a followup to that..

Why can't all restaurants have an option for chips or fries? Yes. I get it. You sell chips. I don't like chips because the middle is always just.. Wrong. Give me fries, dammit!

Beefeater have a choice of skinny fries or tripple fried chips, and their burgers are pretty damn good these days

Participant · 13 Jul 2015 at 21:16

Good chips are better than fries, but most chips are worse than fries.

In other words, if cooked correctly the thicker ones are better, but 90% of the time, the fries taste better.

Most chippies under cook their chips and they're just soggy greasy boiled potatoes.

As for the actual question, I agree with the OP - they're just fries.

byeo · 14 Jul 2015 at 07:03

O.D. said:
Why can't all restaurants have an option for chips or fries? Yes. I get it. You sell chips. I don't like chips because the middle is always just.. Wrong. Give me fries, dammit!

It's called potato.

Scam · 14 Jul 2015 at 10:24

Participant said:
Most chippies under cook their chips and they're just soggy greasy boiled potatoes..

I've never understood this. My girlfriend is from Leeds so she adores getting her fish and chips when we go up to visit her folks. As much as a like the whole experience of a proper northern fish and chips, the chips are always rubbish. They're pretty tasty with plenty of salt and vinegar and sauce*, but I don't understand the love for them.

*My girlfriend has none of those things on her chips, bleurgh

spoffle · 14 Jul 2015 at 10:28

Scam said:
I've never understood this. My girlfriend is from Leeds so she adores getting her fish and chips when we go up to visit her folks. As much as a like the whole experience of a proper northern fish and chips, the chips are always rubbish. They're pretty tasty with plenty of salt and vinegar and sauce*, but I don't understand the love for them.

*My girlfriend has none of those things on her chips, bleurgh

All that crap masks the flavour of the chips though.

FrenchTart · 14 Jul 2015 at 10:51

Salt and vinegar is a must for chippy chips I would say. Extremely high quality chips (which to be honest I've only had maybe once or twice in an actual chip shop) can do with just salt however.

spoffle · 14 Jul 2015 at 11:00

I don't mind a bit of salt, but vinegar? Yeuch!