National Julienne Fries Day
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Overview
National Julienne Fries Day, celebrated annually on August 12th, honors the popular thin-cut potato snack. Julienne refers to a specific culinary cutting technique where food, in this case, potatoes, is sliced into long, thin strips, typically about 1/8 inch thick. These slender fries are known for their crispy texture and quick cooking time, making them a beloved variation of the classic fried potato.
Origin and story
The 'julienne' cut is a classical French culinary term, referring to food items cut into long, thin matchstick-like strips.
True julienne cuts are typically 1/8 inch by 1/8 inch by 1-2 inches in length, though the precise dimensions can vary slightly.
Quick facts
- DateAugust 12
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
"Julienne" almost certainly honors a real 18th-century cook — historians just never pinned down who he actually was.
Trace the name to an unknown chef
The term first appears in French in 1759 as "Potage or Soup à la Julienne," literally "in the manner of Julien" — culinary historians generally agree it's named for a chef called Julien, but no one has ever confirmed his exact identity or era.
Know when it became a cutting style
The word originally described a style of soup; it wasn't until 1889 that "julienne" came to specifically mean vegetables (or potatoes) cut into small, thin matchstick strips, the meaning that stuck for the fries this day celebrates.
Read the fuller etymology
Helpful resources:
Did you know?
The julienne cut appears in French cookbooks going back to 1691's "Le Cuisinier Royal et Bourgeois" by François Massialot — nearly 70 years before "Julien" himself gets any credit for it by name.
Fun facts
- The 'julienne' cut is a classical French culinary term, referring to food items cut into long, thin matchstick-like strips.
- True julienne cuts are typically 1/8 inch by 1/8 inch by 1-2 inches in length, though the precise dimensions can vary slightly.
- While often used interchangeably, 'julienne fries' and 'shoestring fries' both refer to very thin potato fries, with some sources suggesting shoestring fries are even thinner.
Sources and attribution
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FAQ
- When is National Julienne Fries Day?
- It is observed on August 12 each year.
- What is National Julienne Fries Day?
- National Julienne Fries Day, celebrated annually on August 12th, honors the popular thin-cut potato snack. Julienne refers to a specific culinary cutting technique where food, in this case, potatoes, is sliced into long, thin strips, typically about 1/8 inch thick. These slender fries are known for their crispy texture and quick cooking time, making them a beloved variation of the classic fried potato.
- How do people celebrate National Julienne Fries Day?
- Fry up some thin matchstick potatoes and consider the name's murky origin — 'julienne' first appears in 1759 French referring to an unidentified chef named Julien, decades before it meant a thin-cut vegetable style.
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