Dutchman wins world’s “most authentic” French fries title

Dutchman Siem van Bruggen has won the title of “world’s best authentic French fry maker” at the third edition of the annual best chip-making competition in Arras, France.

A jury judged international contributions to five categories of frites, including authentic, creative, family,  chip sauce and chips from around the world. Van Brugge made the tastiest authentic chips, beating 32 other aspiring world champions.

Van Bruggen, who has chip shops in Utrecht and Leiden, uses organic potatoes, boiled in water with rosemary. “I’m very happy with this prize,” he told French media. “Chips are important where I come from,” he said.

It is the first time a non-French chef has won the title for best authentic chips.

Arras, which calls itself the capital inconstatée de la frite, or the unrivalled capital of chips, has a long history with potatoes. It was home to botanist Charles de l’Écluse who started cultivating spuds in 1526, until then an unloved root vegetable from Peru.