Brugge Trip: Friet Museum

When you're traveling with kids, in particular four kids whose ages range from 13 down to 4 years old, you tailor your travel plans to suit what the kids would like to do. It isn't fair, but it's what works. Even if we do something the kids aren't really interested in, such as an art museum or historic church, we seem to rush through it. Were it just David and me, we would pause to read the long descriptions of a certain piece of art or take a tour of a church to learn all about its history and examine in depth the biblical stories being portrayed in paintings. When we've tried to linger on the details we are interested in in such museums or churches, one of the kids piped up with, "When can we leave?" or "M-o-o-o-m, I'm tired. Where are we eating dinner?" It would make our visit less than satisfactory.

And so today we made our way to the one museum we insisted on visiting, the Friet Museum -- the first and only museum dedicated to the French fry.

Belgium is famous for chocolate, lace and being the birthplace of the French fry. Part of the traditional meal for poor inhabitants of this region was small fried fish, but when the river was frozen and they were unable to fish, they cut potatoes into a fish shape and fried them in oil. Belgians know that the term "French" was introduced when British or American soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I, and tasted Belgian fries. They supposedly called them "French", as it was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time.

We first learned all about the potato, whose history goes all the way back 10,000 years to Chile and Peru.

Next we learned about the history of the French fry and the best way to prepare them. Here are different kinds of potato slicers.

Fries in popular culture

An example of a Frietkoten (fry shack) which have been around for well over a hundred years.

We learned that the best way to make French fries is to fry them twice in a mixture of oil that includes duck and horse fat.

Serving Mom

Micaela can't figure out what to choose from the menu.

We pretty much had the museum to ourselves.

In the basement of this 14th century building, there's a café where you finally get to feed your craving for French fries.

Passing the time while waiting for the fries

James enjoying his Lipton Ice Tea.  Look closely at the can.....

.....that's sparkling ice tea. The kids enjoyed this bubbly ice tea. As for David..., well,... not so much.

Enjoying our piping hot fries

Emilie now always has her French fries the European way -- with mayonnaise.

The eco-conscious museum reminded us to "sort our waste."

Emilie gave the Friet Museum a thumbs-up.