Saturday, March 14th is National Potato Chip Day. It’s just another one of those wacky national holidays where potato chip lovers across the country rally together to celebrate this most amazing salty snack.
Fun Facts about Potato Chips*:
- The potato chip as we know it, was invented in 1853 when a customer at a restaurant kept complaining that is potatoes were too thick and soggy. The chef, George Crum, came up with the idea to slice the potatoes extremely thin, fried them to a crisp and topped them off with salt. The customer loved them and they soon became a regular item on the restaurants menu. They called them “Saratoga Chips.”
- Mike-Sell’s Potato Chip Company was founded in 1910 in Dayton, OH and deems itself the oldest potato chip company in the U.S. However, New England based Tri-Sum Potato Chips, originally founded in 1908 as Leominster Potato Chip Company also claims that title.
- The first potato chip queen was crowned in 1946, and she had a court of five members.
- Flavored potato chips starting popping up in the 1950’s.
- Potato Chips have been considered America’s top snack food spot for over 50 years!
- A potato chip factory can make 7,000 pounds of potato chips in just two hours.
- Worldwide sales of potato chips are over $15 billion a year.
If you are anything like the folks here at Laketown Chocolates, then for you, the combination of salty and sweet is about as good as it gets. We don’t stop at just potato chips. We dip those bad boys in chocolate. Never tried it? We suggest that you do.
The “chipper” as chocolate dipped potato chips are more formally known as, were thought to first be produced by Fargo, North Dakota company, Widman’s Candy. North Dakotans have been enjoying these salty and sweet snacks for years.
Make your own homemade potato chips:
Ever tried to make potato chips from scratch? Here is a great recipe to get you started. Don’t forget to dip or drizzle them in chocolate!
*Fact Sources:
http://www.punchbowl.com
http://nationaldaycalendar.com
http://wikipedia.com
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