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Let freedom (and its fries) ring!
I recently took a trip up to Cape Cod for a friend's wedding. It was my first time in the area and, as I'm wont to do, I intended to eat my way through the seaside towns, stopping at roadside shacks for lobster rolls and fried seafood goodness. So I pulled into the first restaurant I saw: Marc Anthony's in Onset. It was midday and the checkered table cloth-clad joint was awash in Red Sox cap-wearing locals. I ordered a lobster roll, which the cashier yelled out for the grill-slaving cooks behind him and then a side of French fries.
"And an order of Freedom fries," he yelled out. Just then a needle scratched across a record from somewhere in the heavens above. Huh? Freedom Fries?
Remember those? If not, here's a brief refresher: the anti anti-war politicians (and those who loved them) spent the lead-up to Iraq war by trumpeting this name change in 2003 because of the French government's refusal to go along with the Bush Administration's plan to invade Iraq. Two of those legislators, congressmen Bob Ney (R-OH) and Walter Jones (R-NC), had the House cafeteria officially change the name of French fries to freedom fries seven years ago last week. They weren't the first to do this, but the press coverage of the event inspired many restaurateurs to jump on this jingoistic bandwagon. In my old Brooklyn neighborhood, a diner suddenly began serving "Freedom onion soup." On a trip to California, I saw "Freedom toast" on a breakfast menu.
Two years later, Walter Jones admitted he was wrong for backing the justifications for the war and put the French back in fry in his workplace cafeteria. And so, much like the reasons given for the war, this ridiculous burst of anti-Gallic liberty-spewing re-monikering quietly went away. At least I thought it did.
Apparently not everyone got the notice. In fact, once I started searching for freedom fries, they weren't hard to find. I even found Congressman Bob Ney who now has a talk radio show. I requested an interview with the congressman and he responded with another question: could we do it on the air? I agreed. And so later that day, I asked Mr. Ney on his radio show if he had any regrets.
"Would I do it again? Yes, I would," he told me and then said something that kind of surprised me coming from the man who helped give us freedom fries. "Would I change my vote if I knew what I know now about weapons of mass destruction? I would not have given full authority to President Bush to do what he did." Ney went on to say he really became the face of freedom fries for the troops, not really for the war.
So with this edible anachronism still around, it's possible to go on a freedom food tour of the country. If you want to party like it's 2003, your first stop should be Cubbies in Greenville, NC, the supposed first restaurant in the country to serve up these calorically terrific fried potatoes with a side of good ol' American liberty. Geno's, the famously "English only"-loving Philadelphia cheesesteak spot proudly serves them too. I called to find out if they were still on the menu, and when I asked why they haven't gone back to the original name, gruff-voiced Geno (or some guy who sounded like his name would be Geno) hung up on me. The outcome was very similar when I called Marc Anthony's in Onset. Other places where you can still get a dose of your freedom and your, uh, pommes frites in one basket are the mini-chain of Toby Keith-owned restaurants (now there's a big surprise), I love This Bar & Grill (locations in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Thackersville, OK.
And when Congressman Ney goes out to a restaurant how does he order his fries these days?
"I'll order French fries," he said.
Let's just hope the Italians don't offend us next. A slice of pepperoni freedom pie or spaghetti with Uncle Sam's meatballs just doesn't have a very edible ring to it.
Be sure to check out Episode 5 of Travel Talk TV, which features a Santa Cruz beach adventure; explains why Scottish money is no good; shows how to cook brats the German way; and offers international dating tips!
Filed under: Food and Drink, North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)
God Save Grammar and Spelling Mar 20th 2010 8:11PM
Joe,
Your comments, with corrections you need to make to have them in our "official" language:
Thank you for your answer....(PERIOD, NOT FOUR PERIODS) as (CAPITALIZE) for your insults calling me a moran (MORON)....(COMMA, NOT FOUR PERIODS) well (COMMA) I guess I can consider the source.
I don't suppose that you think English is our national language because it has never been "offically" stated....(COMMA, NOT FOUR PERIODS) but when was the last time you heard a newscast or seen (SAW, NOT SEEN) an american (CAPITALIZE) newspaper that is in a foreign language (COMMA) except in maybe an area that is "specially (NOT SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS) (COMMA) say (COMMA) Chinese or Spanish. I may be wrong about that (THIS, NOT THAT) (COMMA) but I'm sure even you can agree that basically "Americans" have learned and have used English since the United states (CAPITALIZE) gained it's (ITS, NOT IT'S) Independance (INDEPENDENCE)....(PERIOD, NOT FOUR PERIODS) yes, various areas still spoke the language of their heritage in the communities (AREAS DON'T SPEAK, PEOPLE DO)...(NO PUNCTUATION HERE)as a fact (FACT?) of comfort among them. My father only spoke Italian until he started school..... (COMMA, NOT FIVE PERIODS) but The (NOT CAPITALIZED) majority of the "country" and it's (ITS, NOT IT'S) "organizations" (WHAT ORGANIZATIONS? YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.) spoke English, wrote English and published materials in English.
I have no problem with other nationalities, just don't shove it (THEM, NOT IT. NATIONALITIES IS PLURAL AND REQUIRES A PLURAL PRONOUN) down my throat with thinking you should change what this country was founded on without due process. If you like French, Spanish, Chinese or any other language better than English, you change (DELETE CHANGE) try to change it (YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE FRENCH, SPANISH, CHINESE OR ANY OTHER LANGUAGE INTO ITSELF.) legally to that language or go where it is spoken and the language of the country....(PERIOD, NOT FOUR PERIODS) that is a freedom along with leaving that you have in this country that service men and woman have fought and died to give you..... (PERIOD, NOT FIVE PERIODS) I for one do not believe that the majority of Americans want it any other way.....(PERIOD, NOT FIVE PERIODS)
so (CAPITALIZE)(COMMA) let's not be insulting....(PERIOD OR ELLIPSIS, DEPENDING ON THE IMPACT YOU WANT, BUT NOT FOUR PERIODS)
Joe, I have to tell you, if you really want English as our language, you need to learn how to use it first. Just a suggestion.
Randy Mar 18th 2010 8:17PM
@ Messa
I pity you, you've got so much anger inside. Clearly mommy and daddy didn't hug you enough.
Some of my heritage is Native American so I'M AS AMERICAN AS THEY COME!
RG Mar 19th 2010 12:25PM
Oh excellent, Freedom fries are back, and with them the oh-so-predictable tsunami of anti-French comments. Here are my 2 cents:
- French people will forever be grateful to the young soldiers from the US and elsewhere who fought and/or died to free our country from Nazi Germany. Having said that, this does not mean that we will suffer any american fool (who in most cases has no link whatsoever to those previously mentioned heroes) throwing this at our face every time we do not agree with the US.
- Anti-US sentiment exists in France just as anywhere else, mostly from people whose sole experience of Americans is from news stories. French people who have traveled and met actual Americans will generally have good things to say about them.
- Americans drawing their conclusions about French people after a week-long trip to Paris have no say in the matter. Parisians are rude even to French people, and very arrogant (but then again I am drawing my conclusions about Parisians from a couple of week long trips to Paris...)
- I was very entertained by Gunny's story, particularly the 5 Americans standing up and clapping. Very moving. Was an American flag floating in the background when you were giving your speech to that snob French guy ?
- French President Jacques Chirac has for the most part done a shit job, but if there is one thing that will forever remain as a glowing legacy, it will be his opposition to the war in Iraq.
- Say what you will, but renaming "French fries" to "Freedom fries" was a misinformed, childish move, and the fact that it was pushed by a member of Congress would, quite frankly, scare the hell out of me if I was from the US.
- Food for thoughts: China, among many other countries, also wanted to carry on with the inspection, yet "Chinatowns" were not renamed "FreedomTown" anywhere in the US.
Billybob Mar 20th 2010 10:32AM
It wasn't the anti-war people. They were glad that the French wouldn't go. It was the crazies who believed the bushit about WMD who were pissed that the French didn't buy the lie.
Matt Mar 20th 2010 11:02AM
My experience of travelling to France is that people are friendly and polite but then I always go to the south, so I can't really speak about Paris and it's reputation. One thing that doesn't help is if you go there expecting people to speak English - that kind of ignorance just winds people up and understandably so. I have heard both Britons and Americans before now, loudly addressing waiters in English, insensitive to the imposition they are making and oblivious to the stunned glances of onlookers; I even once overheard a fellow Briton putting on a French accent, as though that would alchemise his words into something comprehensible to the baffled shopkeeper. For the record, my French is appalling but I find that if you at least make an effort, people tend to respond well.
As for the idea that the French have forsaken the bonds of obligation that bind them to America, I would wait until America experiences its next symmetrical war and see what France does then. An unwillingness to assist in foreign policy expeditions is not the same as an unwillingness to help when your existence is threatened.
Cracked provides an interesting comment on France's military reputation here: http://www.cracked.com/article_18409_the-5-most-statistically-full-shit-national-stereotypes.html
For those who have postulated civilian casualty estimates as a result of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, this site is, to the best of my knowledge, the leading authority: http://www.iraqbodycount.org/
Karl Mar 20th 2010 12:25PM
So many errors and lies among the comments. Are all americans this ignorant about historical facts? Maybe your school books falsify history on purpose? Lets try to clear some of it:
USA entered WW1 late and had very litle military impact. The allied side won yes, but if there is to be one single country declered winner of WW1 it is France. Only americans belives that USA won WW1.
In 1939 the German military might was unmatched and they could beat anyone. France fell because german tanks could drive over land into France. UK and USA survived only because of the water barrier. The only reason Germany lost WW2 was because Hitler thought he knew better than his advisers, and bit off more than he could chew by attacking sovjet. The allies won yes, but if there is to be a single country decleared winner of WW2, it is Sovjet. They lost over 20 million men, busied 75% of the german military and still they fought their way to Berlin first.
USA entered WW2 not to help France or any other country. USA sent troops to europe because they realised it was better to fight outside own soil, than at home. If they hadn't, there was a risk that the war could have spread into the americas. USA entered late, had some impact in western europe but compared to Sovjet, USAs contribution to the allied cause in WW2 is small. Germany would have lost even without USA fighting in europe. To say that the french would be speaking german today if it wasn't for america, is wrong in so many ways and shows that the speaker has totaly missed the historical lessons.
USA did not win WW1. USA did not win WW2. USA did not win in Vietnam. USA did not win in Iraq. If you are going to speak about "string of success" then clearly USA is not a candidate.
The american "freedom" isn't. Most countries offer more freedom for its citizens today than what you can get in america. It was different 200 year ago, but while america stands still, the rest of the world moves on. America locks upp a much larger portion of its population in jail than any other country on earth. Americans do not get free healthcare or free education. The much tooted "freedom of speach" isn't. Supernatural medival belifes are everywhere, and sets agenda for what is and what isn't Political Correct. For comparison, my country has a law from the 13th century that allows us to speak and write anything we want, even against the King. That is the core of the american Freedom of Speach, but we have had that freedom and more, for over 700 years.
Sorry for any misspellings and grammar errors, but english is only my fourth language, and when you have mastered my native language as your fourth, then you have earned the right to critize, not before.
Marcy Shamb Mar 23rd 2010 8:22PM
Our school books are very slanted but in the opposite direction. A lot of actual
history..US history has been omitted so that space can be provided to every ethnic
group here equally. That means yes, a major war will get the same space as
a minor figure/event in a tiny californian town. Its distorting for the American students perception of the USA and the world but pleasing to many folks with agendas and issues to grind with the USA...
Marcy
Marcyshamb Mar 23rd 2010 7:23PM
Apparently when I first posted and got many replies, I was not allowed to see my replies posted. Still, I had a good laugh at the comments. Yes, I am a very bad speller.. Would never make a good language arts teacher... and so am not.
I have a medical handicap in spelling, grammar, etc. But, I do find that although a handicap, it serves me well in the comments I receive from folks who prefer to attack my language arts ability rather then my ability in History, culture, and relationships between peoples..
I don't expect this to go through just as my many other replies did not.. Still, I do enjoy replying.
I will repeat...in our lifetimes...the last sixty or so years, France has been Jelouse of the USA... doing all it could to hinder us at every turn.. Bitter, lamanting over its lost empire...envy/jelousy is bad..
Statue of LIberty? Our liberty far different than Frances endeavors... LOL... off with his head! Give me your tired, poor, etc....LOL... how are immigrants doing in
France... Their children, childrens children? Our president right now is the son of
an Immigrant...and a 'mongrel'... By the way...in what way did you mean Mongrel? The fact that our citizens are decendents of folks who hail from every culture and people in the world?
Help during our Revolutionary war... two hundred years ago...and we saved France in two world wars so I would say we paid back double and got a smack in the face for the good work.
France allowed itself to be bribbed/paid off by Suddam... while letting the USA police Iraq/Suddam for twelve years... Maybe France should have gone in and
done that dangerous work and the USA take Suddams bribes and then stop
any reigning in of Suddams terrorism on his own people, the US, and Israel...
Suddam destabalized not just the Middle East but the whole world... He supported terrorism...and tried to create weapons of mass distruction. I personally believe he had them and smuggeled them into Syria...but regardless
of weather he did or didn't, The USA was charged with policing Iraq post gulf war, and Suddam was firing on US aircraft, trying to make weapons, paying off suicide bombers in Israel and elsewhere, tried to kill a US president, and had half the worlds politicians paid off in his pockets....
Frances contributions post world war two to the world and the USA verses the USA's... no contest...Literally.. Would I go to France or buy French made products? No... and that was before 9/11.... because France was socking it to
the USA before. Its behavior since...is only a continuation of a longstanding
attitude towards the USA...
I don't reward those who treat the USA poorly... AS for Freedom Fries... I doubt
French Toast was invented by the French eather..but, I won't call them French Toast... Many cultures created and eat versions of 'French Toast'.... Same with
fries... and here in the USA they come in all shapes and many flavors not to mention sauces and condiments. We call them Freedom Fries but also chips
here. We also call them, depending on the kind, steak fries, string fries, and so
forth.. One of the companies that make a really nice kind of fries....frozen variety that we can heat up at home..is McCains Fries... MCCain, I believe is an Irish name... LOL... However although we like their variety of fries...we also love the way the British serve them up...with vinegar and salt... as well as our own style of
Ketchup or sour cream...
Americans are very big potato eaters...and we eat them in a long variety/list of ways... mashed, baked, fried, scrambled, in pancake forms, deep fried as in
fries or tata tots, stuffed, in bread, cake and on and on and on... 'French Fries'
was just one term among many we have for potato dishes... The word Freedom
added to protest Frances treatment of the USA....
IT should be no surprise to France..a nation of such extreem eletism in its
attitude towards its language, vocabulary, position and prestigue in the world, and so forth, that some Americans should get one tenth as 'patriotic' and use the term Freedom Fries in protest...
IN closing...no, I won't correct the spelling with spell check...And yes, every
mispelled word is underlined in red waiting for my correction. I would then lose a great window into the shortcomings of those who use the spelling to try and deligitimize my 'OPINION' and 'Experience' on/with France. I CAN spell heart... now, that, my your accounts, must mean I am qualified to operate on all of yours??? LOL
Marcy
Ron Mar 23rd 2010 10:37PM
Marcy Shamb said...
The French were both for the Nazis and against....for Vichy France and
for a Free France... They turned over many folks while also saving some.
They were freedom fighters and terrorists...
They declared war on Germany and then did nothing but sit waiting to be invaded...
LOL...
If Germany had won Vichy France would be in existance and the heroes....LOL...
Bottom line....since the end of World War two, some sixty five years ago...what have they done FOR the USA.... and how many times have they screwed the USA? How many of you posters were alive sixty five years ago..so, bottom line...
What has France done for the USA in YOUR lifetime?
Why would I care what France has done for the US? France is not exactly a superpower. Using your logic then what has Spain done, what has Bulgaria done, what has any other small nation done for the US? I just think that it is funny that people especially republicans think they are hurting the French by changing the name of a deep fried potato from French Fry to Freedom Fry. Personally I don't think the French care what the US calls them. They were invented in Belgium NOT France.
By the way what has Israel done for the US other than make more enemies for it?
What has Italy done? What has Latvia done? What has Somalia done? What has Japan done?
Oh by the way, the word terrorist was not used until after 9/11/01. Terrorism is not a person nor a government or nation. It is an idea. German storm troopers were not called terrorists nor were the personel at any of the prison camps
marnie Mar 28th 2010 8:53AM
Richmond, VA – On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the largest expansion of the federal government since the New Deal. Ignoring the will of the people, twisting arms, threatening fellow Democrats, and conducting closed door meetings, the President pushed ahead with a healthcare law that will fund abortion, limit freedom, and bankrupt America. President Obama said he was not concerned about the process but about the end result. In other words, the end justifies the means.
Responding to similar arbitrary abuses of power by the King of Great Britain that threatened life and liberty 235 years to the day, on March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his fiery speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses at St. John’s Church in Richmond. In part, Henry intoned, “If we wish to be free…, we must fight!” Reaching the crescendo of his speech, he declared, “Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.” Henry then concluded, “The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable – and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.”