Posted in New York March 24, 2020 by Lea Monroe

Few People Know That New York Is The Birthplace Of The Potato Chip

It doesn’t take too much exploration of the Empire State to quickly realize that this fascinating place that we call home is deliciously intriguing. All around New York, you can visit all sorts of museums that highlight different pieces of our past and show you all the different sides of our state. In fact, readers of Only In New York may even remember the fact that we’ve mentioned how New York is actually the birthplace of America’s favorite dessert – Jell-O! To little surprise, Western New York isn’t the only area of our state that’s known for coming up with a mouthwatering creation. If you’re ready to enjoy a tasty history lesson, then it’s time to learn about how Upstate New York is the birthplace of the potato chip.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/

While Saratoga Springs may not be the largest city in New York, it's certainly one of the most charming! Plus, this wonderful Upstate New York destination also just so happens to be the birthplace of the potato chip.

Thanks to George Crum, chef at Saratoga's Moon Lake Lodge resort, the potato chip was first created here in New York back in 1853. Who knew that one of our favorite snacks had such a long history?

Before the creation of the potato chip, french fries were the most popular side to order at restaurants during this time in life. Unfortunatley, New Yorkers often found themselves complaining about how thick fries are and were seeking out a more slender, light snack.

After a local guest of the lodge asked that his fried potatoes be sent back to the kitchen due to the fact that they were too thick and soggy, that's where Chef Crum came up with the idea to slice the potatoes thinner and to deep fry the slices to delicious perfection.

While other places in history may claim to be the creator of the potato chip, you'll find that most everyone, not just in the state of New York, pays homage to Saratoga Springs for the potato chip and 'Saratoga Chips'. We couldn't be more thankful to be the birthplace of this treat!

If you’re ready to uncover more of the Empire State’s most fascinating destinations, then you can’t miss out on reading about how you can Step Through A Cocoa-Cola Vending Machine To Enter Loulou, New York’s Newest Speakeasy!

Address: Saratoga Springs, NY, USA