Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament
By Anne Renaud, Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Kids Can Press
Based on a true story, this fun tale is about George Crum who loved cooking up concoctions for his customers and was known as the best cook in the county. One day, a haughty gentleman comes to the restaurant demanding “just potatoes.” Undaunted, Crum fries a delicious plate of potato wedges in lard, but the dissatisfied customer sends the plate back, stating that they are too thick. Crum tries several times to create potatoes fried in lard and sprinkled with salt, but each time, the customer sends them back. Finally, Crum creates the thinnest possible fried potato. The customer absolutely loves the crunchy snack. . . which becomes known as the potato chip! An author’s note gives the history of the New York town where the chip was created. The combination of historical accuracy, a funny tale and the incorporation of cooking principles such as frying in lard make this a well-rounded read that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly journal of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Summer 2024
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