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National Julienne Fries Day

Food · August 12

A day for julienne fries, the thin, matchstick-cut potatoes that fry up crisp and golden, and for the simple knife work that makes them.

National Julienne Fries Day falls on Thursday, August 12, 2027. That is 289 days away.

Julienne fries are potatoes cut into long, thin strips, roughly the size of matchsticks, then fried until crisp. The name comes from the julienne cut, a basic kitchen technique for slicing vegetables into fine, even sticks.

Because the strips are so slim, they cook quickly and turn out mostly crunch with only a little soft center. They tend to tangle on the plate, which makes them easy to eat by the pinch. Some cooks call the very thinnest version shoestring fries.

The cut is where the work is. A sharp knife and patience will do it: slice the potato into thin planks, stack a few, then slice again into sticks. A mandoline with a julienne blade is faster, though it asks for care and a hand guard. Rinsing or soaking the cut potatoes in cold water washes off surface starch, and drying them well before frying helps them crisp instead of steam.

The fries are usually salted right out of the oil, while they are still hot enough for the salt to stick. From there people add what they like: ketchup, malt vinegar, garlic, grated cheese or chopped herbs. They also show up piled on top of burgers, sandwiches and steaks, where their crunch is part of the point.

Cut them evenly and they all finish together, which is most of the trick.

Ways to celebrate

• Practice the julienne cut on a potato and fry a small batch at home.
• Try your fries with malt vinegar, herbs or grated cheese.
• Look for julienne fries on a local diner or restaurant menu.
• Pile thin fries on a sandwich or burger for extra crunch.
• Share your favorite fry seasoning with a friend.

Dates

All national days on August 12

Also on August 12

• National Vinyl Record Day
• National Middle Child Day
• World Elephant Day

Categories: Food days