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"French" Fries Find Foes in Palm Beach County
The Associated Press
Published: Feb 26, 2003
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - In a move that may anger some Francophiles or menu writers, a Palm Beach County commissioner has requested a resolution that would change the name of the American food staple known as "french fries."
Commissioner Burt Aaronson is upset with France's reluctance to back a U.S.-led war with Iraq and wants the name changed to "freedom fries" or "American fries" in his county.
"I won't even mention the other name," he said Tuesday.
Aaronson, 75, said he was inspired by a restaurant owner in Beaufort, N.C., who changed the name of the potatoes to "freedom fries" on his menu. Aaronson already had said he would seek to block a subsidiary of the French company Vivendi Environmental from getting a $25 million government contract to build a sludge treatment plant.
Aaronson - like France - says inspectors need more time to look for banned weapons and hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. But he said he does not like France telling the United States what to do.
"American lives were left all through France thorough two world wars," Aaronson said. "This is another little thing to say to the French government, 'Wake up.'"
The suggestion met no resistance at a commission meeting, although some commissioners already had left. County Administrator Bob Weisman was directed to prepare an official resolution, which would not be binding and could be ready by March 11.
"We'll declare that all the potatoes previously called french fries in our county will now be called freedom fries or American fries," Weisman said.
However, some restaurant employees derided the move.
Ingrid Paoletti, a waitress and manager at Ellies '50s Diner in Delray Beach, described the discussion as "silly."
"I understand the backlash we're having, but to change every menu in every restaurant, that's a little ridiculous. There are a lot more things to be concerned about than whether french fries should be freedom fries," she said.
The Associated Press
Published: Feb 26, 2003
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - In a move that may anger some Francophiles or menu writers, a Palm Beach County commissioner has requested a resolution that would change the name of the American food staple known as "french fries."
Commissioner Burt Aaronson is upset with France's reluctance to back a U.S.-led war with Iraq and wants the name changed to "freedom fries" or "American fries" in his county.
"I won't even mention the other name," he said Tuesday.
Aaronson, 75, said he was inspired by a restaurant owner in Beaufort, N.C., who changed the name of the potatoes to "freedom fries" on his menu. Aaronson already had said he would seek to block a subsidiary of the French company Vivendi Environmental from getting a $25 million government contract to build a sludge treatment plant.
Aaronson - like France - says inspectors need more time to look for banned weapons and hopes for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. But he said he does not like France telling the United States what to do.
"American lives were left all through France thorough two world wars," Aaronson said. "This is another little thing to say to the French government, 'Wake up.'"
The suggestion met no resistance at a commission meeting, although some commissioners already had left. County Administrator Bob Weisman was directed to prepare an official resolution, which would not be binding and could be ready by March 11.
"We'll declare that all the potatoes previously called french fries in our county will now be called freedom fries or American fries," Weisman said.
However, some restaurant employees derided the move.
Ingrid Paoletti, a waitress and manager at Ellies '50s Diner in Delray Beach, described the discussion as "silly."
"I understand the backlash we're having, but to change every menu in every restaurant, that's a little ridiculous. There are a lot more things to be concerned about than whether french fries should be freedom fries," she said.
This is starting to get surreal.
.
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