George Crum (born George Speck, 1824-1914) is widely, though somewhat controversially, credited with inventing the potato chip.
The most popular origin story for the potato chip centers around Crum’s time as a chef at Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1853.
Here’s the often-told legend:
- The Disgruntled Diner: A customer (often cited as Cornelius Vanderbilt, though this has been largely debunked) repeatedly sent back his order of French-fried potatoes, complaining that they were too thick and not crispy enough.
- Crum’s “Revenge”: Frustrated by the complaints, Crum, in a fit of pique, decided to slice the potatoes as thinly as he possibly could. He then deep-fried them until they were crispy and golden brown, and seasoned them liberally with salt, intending to make them unpalatable to the picky customer.
- An Unexpected Hit: To Crum’s surprise, the customer loved the super-thin, crispy potatoes. Other diners quickly noticed and began asking for “Saratoga Chips,” as they became known.
Important nuances and alternative theories:
While the “disgruntled diner” story is the most pervasive, it’s important to note:
- Earlier Recipes: Recipes for thinly sliced, fried potatoes existed in cookbooks prior to 1853, including William Kitchiner’s “The Cook’s Oracle” (1817) and Mary Randolph’s “The Virginia House-Wife” (1824). This suggests that the concept of frying thin potato slices was not entirely new.
- Sister’s Claim: Some accounts, particularly obituaries for Crum’s sister, Catherine “Kate” Wicks, claim she was the true inventor. One version states she accidentally dropped a thin potato slice into hot oil, tasted it, and shared it with George.
- Popularization vs. Invention: It’s possible that Crum (or his sister) didn’t invent the potato chip from scratch, but rather popularized it or perfected a version that gained widespread appeal as “Saratoga Chips.”
- No Patent: George Crum never patented his creation. This was not uncommon for chefs and restauranteurs at the time, but it also means there’s no official record directly linking him as the sole inventor.
Crum’s Legacy:
Regardless of the exact circumstances of their invention, George Crum played a crucial role in popularizing “Saratoga Chips.”
- He continued to serve them at Moon’s Lake House.
- In 1860, he opened his own restaurant, “Crum’s House” (later “Crum’s Place”), near Saratoga Lake, where a basket of his famous potato chips was a staple on every table. This restaurant catered to an elite clientele, further spreading the fame of the chips.
- The chips remained a regional delicacy for many years until they began to be mass-produced and distributed nationally by other entrepreneurs (like Herman Lay in the 20th century).
George Crum, who was of African American and Native American (Huron) descent, is celebrated as a significant figure in culinary history, particularly for his association with one of the world’s most popular snack foods.
