Cheese Fries (Chili Cheese F ries; Jalape ño Cheese Fries)

Sun Oct 28 06:19:02 UTC 2007

I just did a long posting on "cheese fries." The Food Timeline (Jan.
2007 post below) couldn't find "chili cheese fries" before 1988, but I
found a December 1986 citation using Google News Archives. Maybe
someone with FACTIVA can do better.
...
Robb Walsh's latest book calls jalapeño cheese fries a "quintessential
Texas side dish." I'll be sure to include them in a Texas Food Museum
that doesn't exist.
...
...
...
http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/texas/entry/cheese_fries_chili_cheese_fries_jalapeno_cheese_fries/
...
Entry from October 28, 2007
Cheese Fries (Chili Cheese Fries; Jalapeño Cheese Fries)
The origin of "cheese fries" (cheese added to french fries0 is in
dispute. The dish is claimed by both Philadelphia and Chicago, dating
from the early 1980s. Hostess distributed frozen "cheese fries" as
early as 1975.

Texas-style ingredients were soon added, making "chili cheese fries"
and "jalapeño cheese fries." Texas food author Robb Walsh calls
jalapeño cheese fries a "quintessential Texas side dish."

Wikipedia: French Fries
French fries (North America; sometimes also uncapitalized as "french
fries"[1] or simply "fries"[2]), or chips (United Kingdom, Republic of
Ireland, and most Commonwealth nations), are pieces of potato that
have been cut into batons and deep-fried.
(...)
United States
In the United States, the most popular condiment for fries is ketchup.
Mustard is another common condiment, with malt vinegar mainly
available at retaurants which serve fish and chips. Fries are
sometimes coated with melted cheese, called cheese fries. This can be
in combination with chili, making chili cheese fries.

Variations of cheese fries include fries covered with Cheez Whiz,
mozzarella, Swiss cheese, or garlic and cheese fries (cheese with
garlic mayonnaise).

14 May 1975, Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) Free Press, pg. 39 ad:
150 GR. PKG. HOSTESS
CHEESE FRIES 38c

4 December 1975, Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) Free Press, pg. 55 ad:
HOSTESS SNACKS 300 GRAM PKG.
Cheese Fries of Cheese Sticks .68

17 September 1975, Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent, "Football Strategy at
Home" by Lillian Mackesy, pg. C1, col. 1:
CHEESE FRIES
1 cups fried potato snack sticks
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon parsley flakes

Place potato snacks in center of 18-inch square of aluminum foil. Heat
oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle snacks with oil and toss gently to
cover. Add remaining ingredients and mix until well-coated. Fold edges
of foil loosely around fries. Place on rack in preheated oven (or on
rack over hot coals on outdoor grill) and heat for about 10 to 15
minutes, until heated through. Toss once or twice during heating.
Recipe makes about 4 servings to go with hamburgers or other meats.

9 July 1980, Elyria (OH) Chronicle-Telegram, pg. C6 ad:
Suncrisp - Butter, Onion, Cheese
FRIES
20-oz. Pack 79c

14 July 1981, Chicago (IL) Daily Herald, section 3A, pg. 8:
Tube Steak Palace, 2643 Hirshoff, Rolling Meadows. (...) ...onion
rings, desserts and cheese fries.

9 May 1983, Doylestown (PA) Daily Intelligencer, pg. 10A, col. 5:
Crafts, a video arcade and a variety of foods from hot dogs and cheese
fries to cotton candy will be available.

12 March 1984, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, pg. A1:
...night to get some cheese fries at the Dip Stix restaurant on the Boardwalk.
(Atlantic City—ed.)

30 August 1984, Dallas (TX) Morning News, "Junk Food of the '80s:
CHeese edges out salt and sugar as top flavoring" by Polly Hurst and
Steven Fried (Philadelphia Magazine):
In the past, junk food was flavored with one of two things: salt or
sugar, and lots of it. The junk food of the '80s, however, is made
with (or covered by) cheese. Nachos and cheese fries are among the
latest entries in the cheese-junk list, which already included
Cheetos, Snack Mate Cheese Spreads (those canned things that make
flowers if applied correctly), cheese-filled Combos, nacho-cheese
Doritos, Tostitos, Burritos—where will it all end?

5 September 1984, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, "The Cornucopia of New
Eats on the Streets" by Dick Polman, pg. E1:
Those ex-loyalists who once bought his hot dogs are Now gorging
themselves ON everything imaginable - shrimp, flounder, cheese fries,
souvlaki, spinach pie, ...

7 October 1984, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, "The Maligned Cafeteria"
by Marilynn Marter, pg. M1:
The foods that got highest marks from the teens included cheese fries,...

7 March 1985, Atlanta (GA) Journal and Constitution, "Chili's could
become a second home for burger fanatics," pg. A7:
There are plenty of appetizers: Super nachos ($4.95); cheese fries ($2.95);...

15 August 1986, Chicago (IL) Daily Herald, section 6, pg. 9, col. 3:
For 20 cents extra, you can have cheese fries. For these, the fries
are squirted with a processed cheese sauce that just makes them soggy.

16 August 1985, Doylestown (PA) Daily Intelligencer, "Pat's Steaks" by
Glenn N. Kaup, pg. 42, col. 5:
Along with sandwiches, the restaurants offer criss-cross fries and
cheese fries.

10 December 1986, Los Angeles (CA) Daily News:
Everyone you know goes," said Crismon, a Granada Hills resident who
usually orders chili cheese fries at the shop.
(Primo's Specialty Sandwich Shop—ed.)

8 March 1987, New York (NY) Times, "A Road Not Often Taken" (Jane &
Michael Stern of "Road Food") by Marian Burros, pg. 312:
THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO THE American version of beurre blanc and puff
pastry don't want to hear about cheese fries and Coca-Cola cake.

8 September 1988, Miami (FL) Herald, "Joe BelAir's transports you to
happier days; vinyl booths and chili dogs put you back in the '50s" by
Alison Oresman, pg. 2E:
...cheese fries and chili fries are also available.

21 November 1988, Dallas (TX) Morning News:
Fuddrucker's has introduced nachos and guacamole and prototype outlets
are testing "chili cheese fries" and tacos.

31 August 1989, Atlanta (GA) Journal and Constitution, "Atlanta
Couple's Dreams Light Up at Flamers Eatery" by Henrietta Spearman, pg.
E6:
Side orders range from regular french fries, Cajun fries, chili cheese
fries, cheese fries, or fried mushrooms and onion rings priced from 99
cents to $1.29

1 September 1989, Sacramento (CA) , "Burgers so good they could kill
you," pg. TK13:
Murder Burger also offers something called ""cheese fries.'' (...) I
would have liked to have tackled the chili cheese fries,...

Google Groups: rec.food.restaurants
Newsgroups: rec.food.restaurants
From: h... at sp24.csrd.uiuc.edu (William Tsun-Yuk Hsu)
Date: 11 Mar 91 22:41:31 GMT
Local: Mon, Mar 11 1991 6:41 pm
Subject: Re: Chicago restaurants

There's a good burger place on the corner of Belmont and Sheffield.
Try the guacamole and cheese fries.

15 March 1991, Chicago (IL) Sun-Times, "In thick or thin, they always
stick together" by Pat Bruno, pg. 59:
Ed Debevic's Short Orders Deluxe, 640 N. Wells (312-664-1707). White
Castle Systems, numerous locations in the Chicago area (312-582-7373).
While trying to separate three fries that were welded to each other by
melted cheese, my wife announced: "Cheese fries were invented by Ed
Debevic." "You do know that there is no such person as…

12 April 1991, Chicago (IL) Sun-Times, "Hearts melt for cheese fries"
by Pat Bruno, pg. 53:
Cheez! My column of March 15 on cheese fries must have been a whiz, as
readers really took to writing about their favorites. My favorites:
Gold Coast Dogs on North State, Ed Debevic's Short Orders Deluxe on
North Wells and White Castle all around town.

Google Groups: soc.sulture.canada
Newsgroups: soc.culture.canada
From: P... at psuvm.psu.edu (Paul D. Shan)
Date: 18 Jul 91 12:29:25 GMT
Local: Thurs, Jul 18 1991 8:29 am
Subject: Re: Canadianisms?

Gravy on fries is a semi-common question where I live (Central and/or
Western Pennsylvania). What usually gets strange looks except in the
place where I was introduced to it is Chili-Cheese Fries.  When I get
these looks it's usually that they've heard of Chili fries and Cheese
fries, but not both.

Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: wmar... at STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin)
Date: 24 Jul 91 15:31:12 GMT
Local: Wed, Jul 24 1991 11:31 am
Subject: Regional foods: Horseshoe Sandwich

Cheese fries (French fries with cheese sauce on them) are fairly
common, I believe. This is pretty much in the same line except it puts
the sandwich itself under the cheese fries. As I recall, the horseshoe
sandwich came in hamburger, ham, and other versions (maybe roast beef?
not sure...).

Google Groups: ne.food
Newsgroups: ne.food
From: filip... at husc9.harvard.edu (David Filippi)
Date: 27 Feb 92 18:13:35 GMT
Local: Thurs, Feb 27 1992 2:13 pm
Subject: Chili cheese fries.

In my homeland of Southern California, it was my frequent habit to
stop at Top's for their transcendent chili-doused boxes of french
fries with lots of yellow and white cheese on top.

Alas!  Stranded in Boston, my cholesterol level is slowly decreasing
to normal levels… does anyone know where I could get some chili cheese
fries?

24 April 1992, Dallas (TX) Morning News, "Jons Grille" review by
Lanette Causey:
Chili cheese fries were freshly sizzled and smothered in good quality
Chili, grated Cheddar, chopped onions and fierce jalapeno slices.

Google Books
The Low-Fat Fast Food Guide
by Jamie Pope and Martin Katahn
New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company
1993 (revised edition, 2000)
Pg. 43:
chili cheese fries
(Del Taco—ed.)

16 January 1993, (Baton Rouge, LA):
"I can't get anybody up here who can do jalapeno cheese fries like
George's restaurant. They try, but It's just not the same."

Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: "Kris"
Date: 20 Jan 2007 09:42:24 -0800
Local: Sat, Jan 20 2007 1:42 pm
Subject: Re: anyone know when/where chili cheese fries originated?

Well, I have no actual proof on this, but at the time I always heard
that a hot dog place by Michigan State University started the
phenomenon. I think they were referring to Top Dog, which isn't around
anymore. But during my college years, it was great to go there at 2
a.m. after a party…

Google Groups: rec.food.cooking
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: "Doc Martian"
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 05:34:24 GMT
Local: Sun, Jan 21 2007 1:34 am
Subject: Re: anyone know when/where chili cheese fries originated?

From: Foodtimel... at aol.com
To: docmart... at verizon.net
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: chili cheese fries

Doc,

The earliest print reference we find for "chili cheese fries" is from
1988. Although the restaurant was based in Chicago, the founders were
from Cincinnati and very much taken with their city's chili tradition.

"The Near North eatery is named Coney Dog, but has nothing to do with
New York. It serves Cincinnati-style chili, but it doesn't call it
that on the menu. Confused? No, problem. The selections are very
simple. They've got chili and they've got chili dogs.Craig McCoy and
Randy Reynolds, a pair of out-of-towners who graduated from
Northwestern University in 1984, returned to open a tiny, fast-food
place in a storefront in April. With a fondness for Cincinnati-style
chili, but the smarts not to call it that for fear of offending
Chicagoans, the dish is billed as "chili spaghetti," served 2-way
($2.35), 3-way ($2.60), 4-way ($2.85) or 5-way ($2.95)...McCoy and
Reynolds make their own french fries from Idaho potatoes. They are
plump and not greasy. But don't stop. Coney Dog has cheese fries
($1.50) to beat all others. The fries are covered with melted Cheddar
cheese-the real kind-sour cream, onions and jalapeno peppers. The
cheapeaters' favorite, however, was the order of chili cheese fries
($1.80), everything that can come with the cheese fries plus a
smothering of chili."

--- CONEY DOG 'CHILI SPAGHETTI' STILL TASTY BY ANY OTHER NAME; [NORTH
SPORTS FINAL, CN Edition] Manuel Galvan. Chicago Tribune (pre-1997
Fulltext).
Chicago, Ill.: Nov 25, 1988. pg. 36

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark database
(http://www.uspto.gov) "Chili cheese fries" are not a registered
trademark. We sent a note to Skyline asking when they introduced this
item to their menu. Hopefully, they will respond.

North American fast-food dishes combining cheese, fries & other
toppings dates back at least to 1957. About French Canadian Poutine
(c. 1957): http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-69-1371-8372/life_society/canadian_food/cli

We will be in touch when we hear back from Skyline.
-----------------------------------
Lynne Olver (IACP), editor
The Food Timeline
http://www.foodtimeline.org

Serious Eats
Cook the Book: Jalapeño Cheese Fries
Posted by Ed Levine, May 10, 2007 at 5:00 PM

Here's the penultimate recipe of the week from Robb Walsh's Texas
Cowboy Cookbook. This is a "quintessential Texas side dish," Robb
says, "that combines classic American fries with Tex-Mex chile con
queso and jalapeños." Make sure to bookmark this recipe so you have it
handy; you can serve it alongside tomorrow's tenderloin.

And, remember, if you'd like to lasso yourself a copy of the book that
these fries come from, throw your hat into our cookbook giveaway
contest.

Jalapeño Cheese Fries
- serves 4 -

Ingredients
2 pounds russet potatoes
2 1/2 cups peanut oil
2 jalapeños, seeded and sliced
1 onion, sliced
Salt
1 cup Chile con Queso (recipe follows), or sub in one 15-ounce jar of
Cheez Whiz
1/4 cup pickled jalapeño slices
(...)
Chile con Queso
- makes about 2 cups -

Ingredients
1 pound Velveeta cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 can Ro-tel tomatoes

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