Snack World - February 2012 - (Page 12)

75th Anniversary The Birth of the Industry Potato chips grow in popularity after accidental invention. BY BILL LEVY B In 1853, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt (above) complained that his fried potatos were cut to thick and chef George Crum (right) responded by slicing the potatoes extra thin and frying them extra crispy. Thus began the mighty potato chip. 12 Snack World oth the potato chip and the Snack Food Association (SFA) can trace their roots to individuals — one, a Native American chef in Saratoga Springs, NY, and the other, a former newspaper salesman from Cleveland, OH. The year was 1853, and railroad magnate Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt had been vacationing at a fashionable resort, Saratoga Springs, NY. One evening, he sent his fried potatoes back to the kitchen, complaining that they were “too thick.” The cook on duty that night had a personality that was more than a match for the haughty commodore’s. George Crum, a Native American, www.sfa.org decided that the commodore’s fussiness deserved a sarcastic reply. He sliced up a new batch of potatoes paper-thin, tossed them into boiling oil, fried them to a crisp and salted them. But what was intended as a prank turned into an instant hit. The commodore loved the “crunch potato slices,” and so did his friends. “Saratoga Chips’’ became a fad among the resort’s socialite patrons, and word of the creation began to spread. It didn’t take long for potato chips to become popular in the East, although they remained primarily a restaurant item. However, beginning in 1895, people like William Tappenden of Cleveland, OH, set out to make “chips” a household word. The Gay 1890s were in full swing, and Mr. Tappenden was a familiar figure on Cleveland’s streets, delivering February 2012 http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - February 2012

Snack World - February 2012
Features
Letter from SFA - 75 Years...Growth, Innovation, Progress
Supplier’s Corner - Time for Change
Calendar of Events
75th Anniversary - The Birth of the Industry
75 Years and Counting
75th Anniversary - An Association is Born
75th Anniversary - A Glance at the Future
Government Affairs - Transportation Rules Roll
Meeting with members of Congress
Acrylamide Update - Strategies for Reduction
SNAXPO 75 - Building Knowledge Blocks
SNAXPO 75 - Exhibitor List
New Snacks
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - February 2012