Under Rupert Murdoch’s ownership the Times increasingly resembles the S*n with more ponderous versions of the same stories.
However it hasnt entirely abandoned is ancient class obsessions. One of these is with French cuisine. Traditionally the English ruling class regarded French gastronomy to be superior to English and at least until Raymond Postgate got to work on the Good Food Guide perhaps it was.
In recent times the paper has been celebrating the French liking for English (& US) food. France is one of the biggest world markets for McDonalds.
An Editorial on 12th February celebrates the growing market for frozen thick cut chips in France. The Frite is apparently in decline with the claim that younger people don’t like peeling potatoes (leave the skin on one might say, tho the Times doesnt)
Areas of Northern France have been given over to growing potatoes and there is an area now known as La Vallee de la Frite (Chip Valley)
The French frozen chip market increased 25% between 2019 and 2023. McCain has spotted profit potential and is constructing a 1.4 mile long production line in Chip Valley.
There is however a problem.
Checking Churchill’s Cookbook (1958) which contains recipes from his long serving cook, the only reference to frites are ones made from aubergines. There are no references at all to chips although there are plenty of recipes requiring boiled, baked and sauteed potatoes.
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