10 Foods Everyone Thinks Are FRENCH But Are Actually NOT

Added: 2026-05-05

Many foods commonly associated with France were actually invented elsewhere: French fries originated in Belgium in the 1600s, French toast has Roman origins from the 4th-5th century, French dressing was invented in the United States in the 1950s, the croissant is Austrian from the 1200s, the French press was patented by an Italian in 1929, the French dip sandwich was invented in Los Angeles in 1918, French onion dip was created in California in the 1950s, Vichyssoise was invented in New York in 1917, American 'French bread' differs from the authentic French baguette, and crème brûlée was invented in England in the 17th century. France became culturally powerful in the 19th and 20th centuries, causing elegant foods to be labeled 'French' regardless of their true origin.