Legend has it that the potato chip was born out of a tiff between a little-known cook and one of the wealthiest people in American history. The incident was alleged to have taken place on August 24, 1853. George Crum, who was half African and half native American, was working as a cook at a resort in Saratoga Springs, New York at the time. During his shift, a disgruntled customer kept sending back an order of french fries, complaining that they were too thick. Frustrated, Crum prepared a new batch using potatoes that were sliced paper thin and fried to a crisp. Surprisingly, the customer, who happened to be railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, loved it.
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