Take a tour of 5 Fun Facts About French Fries in Phoenix, United States - part of the World's Greatest Attractions travel video series by GeoBeats. French fries are, perhaps, poorly-named, since they originate in Belgium and are most popular in America. In England these are referred to as "chips". Though French fries were invented in Europe, the potatoes, from which they are made, originated in the Americas and were imported. Leaving the potato skin on French fries actually leaves in important vitamins that are lost if the skins are peeled away. The first occurrence of French fries in America may have been at a diplomatic dinner hosted by Thomas Jefferson.