What is a chip?

I've lived in New Zealand now for close to four years and in that time I've come to accept that besides having no real cuisine of its own, it doesn't seem to have a common definition for what a chip is.

Since arriving in New Zealand I have seen many things called chips, so I am going to try to enlighten the country for what they should be calling the various fried potato sides you eat.

FRENCH FRIES (aka. SHOESTRINGS, FRIES)

These are the fried potatoes that you get at most fast food shops. They are long and thin, often cooked to the point that they are crunchy throughout. They can be curled around in a spring-like pattern to become curly fries.

CHIPS

These are the typical kind of fried potatoes that you will get in most New Zealand fish and chip places. They are slightly thicker than french fries and aren't as crisp. They have a much more potato taste as compared to fries. Americans will call these fries and often won't distinguish between them and french fries.

STEAK FRIES

These are fried potatoes cut slightly thicker than what New Zealanders call chips. Some may argue that they are the same as chips, however I have noticed that steak fries tend to be slightly larger and to contain more potato than chips.

POTATO WEDGES

The are a fried potato side that is cooked with the skin on. They tend to be roughly the same size as steak fries but to contain slightly more potato. They often have a crisp outer layer with a much softer inside.

POTATO CHIPS (aka. CRISPS)

Potato chips are potatoes that are cut extra thin and then fried.  They are completely crunchy and don't have any interior potato past that which has been exposed.

So whats all this tell us about the different Potato sides? Well for one thing theres too many of them. I have not seen any Steak Fries in New Zealand. Wedges are popular to make at home, Fries are only really common at fast food places, Chips are common at most take away restaurants, and Potato Chips are a very common snack food.

I personally don't care for most crisps or steak fries. There are crisps that are home made that are thicker cut which I like, but for the most part I avoid them. Steak fries don't have enough taste for me, I like wedges and chips though.