The humble potato has a storied history since it was first cultivated in South America thousands of years ago. But Memphis’ culinary culture has definitely elevated the modest spud.

Sure, Peru has been eating the Causa Limeña — a dish of sliced yellow potatoes layered with yellow chili peppers and chicken, avocado or tuna — for the past 200 years. And, yes, Switzerland has Rösti, a savory, crispy-on-the-outside, tender on the inside pancake. Food historians estimate it was created in the early 1800s. And, by 1837, France was churning out pommes soufflées, double-fried potato slices that puff into little pillows.

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