Representative wants 'french' fries back on House menus

Nation's Restaurant News, Sept 29, 2003 by Paul King

WASHINGTON -- A Democratic representative from Texas said she believes it's time to put the "french" back in the fries and toast served in the restaurants in the House of Representatives.

In an open letter to her colleagues, Sheila Jackson Lee urged Congress to drop "freedom fries" and "freedom toast" from menus. The names were adopted before the beginning of the Iraq war, after France refused to support U.S. efforts to oust Saddam Hussein.

"President Bush is now urging that all parties put aside past bickering," Lee's letter read. "A symbolic start to that effort would be reinstating foods in the House cafeterias and dining halls with their traditional 'American' names."

According to The Associated Press, House Administration Committee Chair Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who instituted the menu change, so far is unmoved by Lee's plea.