Potato Skins

Potato skins are simple American appetizers consisting of unpeeled potato halves that have been hollowed out, deep-fried, then topped with cheese, bacon, or sour cream. They were originally invented as a way to turn potato peels into a profitable meal.

Depending on who you ask, there are three restaurants credited with the invention of this popular appetizer in the 1970s: R. J. Grunts in Chicago, TGI Fridays restaurant chain, or the Prime Rib restaurant in Washington, DC.

Today, potato skins are a staple of bar food and come in numerous versions, and there is even a fancy version of the appetizer with crabmeat, hollandaise sauce, and asparagus.