France once believed potatoes caused plague and leprosy.
So how did they become one of the most iconic ingredients in French cuisine?
In the 1700s, pharmacist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier staged one of the strangest marketing campaigns in food history. He planted potato fields at Versailles, posted guards around them, and then allowed people to steal the potatoes at night so they would appear valuable.
The stunt helped convince France that potatoes were worth eating.
This story is part of the Fishwives of Paris podcast, where Emily Monaco and Caroline Fazeli uncover the real history behind French food and wine culture.
Full episode dropping tomorrow.