So, what’s a “Murphy?”
Today I’m in line at the Kidd Valley stand at Safeco Field buying the usual round of overpriced ballpark food. (At least it’s good for ballpark food, I having been raised on Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell brand hot dogs at the minor league park.) I ask for two orders of fries. Regular fries. The clerk turns around and shouts,
“TWO MURPHIES!”
“Murphy?” I ask.
“Yeah, that’s the word they use for regular fries. We have garlic fries and chili cheese fries, so regular fries are Murphies.”
“You know where the word comes from?”
“I have no idea. I’m just a volunteer.”
So, Kidd Valley folks, where does “Murphy” come from? Who is/was Murphy?
UPDATED: Big thanks to Seattlest James, who dug out the most logical answer:
Apparently “murphy” is diner slang for “potato.” “Because of their association with the Irish diet of potatoes, Murphy being a common Irish name,” according to the American Diner Museum.
So Murphy fries=potato fries, as in, just potatoes, no garlic or chili.
I think the bigger question is why were you getting just plain old fries instead of garlic fries.
And heck, I never knew they did chili cheese fries…. if only they *mixed* them.
Holy moly! Do they have chili cheese fries at other locations, or just Safeco? This is life-changing info!
Only at Safeco. They also sell chili dogs and nachos out of the same stand, so chili cheese fries would seem to be proof of evolution… or at least good taste in food that’s bad for you.
“I have no idea. I’m just a volunteer.” - why, that’s the Safeco Field concession-stand motto!
At least most of them aren’t surly, like they would be if they were earning minimum wage for a living.
Apparently “murphy” is diner slang for “potato.” “Because of their association with the Irish diet of potatoes, Murphy being a common Irish name,” according to the American Diner Museum.
So Murphy fries=potato fries, as in, just potatoes, no garlic or chili.
(That’s my guess, anyway; I claim no actual insider knowledge of Kidd Valley argot.)