In Lille, the world's best fries are made by a former engineer who clinched the title of world frying champion. This is his incredible story.
The story
If they say "anything tastes good fried," Aurèle Mestré's must be truly sublime. On October 7th in Arras, his high-quality fries earned him the title of the world frying champion, as reported by 20 Minutes. Eight contestants, including a Belgian, a Canadian, a Japanese, an Englishman, competed in the event organized in the French town. It was a nail-biting competition; the Japanese contestant won the semifinal, but fries first fried in sunflower oil and then in lard overturned the outcome of the final, placing Aurèle on the highest podium.
The 32-year-old has always been a fried food enthusiast, but it was only in the last year that he turned his passion into a profession. After a professional journey that saw him spend a year in medical school, then opted for engineering, securing a position as a Project Manager in Soissons, it was in 2020 when Mestré, tired of a job that felt too standardized, resigned to give his life a new direction. Disliking sending resumes and job hunting, the young engineer realized that entrepreneurship was the right path.
From Soissons, he then returns determined to open a venue in Old Lille. After all: "I've always loved to cook, especially because I love to eat. And when you love to eat, at some point you're forced to start cooking," he tells Terres et Territoires. However, rents in Old Lille prove to be exorbitant. Aurèle then identifies the perfect location in the Wazemmes district, a more popular, less expensive area, and especially with only one other existing chip shop. "I said to myself, Bingo!" he continues.
Following his motto, "Persevere, even if you feel like you're failing," in December 2021, Aurèle signed the lease contract, and after nine months of renovations, Friterie Mèstre opened in September 2022. The venue at 305 Rue Léon Gambetta immediately gained immense success. However, after the victory, the lines to taste his delicious fries tripled. Friterie Mèstre doesn't just mean fries; it also offers tasty croquettes with flavors that vary daily.
To satisfy his fans today, Aurèle has the help of five other people. Still, his entrepreneurial dreams don't seem to end here: "My main development idea would be to open other chip shops, with centralized production here. Otherwise, I have other ideas for restaurants. If one day I have the opportunity to sell the chip shop at a good price and move elsewhere, I won't hesitate."
