During the summer, food truck Ginette Lafrite won the prize for the best fries along the Moselle, but how did Fanny Engeset end up running a food truck in the first place?

Fanny Engeset, 45, was born and raised in Cuqc, in northern France. At 18, she moved to Luxembourg for what was meant to be a one-year job to save some money, but she never left. In 2023, following her divorce, she bought a food truck called Ginette Lafrite and began selling burgers and fries. Since then, she's taken her truck to festivals across France, Luxembourg, and Belgium.

"At Namur, someone told me my fries were even better than the Belgian ones", she recalled with a smile. They weren't wrong: on 27 August, she won La Frite d'Or, a contest held during the Fripes & Frites Festival in Metz, earning the title of best fry shop in Moselle 2025. Competing against five other participants from different French regions, including one from Belgium, she admitted she hadn't seen it coming, calling the victory "a wonderful surprise".

What's her secret?

Like any good cook, she keeps some tricks to herself, but she's happy to share a few essentials. Engeset explained that she always soaks them for at least 12 hours, and then dries thoroughly before frying them twice.

Her food truck can be found every Tuesday during lunchtime in Luxembourg City, on rue Fort Neipperg. Engeset hopes to expand her presence by attending more festivals and creating her own line of authentic homemade seasonings. She said she's working with the chef Denis Guyon on new sauces, adding that once she's finalised them, they'll be available at events, festivals, and at her usual spot.

For now, her award-winning fries are served with classic accompaniments such as ketchup, mayonnaise, and even vinegar. She said it's common in Northern France to drizzle a little vinegar over your fries, adding emphatically how good it is. Initially, some French customers were sceptical about the idea, but in the end, they all agreed.

RTL

© Sibila Lind