Take pride in your fries: Brussels revamps its food stalls

A large cone of fries is displayed outside a fritkot or fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Brussels wants to improve the image of the stalls selling one of its most famous delicacies, the potato fry, aiming to make the often downtrodden establishments more appealing to tourists.

Belgians take great pride in their fries, traditionally sold doused in mayonnaise and in a paper cone from so-called "fritkots", shacks found near the larger squares and main avenues of the city.

But the stalls are not always as appealing as their produce.

People queue in front of a fritkot or fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

"Tourists may think 'Well, actually, would I like to buy something there? It looks a bit shabby,'" said Thomas Hick, one of the architects that city authorities have asked to revamp the outlets.

The new fritkots will feature a reflective aluminum facade, tiled interior and be equipped with rooftop solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system to make them more environmentally sustainable.

They are set to be in place by late 2019.

Fritkot owner Kemal Vucitrna tosses fries in a fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

There are about 5,000 fritkots over Belgium, making them 10 times more common, per capita, than McDonald's restaurants in the United States.

On busy days, popular Brussels establishments such as Maison Antoine and Frit Flagey can attract very long queues.

Fritkot owner Kemal Vucitrna tosses fries in a fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

(Reporting by Verity Crane; Writing by Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

The selected model of fritkot is displayed as authorities want to make them more recognisable to tourists and residents, in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Fritkot owner Kemal Vucitrna tosses fries in a fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

The selected model of fritkot is displayed near a fries stand, as authorities want to make them more recognisable to tourists and residents, in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Fritkot owner Kemal Vucitrna adds salt to a sandwich with meat and fries in a fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Fritkot owner Kemal Vucitrna adds salt to a tray of fries in a fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Partially cooked fries are pictured in a fries stand in Brussels, Belgium, May 18, 2018. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir