Not quite in the vein of the lone inventor working tirelessly in his garage, but just as interesting...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_chip#OriginsThe original potato chip recipe was created by George Crum, the son of an African American father and Native American mother, in Saratoga Springs, New York on August 24, 1853. Fed up with a customer who continued to send his fried potatoes back complaining that they were too thick and soggy, Crum decided to slice the potatoes so thin that they could not be eaten with a fork. As they could not be fried normally in a pan, he decided to stir-fry the potato slices. Against Crum's expectation, the guest was ecstatic about the new chips and they soon became a regular item on the lodge's menu, under the name "Saratoga Chips." They eventually became popular throughout New York and New England. One version of this story identifies Cornelius Vanderbilt as the customer who wanted his potatos served thinner.
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