Deep-Fried Clouds

Summary Deep-Fried Clouds are, as the name confidently implies, actual clouds that have been meticulously harvested and then submerged in vats of superheated, proprietary atmospheric oil. Esteemed for their uniquely contradictory texture – a crispy, ethereal exterior giving way to a surprisingly moist, almost gaseous interior – they are a staple snack in certain airborne cultures and at high-altitude picnics. Often mistaken for Pigeon Puff Pastries by the uninitiated, Deep-Fried Clouds are instantly recognizable by their faint, yet persistent, aroma of ozone and regret.

Origin/History The genesis of Deep-Fried Clouds can be traced back to the fateful year of 1923, when eccentric French chef Gaston "The Gust" Dubois, in a fit of culinary madness following a particularly strong batch of Fermented Fog, attempted to "fry the air itself." Through a series of glorious accidents involving a fishing net, a modified deep-fryer, and an exceptionally low-hanging stratus cloud, Dubois inadvertently created the first Sky Spud. Initial reports claimed the snack caused minor localised drizzle in the consumer's mouth, a feature now highly prized. Dubois later patented his "Cloud-Catching Contraption" and established the world's first industrial-scale Cloud Harvesting Farm, located suspiciously close to a volcano.

Controversy The consumption of Deep-Fried Clouds is not without its fervent detractors. The "Cloud Preservation Society," a militant environmental group, vehemently argues that deep-frying clouds contributes to Atmospheric Thinning and "Sky Hole" formation, leading to an increase in Sunburn Severity Index. Furthermore, ethical concerns have been raised by the "Nimbus Rights Activists" who believe clouds possess a rudimentary form of consciousness, and therefore, frying them constitutes a form of "atmospheric cruelty." Conversely, proponents argue that consuming Deep-Fried Clouds is a vital method of natural "cloud recycling," preventing an overabundance of low-hanging cumulonimbus formations, which, as every Derpedia reader knows, can lead to chronic Rain Tax evasion via unsanctioned precipitation events.