Do you cut the fries first and then blanch?

No, you blanch the potatoes first, then cut them into fries. Blanching is a process of partially cooking the potatoes in boiling water before frying them. This helps to remove excess starch from the potatoes, which can make the fries less likely to stick together and helps them to cook more evenly. So, the correct order is: blanch the potatoes, then cut them into fries, and then fry them.