UK - Fish and chips

[mineistaken]

Whats cool about it, why is it so popular there? I tried it for the sake of trying and its just that - fried fish + fried potatoes. Whats the secret here?
Just wondering, no disrespect to tradition.

ps: I ate it without sauce, that probably made me not fancy it too much.

[Wilsy]

The most common dish in the UK now is actually Chicken Tikka Masala lol says a lot about the country,

You have to get Fish and Chips from a high quality "chippy" and put vinegar all over the batter and a bit of tartare sauce it is very tasty

[EddyTheDog]

There is a lot of really bad fish and chips around - As Wilsy said you have to find the right place - A good fish and chips is actually a really great experience...

[wehateporn]

Absolutely has to be a decent chippy, even my mother-in-law from Argentina can't wait to have a proper portion of fish and chips when she gets here, she loves an English Breakfast too

[rogueteens]

chips from the chippy in a paper wrapper eaten as you walk home from the pub using a wooden fork is sheer bliss!

[mineistaken]

But is it in the sauce? I can not imagine fried fish or fried potatoes being much different in various places.

[the Shemp]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

But is it in the sauce? I can not imagine fried fish or fried potatoes being much different in various places.

no, it's the batter and the quality of the fish

[CaptainHowdy]

Originally Posted by rogueteens

chips from the chippy in a paper wrapper eaten as you walk home from the pub using a wooden fork is sheer bliss!

...

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by the Shemp

no, it's the batter and the quality of the fish

I see. I am not one of those picky types - I do not see much difference in taste of the fish (speaking about the same kind of fish).
As for batter I agree, it gives much to the taste.

[ShackledMaidens]

You just cant beat quality fish and chips, in paper, loads of vinegar

[Seth Manson]

Try the Bangers & Mash if you dont like Fish & Chips.

[LouiseLloyd]

Plenty of salt and vinegar and don't forget the scraps!

[Manfap]

Pie, mash and liquor is what you need.

Fish and Chips, yep comes down to the quality of the chippy.

[yoeleven]

go to whitby if you want the best

[CurrentlySober]

i cant a4d fish n chips...

[ShackledMaidens]

Originally Posted by yoeleven

go to whitby if you want the best

+1
Its where I used to live, sitting on the harbour wall on a cold day, bag of fish and chips keeping your hands warm

[rastan]

Originally Posted by yoeleven

go to whitby if you want the best

Yup, or Padstow, or indeed anywhere where it comes straight of the boat and straight into the fryer! 8)

Actually, to give the yanks a fair crack of the whip here, I had some *FINE* fresh shrimp & chips on Pier39, San Francisco. Really was right up there

[AllAboutCams]

You gotta have mushy peas or curry sauce

I miss pickled eggs that much i started making my own.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Wilsy

The most common dish in the UK now is actually Chicken Tikka Masala lol says a lot about the country,

Not really sure what you think it says about the UK (which is not just one country btw) but Indian food is easily my favorite food regardless of where I am. I don't know very many people who don't like Indian food. I was born and raised in the UK but have lived in Canada for 3 years now, everyone here loves Indian food too, does that say the same about Canada as you think it says about the UK?

[Wilsy]

Originally Posted by Ross

Not really sure what you think it says about the UK (which is not just one country btw) but Indian food is easily my favorite food regardless of where I am. I don't know very many people who don't like Indian food. I was born and raised in the UK but have lived in Canada for 3 years now, everyone here loves Indian food too, does that say the same about Canada as you think it says about the UK?

I am from the UK too I live in the Midlands I was just pointing out the fact that Fish and Chips used to be our countries favourite food but now it is masala,

[Choopa_Pardo]

there are a few fish and chip purveyors in Manhattan that I am a fan of.

[Jel]

Originally Posted by AllAboutCams

You gotta have mushy peas or curry sauce

You northerners have no class

[Rochard]

I had Fish and Chips in London while on vacation not too long ago. It was less than I had expected.

[Evil Chris]

It's more the experience if you're a tourist.
If you're a local, it's just lunch.

Don't expect fine dining. You're eating cod out of a newspaper in the street.

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by Wilsy

The most common dish in the UK now is actually Chicken Tikka Masala lol says a lot about the country,

You have to get Fish and Chips from a high quality "chippy" and put vinegar all over the batter and a bit of tartare sauce it is very tasty

exactly, basically the difference between a good one and a bad one is how often they change up the oil, in my opinion anyway. The fresher it is the better it comes out.


ps i love chicken tikka masala too.. both are pretty popular in canada as well.

[Manfap]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

exactly, basically the difference between a good one and a bad one is how often they change up the oil, in my opinion anyway. The fresher it is the better it comes out..

The best are made with beef dripping. Not many places do it though.

[Jel]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I had Fish and Chips in London while on vacation not too long ago. It was less than I had expected.

That's because fish and chips is shit though, there are varying degrees of how shit it is, of course It most definitely isn't some kind of great meal though, just a case of good marketing throughout the years.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I had Fish and Chips in London while on vacation not too long ago. It was less than I had expected.

Same here, but maybe it was because I expected too much because of the hype.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by Jel

That's because fish and chips is shit though, there are varying degrees of how shit it is, of course It most definitely isn't some kind of great meal though, just a case of good marketing throughout the years.

So whats good in terms of lunch food? I mean if we do not speak about fine dining, but more of the "people's food".

[sperbonzo]

Lived in the UK for 4 years, but some of the best fish and chips I ever had was in a place on the coast near Brisbane Australia. The fish were straight off the boat, straight onto ice, you picked it out, they gutted it, and fried it, right there. Unbelievably good.





.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Jel

That's because fish and chips is shit though, there are varying degrees of how shit it is, of course It most definitely isn't some kind of great meal though, just a case of good marketing throughout the years.

I don't eat fish so I can't really say about the quality but Fish and Chip shops in general have great food. I'm flying home to Scotland in 3 weeks and my first stop for food will be my local "chippie" for a sausage supper

[Triple-A]

You gotta have a decent piece of fresh cod (or my favourite, haddock) - beer batter is the best covering and the chips (along with the fish) must be cooked in reasonably fresh oil... problem with some chippies in London is they are just shit and are a dime a dozen. Find a good chippie and you'll know the difference. I used to hate mushy peas but now love it with fish n chips... as well as having lots of salt n vinegar plus the tartare sauce - mmm, I'm hungry!!!

Also love indian food, usually get at least one take away from a decent one local to me, they know me now so always give me extras... most "Indians" are run by Bangladeshis. Again, I wouldn't trust some in the heart of London... some real health scares there *yikes!*

[EddyTheDog]

Originally Posted by sperbonzo

Lived in the UK for 4 years, but some of the best fish and chips I ever had was in a place on the coast near Brisbane Australia. The fish were straight off the boat, straight onto ice, you picked it out, they gutted it, and fried it, right there. Unbelievably good.





.

I have to admit the Australian's do a good Fish And Chips - The Kiwis as well - It must be in their genes...

[PR_Glen]

Originally Posted by Manfap

The best are made with beef dripping. Not many places do it though.

as like in the oil? or the batter? never heard that one before.

i forgot to mention fish freshness.. clearly overlooked considering i live inland and fresh around here is normally farmed ;) (which i don't mind, just not the same)

[RebelR]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

as like in the oil? or the batter? never heard that one before.

i forgot to mention fish freshness.. clearly overlooked considering i live inland and fresh around here is normally farmed ;) (which i don't mind, just not the same)

yup.. the two best frying oils for chips.. are Lard and Peanut oil. Lard definitely makes the best chips, but it tends to piss off the vegans.

[oppoten]

As others have said, lots of vinegar, with peas or curry sauce. Too much salt ruins it for me.

[blazin]

Originally Posted by Ross

Not really sure what you think it says about the UK (which is not just one country btw) but Indian food is easily my favorite food regardless of where I am. I don't know very many people who don't like Indian food. I was born and raised in the UK but have lived in Canada for 3 years now, everyone here loves Indian food too, does that say the same about Canada as you think it says about the UK?

I agree... I don't think many Indian's actually eat Tikka Masala... it was invented in Birmingham's curry mile I believe... and it's an extremely popular choice in most Indian restaurants.

[blazin]

Originally Posted by Triple-A

You gotta have a decent piece of fresh cod (or my favourite, haddock) - beer batter is the best covering and the chips (along with the fish) must be cooked in reasonably fresh oil... problem with some chippies in London is they are just shit and are a dime a dozen. Find a good chippie and you'll know the difference. I used to hate mushy peas but now love it with fish n chips... as well as having lots of salt n vinegar plus the tartare sauce - mmm, I'm hungry!!!

Also love indian food, usually get at least one take away from a decent one local to me, they know me now so always give me extras... most "Indians" are run by Bangladeshis. Again, I wouldn't trust some in the heart of London... some real health scares there *yikes!*

Yep... funny you should say that... most chip shops are not English owned, and most of them will serve fried chicken, sausages, pies and kebabs. Finding a good kebab house is a challenge also.. I think the best ones are Turkish owned there.

This isn't a racist rant, but I prefer eating ethnic foods from the 'experts'.

Case in point, the other day I went to a Vietnamese restaurant with some friends who all promptly ordered from the 'chinese' section of the menu. I stuck with the Vietnamese food. All their food was pretty crap to be honest but my dish was amazing and they all regretted what they ordered. I told them you wanted chinese you should have went to a chinese place.

Oh btw... fish and chips.... it's great in the Black Country. ;)

[rogueteens]

Apparently the Faroe Islanders have gotten the taste of good 'ol fish 'n chips after the British solders imported the idea there during world war 2

[rogueteens]

Originally Posted by blazin

Yep... funny you should say that... most chip shops are not English owned, and most of them will serve fried chicken, sausages, pies and kebabs. Finding a good kebab house is a challenge also.. I think the best ones are Turkish owned there.

true, and to be honest, it shows that they are not English. the chips from those places normally are rank. The best fish and chips are made in proper fish and chip shops not a takeaway that tries to shoehorn in the chippy in amongst its more exotic foods.

[Sarah_Jayne]

Just like you can get bad pizza and hamburgers here, there are so many places that do fish and chips that there are going to be a bunch that are just average.

Plus there are factors such as which fish. For me, cod didn't make the best fish and chips. If it was available I'd always go for rock and chips which is rock salmon. In all cases though, it is the quality of the chips that make the meal. There are few things as good as a proper British chip.

Now I want chips and curry sauce.

[Adult-biz]

Originally Posted by Manfap

Pie, mash and liquor is what you need.

Fish and Chips, yep comes down to the quality of the chippy.

Pie & Mash, Fish & Chips and a full English...fucking marvelous.

Mentioned many times already...fish & chips from some dodgy kebab house/chippy that has had fish sitting in the hot counter for a few hours is no good (ends up totally dried up). Nor is when the frying oil is not regularly changed.

If you can find a quality chippy that is busy and this obviously means that the food turnover is high so constant fresh fish/chips being fried. Also Friday/Saturday have always been traditionally the best days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_and_chips)

[Si]

The best fish and chips in the world comes from the coastal lines. It's a simple fact that the fresher the fish, the better. None of your slim cut McDonald's fries either, chunky, proper fucking chips. Don't matter what you have with it, but in my book, salt and vinegar and nothing else, stick you Tartar sauce up your fucking ringhole.

Chips and Gravy? Fuck yeah, but not if fish is involved.

[fuzebox]

Spent 4 months in London this year... didn't bother trying fish and chips

[rogueteens]

Originally Posted by Online Marketing Services

Pie & Mash, Fish & Chips and a full English...fucking marvelous.

Mentioned many times already...fish & chips from some dodgy kebab house/chippy that has had fish sitting in the hot counter for a few hours is no good (ends up totally dried up). Nor is when the frying oil is not regularly changed.

If you can find a quality chippy that is busy and this obviously means that the food turnover is high so constant fresh fish/chips being fried. Also Friday/Saturday have always been traditionally the best days (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_and_chips)

there is a chippy near me (just your normal back street chip shop) that's so busy that I once counted 17 members of staff behind the counter!

[stoka]

doesn't look tasty to me

[F-U-Jimmy]

I spent 45 years of my life in London (Wimbledon) and the only thing i miss is a good curry like they serve at The Taste of Raj in Richmond or a Jumbo Cod and Chips from a small chip shop in Wimbledon. IMO Cod makes by far the best F&C thick flakey & dry covered with Malt Vinegar and salt. Shit i may just have to fly back and get a fix some time soon

[slapass]

Try bangers and mash next.

[DamianJ]

Originally Posted by RebelR

yup.. the two best frying oils for chips.. are Lard and Peanut oil. Lard definitely makes the best chips, but it tends to piss off the vegans.

Groundnut oil makes the best chips. IMHO.

[AaronM]

The worst fish & chips I've ever had was in London.

The worst Sushi I've ever had was in Tokyo.

Odd...