| Did You Know? |
 |
There is nothing more British than fish and chips – eaten with salt and vinegar, fish and chips is one of our Great British institutions.
 Fish and Chip Van |
Humble Beginnings
But where did this famous culinary delight originate? The simple answer is that no one really knows. We do know that fish and chips were developed separately. The French invented chips or “chipped pommes de terre a la mode” (from the humble potato commonly believed to have been brought to Europe by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 17 th century), and in 1839 Charles Dickens referred to a “fried fish warehouse” in Oliver Twist.
The great British fish and chip trade grew out of these existing small businesses which sold fish and chips separately in the streets and alleys of London and some of Britain’s industrial towns in the 1850’s. Both Lancashire and London stake a claim to the origin of our most famous meal. Chips were the staple fare of the industrial north whilst fried fish was introduced in London’s East End.
Fish and Chips
Your country needs you
The balance of protein, carbohydrate and vitamins prevalent in fish and chips proved to be an excellent source of nutrition for millions of people in Britain – even the Territorial Army prepared for battle on fish and chips provided in special catering tents erected at training camps in the 1930’s.
As an all-British diet, it helped feed the masses during both wars. The Northern Daily Telegraph reported that British sixpenny suppers helped win the World War of 1914/18”, whilst during the second world war, Lord Woolton, Minister of Food, declared that fish and chips was among the few foods not to be rationed!
Long Live Fish and Chips
Fish and Chip shop of the Year
Every year, one shop in the UK wins the prestigious title of Fish and Chip Shop of the Year – a testimony to the quality of their fish and chips. Often viewed as the stronghold of coastal towns – the geographical spread of past Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition winners belies that myth and proves that wherever you live in the country, you’re likely to find a great local fish and chip shop.
Fishing for compliments
It’s official, the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach. Women say that a man should have basic cooking skills. The most likely food to be a winner in the seduction game is fish – chosen by one third of women as the dish most likely to put them in the mood for seduction.
A Marriage of Taste
The public soon realised that fish and potatoes were rather a tasty combination and over the course of the next 100 years, fish and chips became not only a national institution, but a vital source of nutrition for families – helping to fuel the workforce of the industrial revolution.
 Grimsby Museum |
The first fish and chip shop in the North of England is thought to have opened in Mossely, near Oldham, Lancashire, around 1863. Mr Lees sold fish and chips from a wooden hut in the market and later he transferred the business to a permanent shop across the road, which had the following inscription in the window, “this is the first fish and chip shop in the world”.
However, in London, Joseph Malin opened a fish and chip shop in Cleveland Street within the sound of Bow Bells in 1860. There are now around 8,500 fish and chip shops across the UK – that’s twelve for every one McDonalds’s outlet.
Fish and chips became so essential to the diet of the ordinary man and woman that one shop in Bradford had to employ a doorman to control the queue at busy times during 1931.
The Nations Favourite
However the dish originated, fish and chips is a national favourite, eaten and loved by every generation – in fact its position as the nation’s favourite hot take away remains unchallenged, despite the advent of the American burger
Westfields Fishery - Leeds |
In 1995, the British consumed an astonishing 300 million servings of fish and chips – that equates to six servings for every man woman and child in the country. The record for the largest number of portions sold in one day by an independent fish and chip shop is over 4,000!!!!
Despite the versatility of the chip, fish is far and away our favourite accompaniment for this form of the humble potato.
Thanks be to cod
The nation’s favourite fish is cod, followed by haddock, although there are regional variations. For example, whiting is popular in Northern Ireland and some parts of Scotland and skate and huss are often seen in the south of England.
Far Flung Fish and Chips
People have come across fish and chip shops in the strangest places throughout the world. There’s one on top of a cliff in South Africa – they lower a basket into the sea and hoist up the fish straight from the water below. Other sightings include the middle of the desert in Oman and even at the back of a church. You can even get your fish and chip fix while gambling in the casinos of Las Vegas. Fish and chips in China don’t sound especially appetising – apparently they are served with sugar!
Fish and Chip Fantasies Scottish superstar Sean Connery was the outright winner of a past survey to find out who we’d secretly love to serve us our fish and chips. He was chosen by 26% of women respondents, ahead of Ross Kemp, alias Grant in Eastenders, Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves and comedians Lenny Henry and Angus Deyton. Catherine Zeta Jones came out on top of the men’s fantasies.
Celebrities love fish and chips
Nicholas Parsons “ The British have turned a simple, nourishing dish into a national institution. Fish and chips are now as synonymous with our country as Shakespeare, cricket and the Tower of London. Good fish and chips from a well-run establishment take a lot of beating!”
Paul Daniels “When I moved south I managed to find a great local fish and chip shop in Harfield. So it’s still very much part of my weekly diet”.
Brits say no to Brussels
The Belgian habit of eating fish and chips with mayonnaise finds few fans in the UK. For us it’s salt and vinegar or tomato ketchup – nothing else will do, unless you are from Scotland where special brown sauce is popular.
Anytime, Anyplaice, Anywhere
Most of us take the conventional option and eat our fish and chips at home.
 Barney Moore,
1994 – Ate Fish & Chips EveDay Except Sundays
|
Fish and Chip Tit Bits
Wish you were here!
We’re so hooked on fish and chips, we even miss them while we’re on holiday abroad, a number of us confess to a longing for our favourite take away while we’re away in foreign climes.
 Petticoat Lane Restaurant - Vancouver 2003 |
Learning the Trade in the 21 st Century!
   1.Stuart Fusco -Young Fish Frier of the Year 2004
2.Chris Edmunds of Dorothy’s Fish & Chip Shop, HarmansWater
3.Chris Atter of The Cove Restaurant, Otley
|
