English cuisine is known all around the world as good old
Fish & Chips. Other countries have tried to replica this delicious dish,
but in my opinion, no one can beat English Chips. Not sure if it’s the potatoes
or oil. But the history of them?
Fish and chips became a stock meal among the working classes
in England as a consequence of the rapid development of trawl fishing in the North
Sea, and the railways which connected ports to major industrial cities during
the second half of the 19th century which meant that fresh fish
could be rapidly transported to the heavily populated areas.
Fried fish was probably introduced to Britain during the
Roman period.
We put batter on our fish dip the fish in flour then the
batter mixture. Some people pour a little beer into the batter mixture and this
makes it crispier.
The first Fish & Chip shop was opened in London in 1860
by Joseph Malin. Sorry if his name is spelt wrongly.
If you have read Dickens, Oliver Twist 1838 you may read of
a fried fish house. Or, “A tale of two cities” published in 1859 “Husky chips
of potatoes, fried with some reluctant drops of oil.” It’s far from modern
English where we simply say we are going to the chippy.
Old Fish & Chip shops were quite basic. They consisted
of a large cauldron of cooking fat heated by a coal fire,
over a counter where the scrumptious food was sold.
During world war two, Fish & Chips were one
of the few foods that were not subjected to rationing. Fish and chips were originally served in a
wrapping of old newspapers even when I was young in fact right up till I was
about 25, we used to get our chips in someone else’s read news.
The good old European Union stopped all that unhygienic nonsense. Smile.
Plastic or clean paper is now used.
Many times when we get fish and chips, mind
you, it’s rare now normally when I go to my friends’ houses we have them, and I
prefer them out of the paper rather than on a plate.
Harry Ramsden’s restaurants are now popular and
papers are replaced with chinar. And the price has tripled. Give me a good fish
& Chip shop any day.
OK I’m starving now. Off to cook for four. X
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