Traditional English food part one - Fish and Chips.

[absolutedestiny]

OK, so kusoyaro was curious about the traditional english food Fish and Chips. So, on the spur of the moment, I went to my local Fish and Chip Shop (or Chippie) and got some.

The chippie near me isn't all that great - it used to be known as the Penguin Fish Bar but has recently changed its name to Spice Village and has begun selling kebabs and other things which, although common to Oxford 'take aways' with indian owners - it is not a traditional Chippie.

I got cod and chips, but haddock was also on offer at the chippie I was at. A dedicated chippie would probably have a larger selection of fish.

Here's what I got for £3.50 ($5.60 usd - not really cheap but this is Oxford)

Fish and Chips with salt and vinegar... plus some dvds for a size comparison - the fish here is, if you took a national average, probably a medium sized one. It all looks incredibly greasy doesn't it? Well, it is greasy (this varies from place to place) but that's mainly because it was fresh out the frier and hadn't been drained as much as the fish normally would be. The vingegar also adds to the greasy look.

The secret of a good fish and chips is in the batter. Unfortunately nobody seems to want to tell this secret to Oxford - if you got some in Yorkshire or in the North East you would get a more bubbly, crisp fish with tasty batter - although there is a place in town that does a pretty good beer battered fish. In most northern chippies you can ask for a small bag of batter (or 'bits') for those who really like staring heart failure in the face. Yorkshire is particularly famous for its fish and chips, being the birth place of the Harry Ramsden's chain of restaurant chippies.

The chips are, to be honest, below average for a chip shop but above average for Oxford. They are pretty basic at this chippie - other chippies often have bigger chips. They are tasty enough though, despite the appearance :)

I actually forgot to order some mushy peas - a bizzare side order for fish and chips which I actually like a lot but is an acquired taste. The bright green colour is almost entirely artificial :) There's an episode of Mini Goddess where they find an unlabelled can of disgusting looking food which they taste and is delicious. I'm pretty sure it's mushy peas :D


So there you have it - an insight into English Fish and Chips.... well, ones from Cowley Road, Oxford at least.


Tomorrow I'll continue with part two of the series - the Full English Breakfast at a local "greasy spoon". High cholesterol here I come.

Comments

[absolutedestiny.livejournal.com]

I guess that depends on the size of the place... would it accomomodate the amount of people we are likely to have on thursday without splitting people up too much?

I honestly dont mind but if you think it's suitable we can give paul a nudge.

Of course, I'd you to be there too - so if you can't on thursday then we should try another day.

[quu.livejournal.com]

i can't count on being free thursday... due to setup for the convnetion... i might or might not...

besides... i think a smaller group on friday after DDR would be more fun