BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today

Subject: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 04:47 AM

Nooooo...not the actual meal! The shops! :0)

You can listen to Judi Spiers telling people all about them on BBC Radio Devon here

I have to say that Sidmouth's 'White Horse' has to be the best fish and chips I've ever tasted..

Bring back wrapping them in newspaper!

And when I was little we used to go to the one in Pinner Green, which had a little restaurant on the side of it. It was always a really special treat to have tea in there.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 04:52 AM

Fish and Chips - The History :0)

Don't you just *love* the internet!
The Fish Fryer's Federation

Try saying that after some beer battered fish..LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Terry McDonald
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 04:54 AM

I've never know fish and chips to be 'wrapped in newspaper' - when I were a lad in the 40s and 50s, they were always wrapped first in greaseproof paper, with newspaper being the outer wrapping.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:00 AM

Well, yes...er...ok....but they were still *wrapped* in newspaper, albeit the out wrapping...

"One portion of Chips and a Pedantic Plaice, to take away, please!"

;0)

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:03 AM

Newspaper much the best insulation to keep the heat in — pity not used any more.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:13 AM

Well when you consider the filth in some newspapers.
I mean, would you want your chips wrapped in the Daily Mail?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:40 AM

Best use for it, I should have said...

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:49 AM

John MacKenzie,The 'Daily Mail' a newspaper? Come off it!

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Arnie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 06:10 AM

When I was at school in the '60's, I got a part-time job working in our local chippie. I loved fish & chips anyway, so it was a heaven-sent job for me. I was allowed to eat as many chips as I wanted from the outset, which was good psychology as I soon got fed up of eating chips! One of my jobs was making 'fish cakes' - these were pieces of fish in between two potato slices, dipped in batter. These were a cheap alternative to fish as many families couldn't afford the real thing. We also got requests for free'fish bits' which were in fact leftover bits of batter.As pointed out above, we used greaseproof paper around the food, then newspaper as an outer layer. I recall the song of that summer, played ad nauseum in the chippie was 'I got you babe' by Sonny & Cher. Unfortunately the owner gave me the sack at the end of the summer as he said I wasn't quick enough serving the customers - this was a lie but I think he couldn't afford to keep me on but didn't want to say so. Still love fish & chips!

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 06:31 AM

So, just what is 150 years old today?

Fishcakes at our local chippies were always just fishcakes - the same sort you get in supermarkets. Must say the bit of fish between sliced potatos sound a much better option! We used to have sliced battered potatos called 'specials' - known to some as scallops.

In the North West we seem to have cornered the market in pies. When travelling elsewhere I am always amazed that I cannot get a meat pie - Do you mean minced meat or steak and kidney? They usualy ask. Neither - You have to have a Hollands meat pie to understand! And how anyone can not enjoy a babbies yed wi' gravy is beyond me...

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 06:35 AM

"So, just what is 150 years old today?"

It's 150 years since the first fish and chip shop was opened....listen to Judi's show...and read the Wiki link above..

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 06:48 AM

Ahhhh - Gotcha. The Wiki article was unclear and I cannot listen to the radio at work so thanks for clearing that up. How do we know it was today? The articles, as far as I can see, just say it was either 1860 or 1863, depending on the definition of a fish and chip shop.

Purely out of academic (and gastronomic!) interest

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 06:48 AM

They used to call the sliced, battered potatoes 'Floaters' here in N. Lincs.

You could get Yorkshire Fishcakes (fish between two slices of potato) at a small minority of chippies years ago, but not for a long time round here. A new chippie's just opened and they sell them. Great wi' salt and vinegar and a dollop o' red sauce. Yippee!

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 07:24 AM

When I first came to England, I remember seeing scallops on the menu in a chippie. I was delighted - I love a scallop, me. My delight diminished rapidly when it became apparent that I had not ordered deep-fried shellfish, but a deep-fried slice of potato. I think that was the last time I ever had one.

PS: red sauce is an abomination. Daddies all the way!

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 07:38 AM

Ooh boiled babbies yeds, I love them, not had 'em for ages. I shall buy some next shopping trip.
Best pies are Scottish Mutton Pies. nam nam

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 07:53 AM

Yep, Daddies is great in its place, but its place is on big fat juicy Lincolnshire sausages! :-)

Only the red stuff will do with F&C for me. Mind you, I used to work with a guy who on Friday used to go with us to the works canteen and have fried battered fish, salad, pasta and gravy, topped off with Heinz Salad Cream. Disgusting. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:01 AM

It's funny, Backwoodsman - I can't eat red sauce any more. I grew up eating it, but after I came to England and had eaten brown sauce for years, one day I got a terrible craving for chips with Heinz ketchup. Well, I nearly gagged, it was so vile. It's really funny how your tastes change over time.


Salad cream is a bigger abomination than red sauce. I always keep a bottle of red sauce in the house in case posh company comes (I find that middle class people generally don't eat brown sauce - philistines), but I wouldn't have salad cream under my roof.

What is a babbies head? Is it like a faggot?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:05 AM

The best chips I ever had were at a chippie in Snaeth, somewhere in Yorkshire, on the way to a ceilidh, in a van driven by Sam Pirt, with Bill Sables and friends. Great memory!

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:07 AM

It's an individual steak and kidney pie with suet crust, Ruth. Picture one upside-down!

I like salad cream on chips (proper chips, big fat ones double-fried in beef dripping).

Oh well, good job we don't all like the same things! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:08 AM

Pie? PIE?? I meant Steak and kidney PUDDING of course! D'oh!

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:08 AM

Boiled babbies yeds

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:09 AM

"Oh well, good job we don't all like the same things! :-)"

Indeed!


Babbies heads sound amazing! Where do you get them? In the chippies in the Midlands it's all Pukka Pies...

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:16 AM

Or as we know them, 'Yuck-a Pies'.

Babbies 'Eads are truly wonderful, with chips and thick gravy (mash will do if there are no chips). Never see them in Lincs., but I had a fair few in me seagoing days. My mum used to make them too, back in the days before anyone had dreamed up the concept of 'Fast Food' (apart from the aforementioned fish & chips) and everyone cooked from scratch at home.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Will Fly
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:18 AM

Nobody ever ask for "scraps" - bits of batter scrapings to go wi't rest?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:25 AM

I've made steak and kidney pudding in the past, Backwoodsman - I love it. They also used to do it in the pub in my old village, and very nice it was, too (they did a really gorgeous lamb suet pudding as well). But I've never seen it in a chippie! Do they make it themselves, or is it bought in, do you think? And I wonder if it's properly steamed these days or popped in the microwave...

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:26 AM

Salad Cream ? NO Way ! PROPER Mayonaise is a different matter though - Chips with Mayonaise is a very Continental delight !

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:37 AM

Surprise Peas, incontinental delight?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:49 AM

Holland pies and puds are now online, Ruth. Not quite the same as getting them from a chippy but should give you an idea.

Mutton pies are indeed good, John, but only when deep fried - Heart attack on a plate:-)

The scraps, near us, were called 'scratchins' - I remeber asking for 'an 'aypurth of scratchins when I were a lad.

I am a brown sauce person as well but did get into the habbit of having mayo on chips when I was in Belgium - Different kettle of fries altogether though.

I daren't say what we used to call black puddings!

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 08:51 AM

Chip butties!

Trouble is, if you eat to many of them, you end up with a buttie the same size. :0)

Sorry, but when did Tomato Sauce turn into 'Red' sauce? (puzzled dollopy smiley)....and....where did those tomato shaped squeezy thingys go? Cripes, now I'm 17 and back in the Wimpy Bar in Northwood Hills with my chums..squeezing that tomato till it finally released a few dollopygollops, although I think they watered it down with vinegar a bit...

All the sauce used to be dried and encrusted around the stem of the container too, but it never put us off...

HOW did we all survive without Health & Safety and NVQs in Food Preparation, eh?

Perfectly... :0)

So, John, are you eating a Deep Fried Mars Bar oop there in Scotland?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:03 AM

It probably needs a certain amount of tomatoes to be called tomato sauce...

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:04 AM

come to that, what is the difference between tomato sauce and tomato ketchup?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:07 AM

No Lizzie, I'm fussy about what, or whom I eat.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:08 AM

I'm glad you don't 'eat' me anymore, John... :0) x

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:35 AM

Does it not need a certain amount or reds or browns to be called red or brown sauce then?

:D

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 09:57 AM

Red sauce is Tomato Ketchup. It's called red sauce by us lot out in The Backwoods in order to distinguish it from brown sauce, which is a different colour and a completely different kettle of sauce. :-)

Ruth, I've not seen Babbies 'Eads in chippies either - just on the ships and at home. I'd guess that anything they sell in chippies must be mass-produced and micro-waveable?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 10:14 AM

Enjoyed these chips...

Poem 187 of 230, A SOUTH SHIELDS WALKABOUT - AUTUMN 2001

Out of the museum-and-gallery
(Wiser on Cookson and the local way),
Down Ocean Road with, to the right of me,
Its eateries and, left, neat places to stay;
Before, on either side, Marine Parks -
The southern-one a most beautiful place,
Teeming with moorhens, swans, grebes and mallards
In a small lake at a scenic-hill's base.

Then (holding chips from the parade's cafe
And, thus, a flock of gulls squawking above)
Onto the South Pier I made my way:
Seeing seaweed over rocks - like a glove -
And high-and-dry sands held from transgression
By growth of grass and the weaving of wood,
Plus, in the dim light of a sleepy sun,
Fishing boats returning to Tynemouth's hood.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse(e-book)
Or http://walkaboutsverse.sitegoz.com (e-scroll)
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 10:37 AM

Why don't you piss off with your doggerel to your own boring thread, you egotistical tosser?

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 10:49 AM

"I am a brown sauce person as well but did get into the habbit of having mayo on chips when I was in Belgium - Different kettle of fries altogether though."


Agreed - my first trip abroad was to Bruges and Brussels one year (not the usual spring break destination of choice for the American university student, but I had friends with eccentric tastes). After several hours drinking Kriek beer in smoky little bars each night, we'd go out to these little green wagons and have frites with vinegar and mayonnaise. It was a revelation.

I don't like English chips with mayonnaise - the chips are the wrong texture, and brown sauce cuts through the greasiness. But with restaurant chips that are more like french fries, vinegar and mayo is just the ticket.

The day after Sidmouth finishes, I like having moules frites at the Bedford, and I always ask for vinegar and mayonnaise. I like eating it and looking out at the sea - it's one of my favourite meals.


Red sauce vs tomato sauce: I think it might be a bit of a north/south thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 10:59 AM

I'd guess that anything they sell in chippies must be mass-produced and micro-waveable?

Untrue! Babbies Yeds are still kept in a double boiler in chippies near us and pies are cooked in the oven and kept warm in glass fronted case above the range. The pies can get a little dry after a while but put a good ladle of gravy or curry (with raisins!) on and they are fine again:-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: GUEST,buspassed
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:05 AM

'Tracies Plaice' a chippie on Kirkstall Rd. in Leeds do[did?] a deep fried slice of fish between slices of potato. Never managed to finish one but the remainder was always good for rubbing into your Barbour jacket t'keep rain out! Of course this type of fish cake does differ from the native Hull pattie which does or does not contain fish. Discuss! [Should you have enough time left in your life!]

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:16 AM

... & we haven't even started yet on what to call those lovely big gherkins - almost pickled cuke size - that the best chip·shops keep. As I am a Londoner, they are 'wallies' to me.

There's a gr8 chippie right here in my home village of Haddenham between Cambridge & Ely [not to be confused with the other of same name in Bucks, tho we are fraternally linked by charity walks &c]; called Choys, becoz it doubles - wait4it - as a genuine (& xlnt) Chinese takeaway. So if you feel like a change, you can have pineapple·duck·in·orange·sauce with a go of mushroom·fried·rice instead. Oh, bum — decisions decisions!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:26 AM

Hey - Our nearest place has a traditional English 'range' on which they do great chips; a pizza oven which I have never tried; One of those unrecognisable meat things on a turntable that produces some stuff to be eaten only when pissed; a griddle for burgers, which are surprisingly good and, finaly, some cardboard boxes full of southern fried cardboard...

Talk about decisions!

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:29 AM

hi

What a good thread !!

I can smell the fish and chips .......

Around here we have steak & kindney puddings in all of our chippies.
We don't call em babbies yeds....but I live in Cheshire and it's a bit posh here....lol

Years ago I used to play rugby and when we played " oooooop north" we got babbies yeds....I was very disappointed when I found that they were the same as our steak and kidney puddings.

At my folk club we used to have Lancashire Evenings and we used to put on steak & kidney puddings and pies.......and bucketfuls of mushy peas. Me and my missus used to make the peas....yum yum...blow ye winds southerly....lol

Lizzie I remember those tomato squirty things....now what you are forced to use those tiny plastic packets thingies....hate the buggers.

When I was very small we had two chippies fairly close to us and at that time I used to run errands for my grandma who lived around the corner.
She used to make me get the chips from one shop and the fish from the other.....my gran was very fussy....lol

We used to have fish and chips every Friday as kids.

We are having fish tonight but it is smoked cod with poached eggs as we are starting our annual cut down on fatty grub after the festivities which at our house go on until the 14th January as that is my good lady's birthday.

regards

mike

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Les from Hull
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:38 AM

David el Gnomo - 'an 'aypurth of scratchins? They charged you for scaps? And they say Yorkshiremen are tight!

Of course you have to travel to the East Riding of Yorkshire to experience a patty. The Patty Triangle extends between Goole, Bridlington and the coast.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:48 AM

I `ad that Ruth Archer in my cab the other day. She looked well pleased with `erself and she `ad this little parcel in her `and. It was `er evening meal all wrapped up in a copy of "The Times".( None of your old "Sun" at "Fred`s Fried Food & Fish".)
I said, "Blimey Ruthie. If that`s your dinner it don`t `alf pen and ink. What you got in there? A Bit of rock and chips?"
She said, " S`right Jim. I just love that dogfish, `specially with some good old Sarsons vinegar and HP Sauce."
I said, "Dogfish? You sure `e `asn`t run out of fish and fried `is pet mongrel instead?!!"

Whaddam I like??

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 12:01 PM

HP?! Ooooohh noooooo! Daddies all the way, pet.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 12:05 PM

You ain't lived till you've had one o' dem Jamaica Patties, from the bakers, just beside the entrance to Brixton Market.
Now when you say "Blow the wind Southerly", this produces a really hot wind ☺

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Paul Burke
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 12:12 PM

Fish and chips, London, 1970s style- heavy rock salmon, tasted like lorry inner tubes fried in engine oil and encased in rockwool insulation. Mountains of inedible razor- tipped "chips", case hardened for at least 24 hours. Pies that grunted when you bit into them, you didn't dare lift the crust. Gravy apparently a product of dysenteric cows. With free added fag-ash.

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: Bill D
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 12:35 PM

I am suddenly reminded of the story of actors auditioning for a play being asked to read the line: "She stood at the door of Miss Smith's Fish Shop, welcoming him in."

Those who carefully managed the 1st part were tripped by the last.

Ok...carry on.

(I 'think' I have had good fish & chips over here in the colonies, but never having been to the UK to compare, I am not sure.)

Subject: RE: BS: Fish & Chips - 150 years old today
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 12:46 PM

those tomato squirty things....now what you are forced to use those tiny plastic packets thingies....hate the buggers.===

LoL - esp when that marked bit in the corner just WON'T bloody tear off & you are left cursing with words you didn't even know you knew.