Fish & Chips Shops: Regional differences

[Crossover]

Well, up int' North, we appear to do it properly and remove bones and skin. It appears not everywhere does this in the country, but it seems to be a given up here...

How about the most awful name seen for a chippie.

I'll start with 'The Codfather'.

Saw one in Kidderminster of "Our Plaice"

 

[maniacmartin]

I hate the chips in London. They either try to pass off thin 'french fries' as chips or leave their chips in the fryer way too long. *Reminisces over my childhood Lincolnshire/Humberside chippies.

For me chips need lots of vinegar and no salt. I won't eat chips with salt on. Also good is chip butty or chips & beans, but alas the beans from chippies near me have so much sugar content they're disgusting.

The best chips I remember eating were from this chippy near Gainsborough, that isn't even open every day!

 

[Lrd]

With this thread stuck in my mind these past few days, I eventually gave in. Tonight I had chips, small battered sausage and a fishcake, all smothered in curry sauce, bloody lovely!

 

[theblackwatch]

With this thread stuck in my mind these past few days, I eventually gave in. Tonight I had chips, small battered sausage and a fishcake, all smothered in curry sauce, bloody lovely!

Curry sauce? What's wrong with gravy?

(Ducks for cover....)

 

[maniacmartin]

Stranger still, I like ketchup on the oven chips I cook at home, and on MacDonalds chips, but hate it with chippy chips. Likewise, vinegar on MacDonalds chips would be a bit odd. Every chip has it's own condiment, but none of them are curry sauce or gravy

 

[Zoidberg]

...

For me chips need lots of vinegar and no salt. I won't eat chips with salt on.

...

You, Sir, aint got no culture. One must have salt with chips, it's in the rules!

 

[Crossover]

Stranger still, I like ketchup on the oven chips I cook at home, and on MacDonalds chips, but hate it with chippy chips. Likewise, vinegar on MacDonalds chips would be a bit odd. Every chip has it's own condiment, but none of them are curry sauce or gravy

I do wish McDonalds wouldn't put so much salt on theirs - a bit is OK but they usually seem to go OTT... </offtopic>

 

[maniacmartin]

I do wish McDonalds wouldn't put so much salt on theirs - a bit is OK but they usually seem to go OTT... </offtopic>

Makes you more likely to buy a drink though

 

[Crossover]

Makes you more likely to buy a drink though

Well, it doesn't, as I don't tend to go there by choice :P

BK are better...just don't tell district

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

When I were a lad, in my local chippy (lancashire) you could ask for fish bits, which were just the pieces of cooked batter skimmed off the surface of the deep oil fryer. Didn't cost 'owt.

 

[Lrd]

BK are better...just don't tell district

Or me as I used to work in the golden arches as well . But I must admit I do prefer BK fries, along with a McD's milkshake and a KFC Zinger burger, mmmm!

 

[Crossover]

Or me as I used to work in the golden arches as well . But I must admit I do prefer BK fries, along with a McD's milkshake and a KFC Zinger burger, mmmm!

Ah yes, McD's milkshakes

 

[theblackwatch]

When I were a lad, in my local chippy (lancashire) you could ask for fish bits, which were just the pieces of cooked batter skimmed off the surface of the deep oil fryer. Didn't cost 'owt.

Are they any different to scraps? Or the same thing with a different name?

 

[CheapAndNerdy]

Are they any different to scraps? Or the same thing with a different name?

Sounds like they could be the same thing. After the fish were battered they were dropped into the fryer. Any batter that got loose was periodically scooped out and, on request, sprinkled upon a tanner of chips for extra tastiness If you were very lucky there might even be a morsel of real fish included.

 

[ScottishIain]

Just remembered one odd thing I saw in a chippie in Glasgow a few years ago.
I'd already become aware of that wonderful delicacy the deep fried mars bar, but...

the deep fried cream egg was new to me.

Not seen it since either.

I've tried that before. Also had a deep fried toffee crisp.

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[Whistler40145]

I've heard of someone going into a Chippy in Motherwell & they had deep fried Steak Pie. I am not quite sure how good this would be?


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[ATW Alex 101]

Good enough to give you a heart attack.

 

[Statto]

My nearest chippy, cooks most of there stuff to order, the only thing you get already been cooked are Chips, Sausages, Pies, Curry, & Mushy Peas, around my area chippys do both Chinese Curry & Fruity Curry. It's great as you don't have stuff that's been cooked earlier then left out, only to be recooked, loath recooked Chips, Fish, the Fishcakes are quite big in Batter, & cooked to order.

 

[mac]

I hate the chips in London. They either try to pass off thin 'french fries' as chips or leave their chips in the fryer way too long. *Reminisces over my childhood Lincolnshire/Humberside chippies.

For me chips need lots of vinegar and no salt. I won't eat chips with salt on. Also good is chip butty or chips & beans, but alas the beans from chippies near me have so much sugar content they're disgusting.

The best chips I remember eating were from this chippy near Gainsborough, that isn't even open every day!

Is that one still there last time I had any from there must be 15 years. Think it had a coal fired range and woman working there must of been 90

 

[ScottishIain]

I've heard of someone going into a Chippy in Motherwell & they had deep fried Steak Pie. I am not quite sure how good this would be?


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Seen that in quite a few chip shops up here. Also a lot of places do a deep fried Scotch Pie which is rank.

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[theblackwatch]

Seen that in quite a few chip shops up here. Also a lot of places do a deep fried Scotch Pie which is rank.

I recall many years ago a friend of mine telling me a tale of when he went into a chippy somewhere in Scotland and ordered a steak & kidney pie and chips, and the pie was put into the deep fat fryer. Suffice to say, he didn't eat it!

Salt has also been mentioned recently. I can remember many years ago, I went to a chippy at the end of a branch line out of Glasgow (I think it was either Wemyss Bay or Gourock). I was asked if I wanted salt on my chips - what she should have said was did I want chips on my salt. She put so much salt on them they were virtually inedible to me.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

I've heard of someone going into a Chippy in Motherwell & they had deep fried Steak Pie. I am not quite sure how good this would be?


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I had one a few years ago in Glasgow.

It was pleasant enough. Reminded me of an unspiced and oddly-shaped samosa.

 

[WillPS]

Chip shops in the Midlands are terrible - that's all really.

Oh, and it seems the only major chain, Harry Ramsdens, are also terrible.

 

[Liam]

A friend of mine used to deliver frozen chips to then when they had a restaurant in Leith. That put me off going there again. That one is now closed anyway.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

That reminds me of the time I wanted a cone of chips from a chippy hut in West Kirby (not paying Marigold chippies extortionate prices!) and they told me to wait as they were waiting for some chips, guy comes back 10 mins later with a 2kg bag of pre-cut chips from the Morrisons across the road which costs about 80p then sold me a cone for £1.45! They were nice though so I didn't complain but I wont be going there again on the basis of value for money.

 

[Lrd]

They were nice though so I didn't complain but I wont be going there again on the basis of value for money.

If they bought a bag of chips for 80p at retail cost, imagine how much they cost direct from the supplier/wholesaler. Even less than 80p I can assure you! Nothing is value for money.

 

[IanD]

Oh, and it seems the only major chain, Harry Ramsdens, are also terrible.

The original in Guiseley was OK (for takeaways) - but they've shut that and kept all the second-rate franchises open instead.

 

[anti-pacer]

The original in Guiseley was OK (for takeaways) - but they've shut that and kept all the second-rate franchises open instead.

The Guiseley outlet is now a branch of Wetherby Whaler, which is top quality.

 

[ianhr]

The Guiseley outlet is now a branch of Wetherby Whaler, which is top quality.

Wetherby Whaler seems to have become a chain in Yorks, will they keep a good standard if they go on expanding?

My favs are: Blakeley's in Brighouse, Heckmondwike Market Fisheries & Mr C's in Selby, all better than Harry ramsdens ever was and better than any of the expensive chains.

 

[Tibbs]

That reminds me of the time I wanted a cone of chips from a chippy hut in West Kirby (not paying Marigold chippies extortionate prices!) and they told me to wait as they were waiting for some chips, guy comes back 10 mins later with a 2kg bag of pre-cut chips from the Morrisons across the road which costs about 80p then sold me a cone for £1.45! They were nice though so I didn't complain but I wont be going there again on the basis of value for money.

A chippy that doesn't make its own chips from whole potatoes? Outrageous!

One of the main reason for going to the chippy is to get those lovely soft, fluffy chips that never seem to come out quite right if you try to make them at home. Crispy chips and French Fries I've got down to an art now, chippy chips? Not so much.

That's the prblem with this thread. I'm eating healthy(er) to lose weight and I've managed to avoid the chippy for months now; the urge is getting stronger!