Muddyboots

Follow the fortunes of Muddyboots & Family on their East Yorkshire farm which has changed from dairy farm to luxury ice cream manufacture

Wednesday 25 July 2007

fish and chip supper


l feel that l had a deprived childhood. My mother just wouldn't let me have fish and chips. Well, we did live inland so her argument of the fish not 'being fresh' may have had some grounding, but l think she was just being a bit of a snob.....

It was therefore a revelation to me on my move north, to find that fish and chips were the staple diet of all Yorkshire folk. People would & still do travel miles to their favourite chippy for a good old fashioned fish n chips supper. There is something wonderful about sitting in your car with the windows open, eating freshly cooked fish n chips, in yesterday's Yorkshire Post, liberally doused in salt & vinegar whilst being stared at by the resident ducks....

Every village seems to have its own chippy & if there isn't a 'fixed' one there is usually a weekly mobile one. Unfortunately our village chip shop closed some years ago & is now a nice comfortable house, but we do have fantastic fish n chips at our nearest caravan park plus another excellent one in Brandesburton.

What is amazing it that many of the chippys have their own 'supper rooms'. Here you can sit in comfort with a pot of tooth staining tea, few slices of bread & marg, whilst your fish n chips are served on a plate so you eat in style. There are, however, a few specialist fish n chip restaurants along this part of the coast. Here the prices are noticeably higher & the decor moves from anaglypta to leatherette seats or interesting art work. Whitby has 2 of these spots. Each has its own supporters. We like the Magpie & we are prepared to queue for as long as it takes to get a table. Other people prefer the plush interior of Trenchers, which is a bit more show bizey, with leather banquette seats & plastic palms.

To me fish n chips are, well fish n chips. But, & here is the big but, what fish is the fish & what fish do you want? Well, surely either a large one or a small one. No. Is that a cod, haddock, woof, skate, sole, plaice.......? Then there's the Yorkshire delicacy which l can't get my taste buds round. That green mush that is mushy peas, or as you see in gastro pubs 'braised peas'. YUK. This culinary nightmare is on a par with that other vegetable delicacy, the brussel sprout. l DON'T do either.

That only leaves the humble chip. The really best chips are double cooked to give that extra gastronomic something...and..they must of course be cooked in that artery hardening substance, good old beef dripping.

16 comments:

Norma Murray said...

I love the idea of fish and chips but usually regret eating them. I love the smell when they are first unwrapped from the paper. My mum was appalled by anyone who arte them in the street, or even in the car. I think of her when ever I do...

Faith said...

Love your blog, and love fish and chips! i agree that mushy peas are revolting, but I do like brussel sprouts in season.

The BEST fish and chips I've ever had was in Tobermory - absolutely delicious/

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Totally with you on the mushy peas and sprouts - they are both spawn on Satan!

I spent a couple of summer holidays serving fish n chips on plates to grannies...

laurie said...

yum. i do love fish and chips. but late at night, wrapped in greasy newsprint, standing on the corner, after hours of drinking in some noisy pub....

just fish and chips on a plate, cold sober in the light of day: not so good.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

Hey babe! I have visited the chip shop in Branz on numerous occasions but not since my mum went into residential accommodation in Beverley. You're right it is a good un! I'd love a Branz haddock tonight - as the bishop said to the actress!

Suffolkmum said...

Oh I love mushy peas. And it has to be Haddock for me. Eaten on a beach wrapped in newspaper is best too, though equally I like sitting down with a nice cup of tea! I was brought up having fish and chips every Friday!

Un Peu Loufoque said...

I remember the first time I had fish and chips from paper drowned in salt and vinegar I was 6 and thought it heaven, my mother would have been horrified had she known!!

I have never tried mushgy peas adn hope never too either!!

annakarenin said...

Oh you have made me want to saunter up the road to our award winning chippie right now. Would to if it wasn't for the fact that the hubbie's away and the children still at play.

Unfortunately it doesn't do sit down either like the one in our last village which dual purposed as the village meeting place.

Gwen said...

I love a good chippie once in a while. I couldn't bring myself to do it on a regular basis but it is more of a treat if it is a one off.

I have to say that I quite like mushy peas too.

Milkmaid said...

We were in Magpies a couple of weeks ago, S said it had been on Rick Stein, was v good, you could tell that by the queue
We are lucky in that we have a darn good chippy in the village, we have recently taken to chips and curry sauce it's a sin I know

Anonymous said...

You've made me feel very hungry! Nice blog, wish we had a decent chippy up here! There's 5 in Seahouses and not one serves an appetising fish supper.

Crystal xx

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Crystal, try the one at Beadnell that does pizzas as well.

Sally Townsend said...

Well I can only gaze at those photographs with longing ...

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

Oh yum fish and chips - mouth watering. We have a fish and chip van in the village. But you don't just go there to get fish and chips you go there for your weekly dose of banter and insults . . . all the locals know what is going on - but as the 'chip lady' and myself and HS exchange insults you can see the tourists edging away . . . . ooooh must take the fart machine along next time . . .

@themill said...

I love fish'n'chips, straight from the paper, but must be eaten sitting on the harbour at Seahouses!

Anonymous said...

muddyboots You were brought up to be young ladies,who didnot eat f/c in public !!,

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