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.