Bruff
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Posted - 15/04/2011 : 14:31
If done well, fish and chips are without any shadow of a doubt my favourite thing to eat. I reckon the key is to get the temperature right so that the batter seals in a flash and the fish steams. And please, don't overcook the fish. The British to tend to overcook fish, however they cook it.
Sadly, for the first time in my life I haven't got a decent fish and chip shop within walking distance of the house, which is ironic as it's the first time I've lived by the coast. The 'fish and chip' shops in Hoylake are Chinese takeaways, and the product isn't good. Not that the Chinese can't cook fish and chips - the best round us is down at Parkgate, near Neston, run by Chinese and the fish and chips are superb, some of the best I've had. There's one in West Kirby which is OKish, but they insist on cooking the haddock, but not the cod, with the skin on. This is odd to me as you have crispy batter and then steamed skin. Ugh.
If folk are on their travels, I can recommend two in the London area. If you go to Hampton Court, then make a small detour to Thames Ditton over the river (it's a lovely walk) and pop into Christy's. They cook using dripping, and all portions are cooked to order. If in London, Masters on Waterloo Road, and a spit from the station, is one of the best chippies in London. Packed out with cabbies. As a general rule in London, look to where the cabbies congregate for your good, solid basic fare. But note, these two are London and priced accordingly - at least £7 quid for fish and chips to takeaway.
Interestingly, my experience (in England) is that in the 'south' fish and chips are generally OK sometimes good; in the 'north', they are generally OK sometimes dreadful. There are outstanding places countrywide. And of course, you can't get decent mushy peas south of Birmingham....... When I worked in London, a colleague said to me the real north/south divide occurs where mushy peas suddenly become an acceptable part of the diet.
Richard Broughton
Edited by - Bruff on 15/04/2011 2:38:13 PM
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