A simple yet revered British dish - Fish 'n' Chips

Whether you’re on the beach, in a big city, a town, or just a small village in the middle of Britain, you’re likely to find Fish ‘n’ Chips

. It’s a simple yet revered British dish; battered fish and hot chips, with salt and vinegar close by as condiments of choice. It’s a dish that’s been embraced by the British as something of a tradition.

While traditionally British, fish and chips are served in other countries too. In the United States, the dish is also commonly known and sold as ‘fish and chips,’ while in Upstate New York and other parts of the Northeast and Upper Midwest it’s known as a ‘fish fry.’ The US meaning of chips means the dish is served with French fries.

Traditionally cod or haddock, the fish used in the dish also changes. In the south eastern United States, a common form of cuisine is fried catfish with French fries, accompanied by coleslaw, pickles, raw onion slices and lemon slices.

Typical Danish fish and chips are plaice fillets, breaded and fried, served a slice of lemon, and chips on the side. Other light-coloured fish may be used, such as other flatfish, cod or saithe.

In India, the dish is usually based on Pomfret fish, and uses more chili paste and pepper than would be used in the UK. The dish is more of a niche market delicacy in India than a mass market dish.

While the takeaway fish and chips continues to be a tradition in Britain, there are those who prefer to sit at a table to eat in a more comfortable, formal manner. The concept of a fish restaurant was introduced by Samuel Isaacs in 1896 when his first restaurant opened in London serving fish and chips, bread and butter, and tea.

Not to leave Ireland out, the first fish and chips were sold by an Italian immigrant who mistakenly stepped off an America-bound ship in County Cork in the 1880s and walked all the way to Dublin. He started by selling fish and chips outside Dublin pubs from a handcart.

So, wherever you go, there’s a story about fish ‘n’ chips, and wherever you go, fish ‘n’ chips should always be on the menu and the use of a tray brings that extra quality to the dining experience.