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Fish and chips

Fish and chips is a hot dish consisting of fried fish in batter, served with chips. The dish originated in England, where these two components had been introduced from separate immigrant cultures; it is not known who combined them.[1][2] Often considered Britain's national dish, fish and chips is a common takeaway food in numerous other countries, particularly English-speaking and Commonwealth nations.[3]

"Fish 'n' chips" redirects here. For other topics, see Fish 'n' Chips (disambiguation).

Alternative names

Fish supper / Fish 'n' chips

Main dish

Hot

Battered and fried fish with deep-fried chips

The food has its origin in the cuisine of Portuguese Jewish immigrants who arrived in Britain the 16th century. Fish and chip shops first appeared in the UK in the 1860s and by 1910 there were over 25,000 across the UK. By the 1930s there were over 35,000 shops, but by 2009 there were only approximately 10,000.[2] The British government safeguarded the supply of fish and chips during the First World War and again in the Second World War. It was one of the few foods in the UK not subject to rationing during the wars, which further contributed to its popularity.[2][4]

Composition

Choice of fish

In Britain and Ireland, cod and haddock appear most commonly as the fish used for fish and chips,[52] but vendors also sell many other kinds of fish, especially other white fish, such as pollock, hake or coley, plaice, skate, ray, and huss or rock salmon (a term covering several species of dogfish and similar fish). In traditional fish and chip shops several varieties of fish are offered by name ("haddock and chips"), but in some restaurants and stalls "fish and chips", unspecified, is offered; it is increasingly likely to be the much cheaper basa.[53] In Northern Ireland, cod, plaice or whiting appear most commonly in 'fish suppers'—'supper' being Scottish and Northern Irish chip-shop terminology for a food item accompanied by chips.[54] Suppliers in Devon and Cornwall often offer pollock and coley as cheap alternatives to haddock.[55]

Cultural impact

The long-standing Roman Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Fridays, especially during Lent, and of substituting fish for meat on that day continues to influence habits even in predominantly Protestant, semi-secular and secular societies. Friday night remains a traditional occasion for eating fish and chips; many cafeterias and similar establishments, while varying their menus on other days of the week, habitually offer fish and chips every Friday.[82]


In 1967, inspired by the use of salt and vinegar as condiments for fish and chips in the UK, the Smiths Potato Crisps Company created Salt & Vinegar flavour crisps.[83][84]


In Australia and New Zealand, the words "fish and chips" are often used as a shibboleth to highlight the difference in each country's short-i vowel sound /ɪ/. Australian English has a higher forward sound [i], close to the ee in see (but shorter), while New Zealand English has a lower backward sound [ɘ] akin to the a in Rosa's (but not in Rosa, which is typically lower [ɐ]). Thus, New Zealanders hear Australians say "feesh and cheeps," while Australians hear New Zealanders say "fush and chups."[85]

Environment

In the UK, waste oil from fish and chip shops has become a useful source of biodiesel.[86] The German biodiesel company Petrotec has outlined plans to produce biodiesel in the UK using waste oil from the British fish-and-chip industry.[86]

Priestland, Gerald (1972). Frying tonight: the saga of fish & chips. London: Gentry Books.  978-0-85614-014-3.

ISBN

Walton, John K. (1989). "Fish and Chips and the British Working Class, 1870–1930". Journal of Social History. 23 (2): 243–266. :10.1353/jsh/23.2.243. JSTOR 3787879.

doi

Walton, John K. (1994). Fish and Chips, and the British Working Class, 1870–1940 (1st ed.). Leicester: Leicester University Press.  978-0-567-21232-0.

ISBN

: BBC News: Fish and chips invented in France? Retrieved 2008-05-27

"Top UK dish 'hooked French first'"

- article from The Guardian detailing some chippy terminology. Retrieved 2008-05-27

"My plaice or yours?"

- historical article

Far Flung Fish and Chips

: the (UK) Sea Fish Industry Authority's views. Retrieved 2008-05-27

"Fish and chips"

Ching He Huang-style fish and chips

BBC TWO

the UK industry body for fish and chip shops.

National Federation of Fish Friers