Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Ok so i was watching some dodgy fishing show earlier with a British fella called Robson Green. He was on a fishing trip down in South Australia with the goal of catching a Gummy shark. The conversation swung round to fish and chips at one point and he seemed amazed that Aussies predominately eat shark with our fish and chips as opposed to actual fish such as Haddock.

So my question is if you walk into a shop in England and order fish and chips what sort of fish do you get? Is there one sort of fish more commonly used as a staple choice or do you have 10 different sorts to chose from? Or does it work on a catch of the day type system where whatever's available is what you get?

Traditionally it's cod or sometimes haddock, but due to overfishing of cod others are becoming quite common like pollock.

 Snrub wrote:
Ok so i was watching some dodgy fishing show earlier with a Pommy fella called Robson Green. He was on a fishing trip down in South Australia with the goal of catching a Gummy shark. The conversation swung round to fish and chips at one point and he seemed amazed that Aussies predominately eat shark with our fish and chips as opposed to actual fish such as Haddock.

So my question is if you walk into a shop in England and order fish and chips what sort of fish do you get? Is there one sort of fish more commonly used as a staple choice or do you have 10 different sorts to chose from? Or does it work on a catch of the day type system where whatever's available is what you get?

For years it was cod, and depending on where you lived (in scotland it's chips and mars bars ) could be haddock. There might be some regional differences, but Cod and Haddock were the staple. With EU fishing rules, though, cod is gradually being phased out in favour of things such as Monkfish!

Don't mess with Robson Green

Hey i ain't messing with Robson Green. I treat him with the same contempt i reserve for all people with their own fishing shows

Ok so 2nd question. Is shark ever an option in fnc shops cross the pond? Or is it just us uncouth convicts that eat it?

 Snrub wrote:
Hey i ain't messing with Robson Green. I treat him with the same contempt i reserve for all people with their own fishing shows

Ok so 2nd question. Is shark ever an option in fnc shops cross the pond? Or is it just us uncouth convicts that eat it?

The average British shark is around three inches long, so not much fish and chips there!

I don't blame you for wanting to eat a great white.

Yeah, you are uncouth convicts

Slightly off topic. I don't know if you're into Rugby Union but this summer the British Lions arrive in Oz and it's going to be payback time for Australian treachery in 2001

By treachery, they had the cheek to beat us in 2001

Generally I'd buy haddock from the chippy, but I did have Dogfish (shark) from a chip shop in Belfast if I remember correctly. It was a bit bland but I wouldn't consider it to be an oddity; others may disagree.

You can also get plaice, or more rarely sole in your average chippy


Despite the fish, the majority of fish and chip shops (a.k.a the average 'cheap and cheerful' places in towns) tend to sell pies/pasties/sausages/chicken/things deep fried in batter than have no business being anywhere near batter or a deep fryer than actual fish (e.g. beefburgers and black pudding). In fact, one of the menu's for a 'fish bar' in our area only has about 5 fish-based products on the menu, the rest is kebabs, burgers and fried chicken...

Although, if you head towards coastal areas, where the chippies tend to dress themselves a bit more upmarket you can get some damn fine fish and chips.

 Leigen_Zero wrote:
You can also get plaice, or more rarely sole in your average chippy


Despite the fish, the majority of fish and chip shops (a.k.a the average 'cheap and cheerful' places in towns) tend to sell pies/pasties/sausages/chicken/things deep fried in batter than have no business being anywhere near batter or a deep fryer than actual fish (e.g. beefburgers and black pudding). In fact, one of the menu's for a 'fish bar' in our area only has about 5 fish-based products on the menu, the rest is kebabs, burgers and fried chicken...

Although, if you head towards coastal areas, where the chippies tend to dress themselves a bit more upmarket you can get some damn fine fish and chips.

A chip shop owner once told me that he owned this plaice... I should be shot for that joke!

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:
. With EU fishing rules, though, cod is gradually being phased out in favour of things such as Monkfish!

Its actually being phased out as it is a nowlot more expensive as their population has crashed, the EU fishing quotas are there to try and ensure that they are still around to be fished. The population of cod around our shores used to be immense, not any more.

As to the fish that you get in this country it really depends on how close to the sea you are and how good the chippy is. Inland it will be Haddock and cod and thats about it, especially for a run of the mill chippy. In a fishing town on the other hand it will be a lot more varied and you do get shark (well dogfish which is the same thing) now and again.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

The average British shark is around three inches long, so not much fish and chips there!

I don't blame you for wanting to eat a great white.

Off the west coast of Scotland we get Basking sharks which are pretty fething huge, but we mainly use haddock and cod

Most fish n chip shops tend to be "burgers, pies, kebabs, *insert ethnic food*, and-yes-i-believe-we-do-fish-as-well" and chip shops now. I am partial do a deep fried marsbar myself.

The most common selection of fish you'll find over here is Traveley, Whiting, and Snapper. Other places will do Baramundi. As well as Flake of course.

pgmason wrote:
Traditionally it's cod or sometimes haddock, but due to overfishing of cod others are becoming quite common like pollock.

For what it's worth this is also the case in the USA (at least the part I'm in, I suspect you might get catfish or the like down south). Shark? You Australians are weird.

 Snrub wrote:
Most fish n chip shops tend to be "burgers, pies, kebabs, *insert ethnic food*, and-yes-i-believe-we-do-fish-as-well" and chip shops now. I am partial do a deep fried marsbar myself.

Yeah, I rarely get fish and usually just order pizza as in my flat we have a terrible oven and it tastes sooo good

Is catfish any good? It always looks like a greasy gross sort of fish to me.

On the subject of deep fried things. A really tasty snack is deep fried Kangaroo nuggets. There isn't many places do em but they are pretty damn delectable.

I've never seen pizza or kebabs at a fish and chip shop. Seen kebab places that do fish and chips though.

Haven't seen anyone mention plaice yet I don't think... Thought that was pretty common?

The four common fish in British chippies are cod, haddock, plaice and huss, which used to be called rock salmon, which is actually the dogfish, a kind of small shark.

I think everyone should just come to nz for their fush and chups. Can't get good ol' teraki over the ditch can ya? Wait, maybe you can. I know you can't get deep fried kiwi in our shops at least.

 Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:

 Snrub wrote:
Hey i ain't messing with Robson Green. I treat him with the same contempt i reserve for all people with their own fishing shows

Ok so 2nd question. Is shark ever an option in fnc shops cross the pond? Or is it just us uncouth convicts that eat it?

The average British shark is around three inches long, so not much fish and chips there!

I don't blame you for wanting to eat a great white.

Yeah, you are uncouth convicts

Slightly off topic. I don't know if you're into Rugby Union but this summer the British Lions arrive in Oz and it's going to be payback time for Australian treachery in 2001

By treachery, they had the cheek to beat us in 2001

Missed this post before.

I havent heard of great whites being eaten much. Though im pretty sure they are on the protected list so i dont think you are allowed to catch them in the first place.

As for the Rugby? Bring it.... when will you guys learn that you suck and cant compare to us no matter what sport we play? Cricket, rugby, football/soccer. You are like a parent who cant stand to see their child being better at something then they are. Give up already gramps.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Ledabot wrote:
I think everyone should just come to nz for their fush and chups. Can't get good ol' teraki over the ditch can ya? Wait, maybe you can. I know you can't get deep fried kiwi in our shops at least.

No, you get out you dirty fake Aussie. Get out and take your fush with you. Leave the Teraki though. I loooooooooove Teraki. There is only 1 fishmonger ive seen that sells it and it aint cheap.

When I lived in Essex there were some great fish and chip shops. Lots of choice. I used to get rock eel a fair bit.

In dublin, it tends to be cod, pollock, plaice, sole. Sometimes there are some more interesting options.

Dusseldorf doesn't do chips the same way.

In America, it's generally cod and pollock, maybe haddock? Though at the same time I had Lake Erie Perch used, and it was terrible :( but I blame the batter more than the fish...

 Ledabot wrote:
I think everyone should just come to nz for their fush and chups.

It'd be cold by the time we got home though.

and you probably wouldn't have the the right vinegar either.

Why would you ruin anything by putting vinegar on it?

Vinegar is the daddy, I shan't hear anyone detract from its potent greatness!

 Ledabot wrote:
fush and chups.

Channeling somebody from the East Coast of Scotland there.

 Medium of Death wrote:
Vinegar is the daddy, I shan't hear anyone detract from its potent greatness!

 Ledabot wrote:
fush and chups.

Channeling somebody from the East Coast of Scotland there.

Vinegar is gross...

 Alfndrate wrote:

 Medium of Death wrote:
Vinegar is the daddy, I shan't hear anyone detract from its potent greatness!

 Ledabot wrote:
fush and chups.

Channeling somebody from the East Coast of Scotland there.

Vinegar is gross...

Keep in mind nobody is talking about white distilled Vinegar here, which is mostly good for washing counters and making elementary school science fair volcanoes. There are plenty of Vinegars that are good and tasty, without the awful edge that stuff has. If when you think "Vinegar" you're thinking about a water clear liquid, with pictures of vegetables on the bottle that almost makes you want to gag when you open it, that's not what folks are talking about here.

We're talking this stuff: http://www.ocado.com/webshop/product/Sarsons-Original-Malt-Vinegar/11068011?sku=11068011&dnr=y

I used to swig it from the bottle.

That doesn't sound nearly as mad on a wargaming forum than it does in real life.

Any kind of Fish 'N Chips is awesome.... I had the Greek equivalent once, in a waterside restaurant. The difference? The waiter led me out back and asked me to choose my fish from around 2 dozen swimming in a huuuuge tank at the back of the kitchen. Its quite something to choose your meal whilst its still swimming...reminds me of the part in Hitch Hikers Guide when the cow comes into the dining room and starts offering parts of itself to the diners,
"My rump is particularly tasty this evening, but id avoid the Sirloin if I were you..."

And has anyone else noticed that the majority of 'traditional chippys' in the UK are run by a friendly Portuguese Couple??

There's loads of italian chippers in Ireland because of a bunch of Italian immigrants who all went into the fast food business.

Chongara wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:

 Medium of Death wrote:
Vinegar is the daddy, I shan't hear anyone detract from its potent greatness!

 Ledabot wrote:
fush and chups.

Channeling somebody from the East Coast of Scotland there.

Vinegar is gross...

Keep in mind nobody is talking about white distilled Vinegar here, which is mostly good for washing counters and making elementary school science fair volcanoes. There are plenty of Vinegars that are good and tasty, without the awful edge that stuff has. If when you think "Vinegar" you're thinking about a water clear liquid, with pictures of vegetables on the bottle that almost makes you want to gag when you open it, that's not what folks are talking about here.

Don't assume I'm talking just about white vinegar I'm specifically talking about Heinz's Malt Vinegar, which they serve at plenty of places here in America, namely Penn Station sandwich shops (which is within walking distance of my office building). Vinegar in general smells terrible, Malt Vinegar is gross and ruins a perfectly good julianned potato fried in fat or oil (french fry or chip)

I can't eat a Chicken and Mushroom Pukka Pie without at least drowning the lid in luvverly luvverly Malt Vineger.....Although I'm pretty sure that has something to do with what's inside the 'pie'.

But I can't stop eating the foul things, why?!