Frying Tonight...

You can't beat traditional British fish and chips. I'm talking about a proper 'Chippy' not one of those Johnny-come-latelies who peddle frozen stringy fries and pre-formed fillets. The real deal is freshly chipped potato slices, fried to golden brown, as thick as your finger and big, flakey fillets of cod or haddock (I have no real preference), dipped in batter and cooked to crispy-edge perfection. Smothered in Sarsons with a sprinkle of salt, eaten outdoors with a fiddly plastic fork or fingers from a polystyrene tray (I do miss newspaper though) there can be no better contender for a tea-time treat. Britain's favourite dish has been enjoyed for over 150 years, Charles Dickens made reference in 'Oliver Twist' and 'A Tale of Two Cities', fans have included Winston Churchill and John Lennon. The Northern Daily Telegraph reported "Britain's sixpenny suppers helped win the World War of 1914-18". During both World Wars the government made sure that stocks were kept in supply, keeping it exempt from rationing in WWII to maintain morale, the shops would display a 'Frying Tonight' sign in the window to let customers know they had sufficient supplies and would be open. George Orwell in 'The Road to Wigan Pier' cited fish and chips as keeping the masses happy and averting revolution. A chap called John Lees is credited with introducing the meal to us northerners in 1863, he sold fish and chips from a wooden hut at Mossley market, only fitting then that my photograph is taken in Mossley and a mighty fine effort is served here I might add.