Fish & Chips

Fish & Chips – inextricably linked with Britain and often (unfairly) sneeringly referred to as the UK’s primary contribution to global cuisine. It only seems logical that its origins must lie somewhere on the 19,491-mile British coastline.

So you might be surprised to learn that Fish & Chips actually heralds from London.

Clearly it was a tricky but weighty matter to uncover and announce the true home of the mighty fish and chip supper, but in 1968 no less than the National Federation of Fish Friers (it really does exist – www.federationoffishfriers.co.uk) declared that Jewish émigré Joseph Malin of Cleveland Way, Whitechapel was the first man to pair fish with the chip.

Fish and Chips

Photograph by Accent Studio.

Mr Malin opened a ‘chippie’ in 1860 and in so doing, set in motion a culinary giant that might not feature on too many nutritional lists but is adored by millions. In fact 382 million portions are served in the UK every year and a colossal £1.2 billion is taken across chippie counters annually.

Winston Churchill realised the affection in which this meal was held nationally and during WWII, fish and chips were two of very few foods not to be subject to rationing. And in the D-Day Landings, British soldiers identified each other by shouting “fish” and waiting for the response “chips”.

There are up to 11,000 fish and chip shops in the UK. As a nation, we are unlikely to starve any time soon.