Ahh, Fish & Chips

Red Robin Fish & Chips

Ahh, Fish & Chips

When Mike asked me what and where I'd like to go to eat Lunch on my birthday, I thought for a moment and said “Let's go get some fish & chips”. “Okay “he said ,” we'll go to Red Robin. They have great fish and chips.”

If you grew up in England , like we both did, you will know fish and chips was one of the meals that was considered both a luxury and a treat and also a way for working class people to eat an inexpensive but very tasty dish. There was a variety of fish to be had, Some fish you never hear of today like plaice and rock eel. Mostly today it's just called “fish”. At least at Red Robin they call it Arctic Cod.

There was a fish and chip shop just a few minutes up the road from where I lived. It only opened at lunch time and for a short while in the evenings. The queue( line-up} started outside the store for a good 10 minutes before opening time so often it would be one of the children's jobs to get in line early so as to get the best fish before it all sold out. You would clutch your two and sixpence (coins) tightly in your hand, and keep repeating the order- 2 pieces of cod and a sixpence worth of chips please .When you finally got inside the hot, steaming ,fat smelling, fishy shop you couldn't see over the counter . It was always too high, but you managed to hand over the money and repeat 2 pieces of cod and a sixpence worth of chips please .Then you would wait while it was being cooked. You could hear the fried fish crackling in the fat and also the sudden splash as the new potatoes went into the pan. If the fish lady liked you she would often give you some cracklings ( batter bits from the end of the fish) . That was a great treat.

Soon you were handed your order and you skipped home as fast as you could go, clutching the wonderful smelly newspaper- wrapped parcel ,anticipating the lovely taste of the golden fish and crackly batter and the delicious thick chips all smothered in malt vinegar and salt.

Occasionally . my British ladies group have a special feast and guess what we eat?

You are right! 

Fish and chips.

So it's no wonder one of my favorite meals is fish and chips and that is what I would choose to eat on my birthday is it?