Today, lovers of battered fish and deep fried cut potatoes are rejoicing as the nation celebrates a great British staple with National Fish and Chips Day. By Andrew Wright.
A joy of queuing, bemoaning the unpredictable weather, and using a cup of tea as a means of solving every conceivable crisis. All quintessential British traits.
Add to that list the Friday night fish and chip supper.
The fish and chip industry sees nearly 400 million portions of the greasy treat scoffed each year in the UK, with the economy said to be worth £1.2b annually.
With that in mind, lovers of the fast food favourite would hardly need a second invitation to indulge in a Friday treat tonight. After all, following a long week in work, it sounds all too appeasing to settle down in front of the TV and celebrate with a ‘chippy tea’.
However, those looking to dine out and have their fish and chips served on a plate rather than greasy paper have a plethora of options if they decide to hit the the town to celebrate a national institution.
We take a look at five venues in the North West showcasing the British classic dish.
The Brink
Served daily at the Parr Street venue, with locally sourced produce, fishy options include battered hake with mushy peas and homemade tartar sauce.
General Manager of The Brink, Carl Bell, said: “Our Fish & Chips is definitely a very popular dish with our customers. All of our dishes are created from fresh locally sourced ingredients, as we believe it’s important to support our local suppliers and producers.
“We’re looking forward to marking National Fish & Chips Day here at The Brink with the dish being an all-time favourite with guests of all ages. So much so, we’ve even devised a suitability portioned children’s ‘All Grown Up Fish Finger Sandwich’ so everyone can get enjoy a piece of the action.”
Fish and Chips are priced at £7.95 and the children’s variation is priced at £3.95.
Trattoria 51
Trattoria 51 is putting a novel Italian twist on the classic seafood favourite.
The Old Hall Street restaurant and bar, which is famous for its ‘seafood specials’, serves up a selection of fish favourites that can be enjoyed alongside British-inspired chunky chips.
Fish dishes include steamed seabass fillet with mussels, baked fish stew and whole seabass baked in sea salt served with potatoes and seasonal vegetables, salmoriglio dressing.
General Manager and Co-Owner of Trattoria 51, Toni Karemanaj, said: “We love this time of the year because it really allows our chefs to be creative, and come up with a deliciously unique take on the classic British Fish and Chips.
“Our fresh seafood dishes are famous, and it’s very popular amongst our customers. We’re looking forward to honouring National Fish & Chip day in our own way, so you can expect an Italian variation on the British dish.”
Leasowe Castle
Served at the venue’s in-house eatery, Brasserie 1593, the fish favourite comprises fresh beer-battered haddock, homemade tartar sauce and mushy peas, along with triple cooked chips.
Operations Manager at Leasowe Castle, Joseph Williamson, said: “Our classic fish dish is certainly a firm favourite with our customers. Our Brasserie 1593 menu centres around fresh and quality produce, with an emphasis on homemade food to ensure that every meal is delicious.
“Our idyllic coastal setting which overlooks the Wirral Peninsula certainly adds to the nostalgia when it comes to enjoying the quintessential British signature dish loved by everyone of all ages.”
Fish and Chips are priced at £11.50 and a two course children’s meal is priced for £6.95.
Delifonseca
The multi award-winning restaurant which operates across two sites, Fonseca’s (Stanley Street) and Dockside (Brunswick Quay), has become famous for its blackboard menu whereby fish dishes often take the limelight.
Fish and chip fancies that will grace the specials menu on the will include the classic fish & chips served with minted mushy peas & home-made tartare sauce at both restaurants.
Fonseca’s will be serving fish and chips with a European twist – ‘Fritto Misto Di Mare’ which translates to ‘mixed fry of fruits of the sea’ and is essentially seafood and chips!
Proprietor of Delifonseca, Candice Fonseca, said: “Founded on a passion for good food, our dishes comprise both forward-thinking culinary creations alongside quintessential British favourites that proudly stand the test of time.
“With that in mind, we are looking forward to marking National Fish & Chips Day by putting an emphasis on our seafood specials. Whether diners want to go old school and enjoy it the classic way or are prepared to explore their foodie horizons, there’s certainly something for everyone to enjoy.”
Carringtons Catering
Carringtons Catering is set to mark National Fish & Chips Day (June 2) as part of its long-standing affiliation with The Floral Pavilion.
The highly North West-based catering firm, which is responsible for the venue’s food division, has the fish dish on its menu to complement the seaside setting, with some of the best views overlooking Liverpool Bay.
Devised by Master Chef of Great Britain and Director of Carringtons Catering, Darren Wynn, the dish comprises beer battered fish and hand-cut chips served with homemade mushy peas.
Darren said: “Our Fish & Chips dish at The Floral Pavilion is as British as cuisine gets, served with the classic accompaniments and created with the freshest ingredients like all of our dishes. When it comes to our Fish & Chips it’s not about changing a classic, it’s simply about doing it well. With that in mind, it remains a firm favourite with customers of all ages, so we’re excited to celebrate the day dedicated to the dish.”
The Fish & Chips dish available at Floral Pavilion will be served with a free cup of tea exclusively on Friday, June 2 to celebrate the occasion.