There are many who still observe Fish on Friday for religious reasons. But today is Fish-n-Chip Day!
Yes, there is indeed such a thing. So of course we are having one of Britain’s national dish to celebrate!! And some balancing acts before we could have some of it.
George: Mum, there’s a very big thing on my muzzle!!!
Mum: Yes, George – this is your Novice Trick Dog training coming in handy for a photo op! LOL!
And for that, we had our mini portion of fish-n-chip!
And George politely said, “Please.”
May’s comment: National Fish and Chip Day (NF&CD) was launched in 2015 – to give this national dish the recognition it deserves and helping to secure its position as the nation’s favourite dish. The event usually takes place on the first Friday in June but due to current circumstances, it had been postponed to the 4th September.
Fish-n-chip is an example of culinary fusion. The fried fish in batter can be traced back to the early 1800s and thought to have been brought by Jewish immigrants from Spain and Portugal, where fish was cooked in this fashion.
The potato is thought to have been brought to England from the New World in the 17th century by Sir Walter Raleigh. But the fried potato chip is supposedly invented by the French.
Fish-n-Chip was originally eaten with your hands wrapped up in paper from a local “chippy” – but today, you can find the dish in most pubs, gastro pubs and even in high-end restaurants.
Both London and Lancashire staked claim to being the first to have combined the two.
In the industrial north of Lancashire, where potato is a cheap staple, the first fish and chip shop is thought to have opened in Mossely, Lancashire, around 1863. However in London, it is said that Joseph Malin opened a fish and chip shop in Cleveland Street within the sound of Bow Bells in 1860 – further evidenced by Charles Dicken’s where ‘friend fish warehouse’ was mentioned in Oliver Twist.
Wherever it was put together, when we found out there was a Fish-n-Chip Day, we happily celebrated it and also learnt about the origin of the day.
NEODA and the Fishermen’s Mission created the day to celebrate the one of the nation’s favourite dish and to raise funds for the Fishermen’s Mission.
Fishing continues to be the most dangerous peacetime occupation with a one in fourteen chance of being killed at work. The funds generated through National Fish & Chip day allow the Fishermen’s Mission to continue to provide Welfare and Emergency services to our Fishermen and their families.
Sources from:
One Response
Happy Fish and Chips Day! Thank you for the history,I never knew all that. It certainly is an iconic English dish!
It was the first thing our grandkids wanted to eat when we landed! They wanted real fish and chips!