This has been bugging me for a while now.
I love chips, all types, I mean - who doesn't? I also have this nostalgic thing about eating chips by the sea. They just go together don't they?
The past few times when I have been to Aldeburgh in Suffolk I have sampled their chips. People rave about the two chip shops on Aldeburgh High Street. I mean, seriously rave about them. If you Google it you'll find many, many mentions of Aldeburgh's chips. I mean, hell, there's even a webcam if you want to watch the poor souls who stand in the queue (believe me, there's always a queue). The thing is, I found the chips rather disappointing and extremely dry. The cod portions were microscopic and were practically just fish bones covered in batter. I actually wouldn't bother going there again and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.
I had another bad chip episode at Poole Quay this weekend which is what has prompted this very strange blog post. Cheesy chips. One of my favourite delicacies. Except when bought on Poole Quay that is. Chips were okay I guess but the cheese was ice-cold out of the fridge and it was that fake type ready grated stuff which just doesn't melt! Bad cheesy chips.
All this led to a conversation as to whether there are good chip and bad chip areas. (I know, we have too much time to think...) I live on the West Midlands/Warwickshire border and we have GREAT chips here, twenty times better than Aldeburgh's dry, overrated excuse for a chip and nobody raves and writes articles about them?
I've pondering if all those people that think those chips are the best ever live in areas where the chip shops are diabolical and so I wanted to hear from you, my blog readers and tell me how good your chippy is and what your experience of seaside chips is like.
Over to you!
I love chips, all types, I mean - who doesn't? I also have this nostalgic thing about eating chips by the sea. They just go together don't they?
The past few times when I have been to Aldeburgh in Suffolk I have sampled their chips. People rave about the two chip shops on Aldeburgh High Street. I mean, seriously rave about them. If you Google it you'll find many, many mentions of Aldeburgh's chips. I mean, hell, there's even a webcam if you want to watch the poor souls who stand in the queue (believe me, there's always a queue). The thing is, I found the chips rather disappointing and extremely dry. The cod portions were microscopic and were practically just fish bones covered in batter. I actually wouldn't bother going there again and I certainly wouldn't recommend it.
I had another bad chip episode at Poole Quay this weekend which is what has prompted this very strange blog post. Cheesy chips. One of my favourite delicacies. Except when bought on Poole Quay that is. Chips were okay I guess but the cheese was ice-cold out of the fridge and it was that fake type ready grated stuff which just doesn't melt! Bad cheesy chips.
All this led to a conversation as to whether there are good chip and bad chip areas. (I know, we have too much time to think...) I live on the West Midlands/Warwickshire border and we have GREAT chips here, twenty times better than Aldeburgh's dry, overrated excuse for a chip and nobody raves and writes articles about them?
I've pondering if all those people that think those chips are the best ever live in areas where the chip shops are diabolical and so I wanted to hear from you, my blog readers and tell me how good your chippy is and what your experience of seaside chips is like.
Over to you!
love & kisses
Mrs M x
I went to Scotland earlier this summer, and heard so many good things about the Anstruther Fish Bar. Went there one night, queued for over half an hour, all the while reading the newspaper stories on the walls (Voted best chippy in the UK, visited by Charles and Camilla, frequented by Harry when he was at St. Andrews, etc) only to find the 'fish supper' a complete disappointment! Tiniest bit of haddock I've ever seen! They charged £5 for the privilege, too.
ReplyDeleteOur local chippy (just outside of Swindon) is really good at lunchtime, but naff at dinnertime.
We used to be regular year round visitors to Trebarwith Strand in Cornwall. There is a pub there called The Port William Inn which looks out over the beach and they would serve a dish which they called 'Surfers Lunch'. It was really chunky, fish shop style chips with thinly sliced raw onion and loads of grated, melted strong cheddar over the top. There was nothing better on a blustery day than to sit on the wall, watch the waves and demolish a bowl of these delicious chips.
ReplyDeleteI live in Rostrevor in Northern Ireland and our local chippy is awful but thankfully there's a lovely one called the Genoa Cafe in Warrenpoint, three miles away. Having grown up by the sea and lived in a fair few coastal locations I can recommend Chip Ahoy in Southport and Marshalls (the fryery by the Priory) in Tynemouth - great fish and chips. Mmm, want chips now...!
ReplyDeleteCHIPS. My favourite! I think you're right, we have great chips in the Warwickshire/West Midlands area. My favourites come from the Lansdowne Fish Bar in Leamington. I can't speak about their fish as I don't eat it, but their chips are aces. I also have a soft spot for Barnaby's in Stratford, not as good (to my mind) as Lansdowne but lovely to have by the river on a day out in Stratford!
ReplyDelete@Alison I'm from NI as well... Rostrevor is so beautiful, that whole coastline is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. What do you think to old Friar Tucks in Newry for french-fry style chips?
Mmmm chips! We had the loveliest chips by the sea a couple of weeks ago - by the Southwold/Walberswick ferry in Suffolk. The fish was lovely with really crispy batter and the chips were good too.
ReplyDeleteWe get chips from two places locally, both good, - either the Chinese if we fancy chips with spare ribs or the chippy in the next village if we want traditional fish & chips. They do gravy too - my favourite!