The reason why they’re called chips and not fries is because fries are typically much chunkier in the U.K. In Britain, “chips” are what Americans call “fries”. Chips were invented as a substitute for fish. Joseph Malin opened the first fish and chip shop in Oldham, Lancashire. You thought it was older than that, didn’t you? Well, it isn’t. The first fish and chip shop in England opened in 1860. A survey in 2019 found around four in every five British people said that they visit a fish and chip shop at least once a year.ġ. On average, Britons eat a massive 382 million fish and chip meals every year. Fish and chips were served at Olympic venues during the 2012 London Olympics. Adele, one of Britain’s most iconic celebrities, doesn’t order fish from the fish and chip shop. Queen Elizabeth II reportedly prefers her fish served with a panko pastry. Glaswegians are the most likely Britons to order pickled eggs with their fish and chips. The most expensive fish and chips in the U.K can be purchased at Heston Blumenthal’s restaurant for £61.50. In some parts of Canada and the U.S, fish and chips is referred to as “Fish Fry”. It is believed that the first fish and chip shop opened in Australia in 1873. The most common fish used for Australian fish and chips is New Zealand Hoki. In Sweden, fish and chips are served with breadcrumbs instead of batter. The average portion of fish and chips in the U.K has 800 calories. Fish and chips weren’t rationed during WWII. There is a fish and chip shsop van in Japan called “Bonnie Blue” that sells deep fried Snickers. There is an ongoing battle about which sauce should accompany fish and chips in the U.K. In Australia, fish and chips is the 4th most popular takeaway. Some Britons eat their fish and chips in sandwiches. Fish and chips has featured in many British comedy sketches, such as Gavin & Stacey. “Fish and chips” is Cockney rhyming slang for “hips”. You can buy fish and chip flavored potato chips in the U.K.
The Daily Mail once reported that half of Britain’s cats and dogs are fed fish and chips every week, leading to a pet obesity crisis. Friday is the most popular day to eat fish and chips. Fish and chip shops outnumber McDonalds restaurants 10 to 1. By 1910, there were 25,000 fish and chip shops in the U.K. Parents in New Zealand lost a legal battle to name their twins “Fish” and “Chips”. There are fish and chip awards in the U.K. Jewish refugees introduced the idea of fried fish to Britain.