Not the team, me, I’ve been cheating. It’s been a long week, horrid weather, suddenly colder and the dark! Oooh it gets dark early doesn’t it?

What is the quintessential English dish? A Sunday roast? Shepherds pie? Cottage pie? Given their prevalence, history, and anglicisation, I even considered putting lasagne and chicken tikka masala in the mix. 

Like I said, long week, and as I drove home, the smell from the take-away was too great, and what is more British than good old fish and chips on a Friday? For a small village, we’re really lucky, our chippy has also extended their range into burgers, pizzas, Indian type food, and Thai food. With that in mind, the quality of the fish and chips is still really good, there is always a queue to get in and people waiting on orders for food. I always have fish, my husband always has a pie, and sometimes if we’re feeling really indulgent we’ll split a battered sausage.  

While I’ll often order fish and chips for a pub lunch when I’m out, the chip shop chips are a special type of chip. Somehow they’re both crispy and soft at the same time, and even though you have to bring them home and unwrap them, they’re still really hot. The same for the fish, it stays really hot even when it’s travelled a bit. The batter on the fish stays crispy and as your knife makes that first crunchy cut into the fish, the batter breaks and steam emerges. It’s too hot to eat, but I’m going to anyway. I always regret it, but never enough to stop me doing it every time. 

And before anyone mentions curry sauce, gravy, mushy peas, or garden peas; they are all acceptable additions if that is your thing. I am a bit of a purist, so for me, it’s salt, no vinegar, and a generous dollop of tartar sauce. 

You want a chippy tea now, don’t you? Go on. You won’t regret it.