The Fish and Chips, Favorites Food In London!
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| Fish and Chips |
The history of fish and chips in London is a fascinating story of migration, industrial innovation, and wartime resilience. While it is now seen as the quintessential British dish, its roots are actually international.
1. The Jewish Roots (The Fish)
Fried fish was introduced to London in the 16th and 17th centuries by Sephardic Jewish refugees fleeing Portugal and Spain.
a. The Tradition: They prepared pescado frito—fish coated in flour and fried—to be eaten cold on the Sabbath (when cooking was prohibited).
b. London Street Food: By the mid-1800s, street sellers in East London were already selling "fried fish in the Jewish fashion" from trays around their necks. Even Charles Dickens mentioned a "fried fish warehouse" in his 1838 novel Oliver Twist.
2. The Industrial Revolution (The Chips)
While fried potatoes (chips) likely originated in France or Belgium, they became a staple of the London working class in the 1800s. Two major factors allowed fish and chips to become a mass-market success:
a. Steam Trawlers: The invention of the steam trawler allowed for massive amounts of fish to be caught in the North Sea and brought to London quickly.
b. The Railways: The expansion of the railway network meant that fresh fish could be transported from the coast to the city’s heart in hours rather than days.
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3. The First "Chippy"
There is a long-standing debate between London and Lancashire over who opened the first shop, but London’s claim is very strong:
a. Joseph Malin: In 1860, a Jewish immigrant named Joseph Malin opened what is widely considered the first combined fish-and-chip shop in Bow, East London.
b. Rock and Sole Plaice: If you want to visit a piece of living history, this shop in Covent Garden (Endell Street) has been serving fish and chips since 1871, making it one of the oldest surviving chippies in the city.
4. "The Good Companions" (WWII)
During World War II, fish and chips reached legendary status because they were one of the few foods never rationed.
a. Morale Booster: The government feared that rationing the national dish would destroy public morale. Winston Churchill famously referred to them as "the good companions."
b. Secret Code: British troops even used the dish as a code during the D-Day landings; a soldier would shout "Fish," and a friendly response would be "Chips."
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5. Why the Newspaper?
Historically, fish and chips were wrapped in old newspapers to keep costs down and soak up the grease. This practice was eventually banned in the 1980s for hygiene reasons (ink leaching into the food), though many modern shops still use paper printed with a "mock-newspaper" design to keep the tradition alive.
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