The History of Fish and Chips
A longtime British favourite, there’s something about the simplicity of fish and chips that makes them irresistible for so many. The classic pairing of battered cod or haddock with thick cut chips is so beloved by Britons and so much a part of their culture that it was one of a select few foods not rationed during World Wars I and II. So how did fish and chips get its start? As it goes with many historical curiosities, the pair came about from a number of events, wide-reaching in time and space. Freezing rivers in 17th century Belgium, the Industrial Revolution in 18th and 19th century England, and 16th century immigrants from Portugal and Spain all played a role in bringing fish and chips to the table.
The History of Fish and Chips
The Chips
Where would fast food chains be without fried potatoes? For these we have Belgian housewives to thank. The freezing of the Meuse River cut off access to fish, so Belgian women fried potatoes as a substitute, beginning in the 1680s. This technique made its way across the water to England, where it became a staple of the working class by the time of the Industrial Revolution.
The Fish
Britain got its taste for fried fish from Jewish refugees that arrived in the 16th century, bringing the practice with them from Spain and Portugal. The trend caught on, but it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that it really took off. Increased production from fishing vessels coupled with new ice machines that kept fish cold and new railroads that could transport them long distances brought huge quantities of fish to the market, just as a hungry workforce was driving the Industrial Revolution. The pairing was near.
Fish & Chips
Here’s where things are up for debate. One story goes that in the mid-1800’s, a 13-year-old resident of London’s East End named Joseph Malin came up with the idea of pairing fish and chips after he began to fry chips and sell them for extra income for his family. Correctly guessing that two fried things would be better than one, he bought fried fish from a local shop, added his fried potatoes, and walked around the East End selling them to locals. He opened a shop in 1860, and it sold fish and chips for more than a century until its closure in the 1970s. The other story goes that in 1863, John Lees of Lancashire invented fish and chips and sold them in a market in a small town outside of what is now Manchester.
Whatever the case, fish and chips took off, and fed Britain through the Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, and into the 21st century. Today Britons consume more than 229 million servings of fish and chips every year. Closer to home, enjoy this English staple right here at Catonsville Gourmet, served the right way with beer battered cod, malt vinegar and tartar sauce.
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Source
http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20130409-chipping-away-at-the-history-of-fish-and-chips