Best in the west

[Gob]

A fish and chip shop in Devon that has put sustainability at the heart of its business – even providing QR codes on menus for customers to trace the journey of their fish from sea to plate – has been voted the best in the UK.



After competing with more than 10,000 rivals across the country, and having come second last year, Kingfisher Fish and Chips in Plympton, near Plymouth, was crowned the best in the 2017 National Fish and Chip awards.

Whole lobster, smoked herring and Cornish sardine fishcakes are among the 12 Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish dishes it serves from what it says is the world’s most sustainable seafood menu. It is one of only two UK fish and chip businesses to hold a prized three-star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

The shop was named best independent takeaway fish and chip shop of the year after seeing off competition from nine other UK regional winners. The awards are organised by the trade body Seafish and are now in their 29th year.

“We are absolutely elated,” said co-owner Nikki Mutton, who bought and took over the running of the business with her partner, Craig Maw, four years ago.

“We’ve entered this award three times now, coming second last year, so to go all the way is amazing – I guess three really is a charm,” Mutton added. “We’ve only owned the shop for four years and have achieved some amazing things … We’ve worked hard to take sustainability to the next level and this is at the core of our business.”

The Burton Road Chippy in Lincoln clinched second place and Millers Fish & Chips in Haxby, Yorkshire – which has been run by the same family for four generations – came third. The Rockfish group of restaurants – which has five eateries on the Devon coast – won the Good Catch, or sustainable seafood award, and the best multiple fish and chip operator gong.

“This year was definitely Kingfisher’s year – they stood out immediately for their extensive knowledge and experience, robust sourcing policies, forward-thinking approach, and continual business growth,” said Ben Bartlett, master craftsman of the Craft Guild of Chefs and a member of this year’s final judging panel. “With inspiring passion, they are consistently looking to improve their offering and strive for perfection – making them extremely worthy winners and the perfect ambassadors for the fish and chip industry.”

Marcus Coleman, chief executive of Seafish, added: “Every year Seafish sees new and more established talent vie for the top title. The judging process is extremely challenging with shops thoroughly being put through their paces, but this year, it was Kingfisher’s boundless enthusiasm and commitment that made them stand out as a clear winner.”

[wesw]

fish and chips sounds really good right now.

[dales]

fish and chips sounds really good right now.

Wrapped in today's newspaper (that's all they're really good for).

[wesw]

I ll skip the mushy peas..., especially if they are wrapped in newspaper...

maybe some turnip greens on the side.... with a dash of apple cider vinegar

[Bicycle Bill]

.... with a dash of apple cider vinegar

Whatever happened to Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips?  We had one in our city back in the 1970s and this was the first place I ever saw fish and chips served with a shaker bottle of apple cider vinegar on the table for seasoning.  I believe they were HQed out of Columbus Ohio or thereabouts, but I can't remember having come across any for at least twenty years.  It's as if the earth just opened up and swallowed them down.

Frankly, I kinda miss them ... and Long John Silver's too, if anyone can believe that.  I mean, sometimes you just want something quick but you've had it up to here (visualize my hand at the level of my lower lip) with pizza, burgers, or tacos but don't feel like a sit-down place like B-Dubs, Applebee's or TGIFriday's.

-"BB"-

[Lord Jim]

wesw wrote:
.... with a dash of apple cider vinegar

apple cider vinegar?

You mean malt vinegar, surely...

[Gob]

Interesting history here Bill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Treacher's

[Bicycle Bill]

wesw wrote:
.... with a dash of apple cider vinegar

apple cider vinegar?

You mean malt vinegar, surely...

Malt vinegar it was, now that you mention it.  It was the idea of vinegar being a stand-alone condiment that I found to be so mind-blowing.

-"BB"-

[BoSoxGal]

Fascinating history, actually. Apparently still a handful left in existence . . .

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Treacher's

[datsunaholic]

Since moving North 13 months ago, I've had to bake my own fish n chips. I don't deep fat fry at home, so it's not quite the same. Even here in Washington State, Fish N Chips places are an endangered species. 25 years ago, in my little neighborhood we had 3 of them (well, not really the neighborhood, but say within 5 miles). Had Spuds, Skippers, and The Sunfish. The Sunfish was a 2-location outlet that I never really liked, the fish tasted weird. Skippers used to be a fairly large-ish chain in Washington but has pretty much disappeared, and Spuds only had 3 locations. When I lived in Tacoma there was 2 Skippers and an Ivars close by, but both Skippers went under about 2 years ago. Spuds is still around, having been bought out by Ivars (another Seattle local chain), but is run separately. Ivars has several location but nothing within 20 miles of where I live- closest take-out Fish N Chips is Spuds, about 25 miles away, or 2 Ivars about the same distance, unless you go into a sit-down establishment. Long John Silvers doesn't have much presence in Washington- I found 3 locations, all at least 45 miles away. I've never been in one.

[Guinevere]

Interesting history here Bill.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Treacher's

I haven't seen a fast food fish place in decades, but I remember Arthur Treachers from when I was a kid. Luckily, there are many many places to get good fish and chips around here! I may have to stop at one on my way home, for dinner tonight.

[BoSoxGal]

Sorry Gob, I totally missed your post with the Treacher's wiki page, wasn't ignoring you!

[Big RR]

Guin--to me mass produced fast food and fish don't go together (I've never had a McFish Sandwich or whatever it is called), but a fast food place specializing in seafood (I recall Arthur Treachers and a chain called Long John Silvers--which I think was primarily in the south) might be OK (but I'll admit I've never been to either); personally, I rather go to a fish market that prepares simple meals like fish and chips (we have a couple around here).

[wesw]

actually the filet o fish isn t a bad sammich....

would I choose it over a crabcake or fish sammich from a mom and pop shop down at the water?

no, but I have had some really bad seafood at upscale restaurants at the beach (O.C)

I got a crabcake dinner once at a place near the OC inlet, an expensive place, and it was horrible.

tons of crabmeat and zero flavor. I took it home for the cat.

when it comes to crabcakes and soft crabs..., size matters.

the smaller the better.

[Guinevere]

Guin--to me mass produced fast food and fish don't go together (I've never had a McFish Sandwich or whatever it is called), but a fast food place specializing in seafood (I recall Arthur Treachers and a chain called Long John Silvers--which I think was primarily in the south) might be OK (but I'll admit I've never been to either); personally, I rather go to a fish market that prepares simple meals like fish and chips (we have a couple around here).

Yes. The places I would get fish and chips here are fish markets that also sells some hot food, or restaurants that have it on their menus. We have many options. I was planning on stopping at the Hingham Lobster Pound for a haddock plate on the way home but I'm actually home sick today. They make exceptionally crispy fried fish and good fries that even hold up for take-out. http://m.hinghamlobster.net/site/mobil ... rk=fw#2032

We don't have any fast food places in town (except Dunkins and that doesn't count).

[oldr_n_wsr]

Way back when, there was an Arther Treachers near where I lived in Mineola. That became Mr. Pipps Fish-n-Chips. Don't think it is still there.
We ate there on Friday as good Catholics were not supposed ot eat meat on friday's. We did that even after we were allowed to eat meat on fridays. Old habits die hard.

I think there is a Long John Silvers around on Long Island, but I never searched it out.
On RT110 I think I remember seeing one.

I'm not a big fish eater unless I catch it myself and cook it up right away.

[Big RR]

That's the point oldr--fresh fish is extraordinarily better than frozen (no matter how quickly it is processed it always loses something in the taste and texture departments), and fish you catch yourself is always fresh.

For fast food fish to work (unless they specialize in seafood) it is invariable prepared from frozen fish.

[wesw]

i had horrible luck fishing last year.

it was unusual for me.

i had plans to fill the freezer.

instead i m lucky to get a filet o fish...

holly can t eat crabs anymore so i didn t go crabbing.

i m gonna try again soon.

i like hardhead (croaker) fish cakes. i make them with the same recipe as crabcakes and they are yummy.

and rockfish (stripers) with lemon and butter and onion, of course

i also like snapper blues (about 10" long) fileted out, battered and seasoned, and fried for a good long time.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Fresh caught Striped bass on the grill with garlic butter is to die for. Need the "fish pan" for the grill though. Otherwise too much stays on the grates.
In a pinch, tinfoil works a little.

Catfish the same way or dipped in bisquick and fried is good too.

Crappy, egged, breaded and fried, mmmm mmm good.

I can't remember the last time I had snapper, but I don't remember fileting them. Too small for that and if you broil them, the spine pulls right out pretty much intact.

[wesw]

yeah, I like to filet out the little snapper blues...

I usually have a lot of them when I catch them and it saves the trouble of scaling them.

it wastes some meat for sure...

I just filet them, and filet the skin off, maybe take out a few bones from the rib area..., , and fry em up crispy

I use an egg batter too