Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Do you enjoy eating fish and chips (fries)?


British style seems to taste the best.

Of course  coming from Fleetwood Lancashire

Have you tried the popular fish and chips place in Minster?

I believe it is a place called Archie's.

Is the basic difference between the UK and USA fish and chips essentially the fries?


Short, stubby fries in the UK as opposed to all kinds of fries in the USA?

It's more the way they're cooked, Chrissy. Trust me, if you try a triple cooked chip, and a "fry", the difference is night and day. That and... I mean... from what I've seen of US fish portions, they are sold like KFC? In certain amounts of pieces? We don't do that in the UK. You get one fish portion. Usually the bigger, thicker, and crispier, the better. We don't tend to do like a five-piece fish and chips.

Quote from: Sephirah on March 27, 2026, 06:40:23 PMIt's more the way they're cooked, Chrissy. Trust me, if you try a triple cooked chip, and a "fry", the difference is night and day. That and... I mean... from what I've seen of US fish portions, they are sold like KFC? In certain amounts of pieces? We don't do that in the UK. You get one fish portion. Usually the bigger, thicker, and crispier, the better. We don't tend to do like a five-piece fish and chips.

Is the fish served with slices of lemon or with malt vinegar?

Quote from: Sephirah on March 27, 2026, 06:40:23 PMIt's more the way they're cooked, Chrissy. Trust me, if you try a triple cooked chip, and a "fry", the difference is night and day. That and... I mean... from what I've seen of US fish portions, they are sold like KFC? In certain amounts of pieces? We don't do that in the UK. You get one fish portion. Usually the bigger, thicker, and crispier, the better. We don't tend to do like a five-piece fish and chips.

Yes you can get fish meals with a specific number of pieces. 

Unless you get pan fried fish, it would typically be one fish.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on March 27, 2026, 06:43:15 PMIs the fish served with slices of lemon or with malt vinegar?

Usually neither. You add your own. A good chippie just gives you the fish then you add what you want to it.

I don't know of many places that offer lemon in the UK, honestly. You can either get tartar sauce, or salt and vinegar. The former can be relatively expensive compared to the latter, and something I am not wholly fond of.

If a fry is triple cooked it has got to be rather crispy or hard.  Is that the way they come out?

Actually a few of our US friends have shown me that real fish and chips does exist in small pockets in the states.

As Lauren says the perfect chips are triple cooked and the batter is beer batter, not the kind of batter on your chicken nuggests. To triple cook means you parboil the potatoes, then deep fry them on a lower heat, remove then deep fry them again on a very high heat. They become crisp and light on the outside and fluffy and squishy on the inside. perfect! It's totally different to french fries. Mind only the best chippys will do this with their chips. You can get it served on it's own, with tartar sauce or ketchup. Salt and vinegar (a must) and, being northern I like either gravy or curry sauce on the chips.

Sometimes, I normally hate seafood but I can handle a good fish and chips.

Quote from: Stottie Girl on March 27, 2026, 06:58:21 PMActually a few of our US friends have shown me that real fish and chips does exist in small pockets in the states.

As Lauren says the perfect chips are triple cooked and the batter is beer batter, not the kind of batter on your chicken nuggests. To triple cook means you parboil the potatoes, then deep fry them on a lower heat, remove then deep fry them again on a very high heat. They become crisp and light on the outside and fluffy and squishy on the inside. perfect! It's totally different to french fries. Mind only the best chippys will do this with their chips. You can get it served on it's own, with tartar sauce or ketchup. Salt and vinegar (a must) and, being northern I like either gravy or curry sauce on the chips.

Haha, yes, chip shop gravy is something else. Something, apparently is only a Northern thing.

This still cracks me up, even after all this time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW5h4eMcBY

I've only had the American version and I like it There are other things id rather have

Lobster sounds good. 

But not at the moment as I had enough to eat!

Quote from: Sephirah on March 27, 2026, 07:10:36 PMHaha, yes, chip shop gravy is something else. Something, apparently is only a Northern thing.

This still cracks me up, even after all this time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW5h4eMcBY

What the hell have you dragged up there Lauren Ha ha Ha!

"eeeeey up, where's me gravy" is going to be buzzing around my head all day now, cheers!

Quote from: Dawn Kellie on March 27, 2026, 08:40:45 PMI've only had the American version and I like it There are other things id rather have

It's all about the fish Kellie. Fish so big you have to have special plates! Would like a pot of curry sauce to dip my chips in though.

(https://i.ibb.co/TxdDZStZ/86d0a3d0-42f0-11f0-b6e6-4ddb91039da1.jpg)

Quote from: Stottie Girl on Yesterday at 04:43:34 AMIt's all about the fish Kellie. Fish so big you have to have special plates! Would like a pot of curry sauce to dip my chips in though.

(https://i.ibb.co/TxdDZStZ/86d0a3d0-42f0-11f0-b6e6-4ddb91039da1.jpg)

I want that.  Must be a whole fish or one side of one.

Or maybe a slice of a big, big fish.

It will either be a Cod or Haddock fillet. You get two fillets like this, one off each side of the spine. these are small cod though, COD can grow pretty big like 3 foot or so. This will be off a Codling.

Do they cook the fish in the same kind of oil or fat as the fries?

Quote from: Stottie Girl on Yesterday at 04:43:34 AMIt's all about the fish Kellie. Fish so big you have to have special plates! Would like a pot of curry sauce to dip my chips in though.

(https://i.ibb.co/TxdDZStZ/86d0a3d0-42f0-11f0-b6e6-4ddb91039da1.jpg)

I am with you on the curry sauce, Sarah. I recently found a brand of granules of said sauce, that is a close approximation.

I am half convinced that some cuts of fish are sheared off the side of whales instead. They are unfeasably large.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 04:23:04 PMDo they cook the fish in the same kind of oil or fat as the fries?

Yes, from what I've observed. They have these giant vats of very hot oil that they just dump everything into. @Devlyn could likely tell you more though. She worked in that environment.

Quote from: Sephirah on Yesterday at 05:23:56 PMI am with you on the curry sauce, Sarah. I recently found a brand of granules of said sauce, that is a close approximation.

I am half convinced that some cuts of fish are sheared off the side of whales instead. They are unfeasably large.

Yes, from what I've observed. They have these giant vats of very hot oil that they just dump everything into. @Devlyn could likely tell you more though. She worked in that environment.

I think the chips might be cooked separate but I think that's what gives the fish and other battered things a great taste as it's all cooked in the same oil. There is a open air living museum near me called Beamish and they have two fish and chip shops there, a coal fired one in the 1900's pit village and one in the 1950's village I think. They both use actual beef dripping for the fat. They taste awesome!

Quote from: Stottie Girl on Yesterday at 05:30:31 PMI think the chips might be cooked separate but I think that's what gives the fish and other battered things a great taste as it's all cooked in the same oil. There is a open air living museum near me called Beamish and they have two fish and chip shops there, a coal fired one in the 1900's pit village and one in the 1950's village I think. They both use actual beef dripping for the fat. They taste awesome!

Beamish is something quite extraordinary. I have been there several times. For anyone interested in any degree of history, it is worth visiting!

The only thing I eat curry with is rice, and it makes a meal.

The curry itself may be vegetarian or a meat (beef or chicken, not pork) with vegetables.
Veggies would always include at least onion and carrots.  Potatoes are good in it.

I do not think I ever just had curry with nothing in it except the curry spices and water.

I do enjoy fish and chips, but what passes for fish and chips here in the American Midwest would probably insult purists.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 07:56:37 PMThe only thing I eat curry with is rice, and it makes a meal.

The curry itself may be vegetarian or a meat (beef or chicken, not pork) with vegetables.
Veggies would always include at least onion and carrots.  Potatoes are good in it.

I do not think I ever just had curry with nothing in it except the curry spices and water.

Chip shop curry sauce is nothing like a traditional curry that you would have as part of Indian food in the UK. It's really somewhat of a misnomer. It tastes completely different. I am sure there are some vague similarities, but you certainly wouldn't put a chip shop version in with some lamb and a naan bread.

I am sure that is highly confusing, haha. Much like what cheese whizz actually is for anyone outside the US. It's just something you have and don't really question. ;D

Quote from: BlueJaye on Yesterday at 08:17:03 PMI do enjoy fish and chips, but what passes for fish and chips here in the American Midwest would probably insult purists.

Hey, if you enjoy it, it doesn't matter. I have never been one for snobbery when it comes to food. If it tickles your tastebuds, then what other people think doesn't really mean anything. :)

We have a fast food place called Long John Silver's for fish.  Not the best.  Their chicken may be better than the fish. 

Archer Treacher's Fish and Chips is another chain, it is slowly coming back after closing most of its stores.

Other fast food chains usually have a fish sandwich and none of them are very good.  Their ads sometimes make them look good but they do not taste good.  Lots of bread and lots of tartar sauce, sometimes a slice of cheese, but the fish itself is usually not so good. 

There are fish markets, some will cook the fish you buy, and some are specialty fast food fish and shrimp places.  I do not stop at any of those.

 

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Yesterday at 08:56:15 PMWe have a fast food place called Long John Silver's for fish.  Not the best.  Their chicken may be better than the fish. 

Archer Treacher's Fish and Chips is another chain, it is slowly coming back after closing most of its stores.

Other fast food chains usually have a fish sandwich and none of them are very good.  Their ads sometimes make them look good but they do not taste good.  Lots of bread and lots of tartar sauce, sometimes a slice of cheese, but the fish itself is usually not so good. 

There are fish markets, some will cook the fish you buy, and some are specialty fast food fish and shrimp places.  I do not stop at any of those.

 

No, you don't ever have cheese with fish. That is... ewwwww. Makes me shudder, haha. I think probably your best bet is a small... um... you call them "mom and pop" kind of place? Local, independent places. Or probably a local pub (bar). Where the chef is passionate about food.

Fast food stuff is rarely ever good, no matter what it is. And chains kind of neuter what they're trying to sell in an effort to homogenise and cut costs. I have heard of Long John Silver's. Not really anything good, though.

Quote from: Sephirah on Yesterday at 09:15:52 PMNo, you don't ever have cheese with fish. That is... ewwwww. Makes me shudder, haha. I think probably your best bet is a small... um... you call them "mom and pop" kind of place? Local, independent places. Or probably a local pub (bar). Where the chef is passionate about food.

Fast food stuff is rarely ever good, no matter what it is. And chains kind of neuter what they're trying to sell in an effort to homogenise and cut costs. I have heard of Long John Silver's. Not really anything good, though.

I find that locally owned restaurants near lakes and oceans usually having decent fish.
However even by oceans if you get shrimp or some fish it can be sourced from overseas because it is cheaper for some restaurants to buy that way.  In a way it can be misleading, one thinks you are getting fresh fish or shrimp but it may come from the other side of the world.

Another chain restaurant for seafood here is Red Lobster. Sometimes good, sometimes okay.

There are other chains that are more mid to upscale that sell fish meals.  It should be better food there because you are paying more to eat there.