By Tim Lambert
Fish and chips is a traditional British dish, and there are many fish and chip shops. So how did this come about?
Potatoes are native to South America, and they were grown by the native people for thousands of years before Europeans discovered them. The Spaniards took potatoes to Spain in the 16th century. Later, they were grown in France. Potatoes were first introduced to England in about 1586. However, there is no evidence that Walter Raleigh brought them to England! However, at first, potatoes were regarded as a strange vegetable, and they were not commonly grown in Europe until the 18th century.
Who invented chips is debated, but they were probably first made in Belgium around the end of the 17th century. Chips were probably first eaten in Britain in the 18th century. By the early 19th century, they were a common food.
It’s believed that Jewish immigrants from Spain and Portugal brought fried fish to England.
By the 1840s, some shops were selling chips as well as other types of hot food. Some shops sold fried fish. It’s not certain who first thought of selling them with fried fish. However, in 1860, Joseph Malin began selling fish and chips in London.
Whoever first had the idea, fish and chips was a hit. In the late 19th century and the early 20th century, fish and chips shops opened all over Britain. By 1910 there were about 25,000 fish and chips shops .
During the Second World War, fish and chips were not rationed, and they were vital to morale! Today, more than 300 million portions of fish and chips are sold in Britain each year. Fish and chips are also popular in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The National Fish and Chips Awards began in 1988.
In Britain, the first Friday in June is National Fish and Chips Day.
