How Fish and Chips
Migrated to Great Britain
G'day folks,
We have a pie and sauce, but the Pommies have fish and chips as their national dish. Ever wondered why?
The powerful pairing of
fish and chips has long
been considered a British staple. Dubbed “the undisputed national dish of Great
Britain” by the National Federation
of Fish Friers, it’s been enjoyed on the island for over a century,
with an estimated 35,000 chip shops in business by 1935. During World War II,
Winston Churchill exempted the beloved dish from rationing. Today, “Fish &
Chip Friday” is a weekly ritual for Brits ringing in the weekend.
Fish and chips’s
origin story, however, is a bit more complex than this nationalist sentiment
might imply.
As told by Simon Majumdar
in his podcast, Eat My Globe,
it all began outside of the U.K., hundreds of years ago. From the 8th to the
12th century, Jews, Muslims, and Christians lived in relative peace in
Portugal, known as Al-Andalus under Moorish rule. Sephardic Jews, who likely
comprised around 20 percent of the population, were relatively well-respected
and held positions in the high court. For this reason, the area became somewhat
of a haven for those fleeing the Spanish Inquisition.
However, in 1496, after
the end of Moorish rule, King Manuel I married Isabel of Spain, who was not so
aligned with the idea of religious freedom. Her ultimatum: Their betrothal
would mean the expulsion of Jews from Portugal. Manuel I mandated that all Jews
be baptized, or otherwise expelled.
While many fled,
some Jews stayed, and either converted to Christianity or pretended to do so
while continuing to practice Judaism in secret. But when Portugal fell under
Spanish rule, the Inquisition targeted individuals with Jewish lineage,
threatening anyone claiming to be a Converso.
As religious violence worsened, many fled Portugal and resettled in England,
bringing with them culinary treasures founded in Sephardic cuisine—including
fish.
Peshkado frito (in Andalusian dialect, pescaíto
frito) was one of them. The dish of white fish, typically cod or
haddock, fried in a thin coat of flour, was a favorite particularly among
Sephardic Jews, who fried it on Friday nights to prepare for the Sabbath, as
the Mosaic laws prohibited cooking. Allegedly, the batter preserved the fish so
it could be eaten cold, and without sacrificing too much flavor, the following
day.
It was a hit. Fish
prepared “in the Jewish manner” was sold on the streets of London on any given
day. And at the end of the week, eating fish on Friday was a part of religious
observance for Jews and Catholics alike—as “fish fasting” to avoid consuming
warm-blooded animals has been a part of the Catholic tradition for centuries.*
Though both groups were religious minorities at the time, fried fish became a
popular secular dish, too.
But the Friday-night
tradition was likely chipless until the late-19th century. The general
popularity of the potato bloomed late in Europe, and it wasn’t until the late
1800s that the tuber was accepted, due especially to the promotional efforts
of a French scientist. Though there are several theories of how the
potato came to England—and how it became the “chip” we know and love today—one historical
account credits a tripe vendor by the name of Mrs. “Granny” Duce
with selling the first fried cut potatoes to the public.
There are also competing theories about who
created the pairing of, as Churchill called them, “good companions.” Most trace
it back to the early 1860s, when Joseph Malins, a Jewish immigrant, opened up a
fish and chips shop in London. Others point to John Lee, a man living outside
of Manchester, who ran a “chipped potato” restaurant that sold the beloved
pairing.
Whether the winning
combo was first slapped together by John or Joseph or someone else entirely, it
soon became everybody’s dish. British natives and immigrants alike began
slathering their cod in batter and frying up husky chips. Industrialization in
the 19th and early 20th centuries launched the fish dish to even greater
heights, as it became a favorite for factory and mill workers in London and
beyond. And while its religious connotations are hidden today, many admirers
remain devoted to the beloved international, national dish.
Clancy's comment: When I lived in London in the 70's, every meal had chips and peas, even if it was a curry.
I'm ...
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