# British style chips with vinegar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2012, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407 "2012-02-01T09:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/41 "2012-02-02T16:48:03Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Well, it is all fish and chips, how different do you expect it to be? After all, most American fish and chips is consciously imitating the British original. That said, I think [this](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yLAItrjlaSA/TUhC_nIPIBI/AAAAAAAAAKE/LIV_oDgWvV8/s1600/fish-and-chips-platter.jpg) is more like what you would typically get in America, except that often, in America, you get several small pieces of fish rather than one large one (and that would be rare in Britain). > > It is perfectly possible to get good fish and chips in America, and not uncommon to get crappy stuff in Britain (as the Harry Ramsden’s link above exemplifies). What the hell is that green stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/42 "2012-02-02T16:54:24Z")
Christ, why did I read this an hour before I can eat? I’m literally drooling here\*. On the plus side, I now know what I’m having for my tea. - For the second time today after reading the Indian food thread ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/43 "2012-02-02T16:58:52Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > On the plus side, I now know what I’m having for my tea. Bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/44 "2012-02-02T17:02:24Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > What the hell is that green stuff? Cole slaw. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/45 "2012-02-02T17:05:04Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Bastard. 😃 To make you feel a little better, the local chippie isn’t all that great. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/46 "2012-02-02T17:08:45Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Cole slaw. What? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/47 "2012-02-02T17:10:15Z")
**Grude** , you haven’t given your location, but if you’re close to the Canadian border, our salt and vinegar chips aren’t going away any time soon. Try the dill pickle and ketchup flavours while you’re at it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/48 "2012-02-02T17:11:17Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > What? HE SAID COLE SLAW!i! ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/49 "2012-02-02T17:46:17Z")
Why sprinkle the vinegar on? The few times I’ve been in the UK, I’ve just shaken a huge puddle of vinegar on my plate and dipped. You get more vinegar AND things don’t get soggy. Win/Win ---
**Author:** ![MrStrangeloop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@MrStrangeloop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrStrangeloop)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/50 "2012-02-02T17:52:17Z")
Hello world. Long time lurker and ageing Londoner. I’ve eaten a lot of fish and chips. The image linked by amanset [PBase.com](http://www.pbase.com/orac/image/19764773) is is what I expect to see from a chippy anywhere in Britain. Crisps (potato chips?) never taste like the things they’re named after. The crisp flavour is OK for crisps I suppose. To the OP, I would suggest: poke a few holes in the fish batter first, sprinkle salt and vinegar over all to start; then add more as necessary. I suspect vinegar mostly runs off and takes salt with it, at least that’s how it seems to me. And beware of battered fish lying in vinegar pools. I remember as a child, eating fish and chips wrapped in newspaper but there was always a layer or two of greaseproof paper between the food and newsprint. By the time I was old enough to buy chips on my own (for six pre-decimal pence!) the chippys I knew didn’t use it. Having a folded paper container gets round the vinegar pooling problem - because it leaks out. But I only liked cod and rarely eat chips now. I prefer the new traditional English meal: curry. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/51 "2012-02-02T20:11:18Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Cole slaw. Why? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/52 "2012-02-02T20:12:23Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Why sprinkle the vinegar on? The few times I’ve been in the UK, I’ve just shaken a huge puddle of vinegar on my plate and dipped. You get more vinegar AND things don’t get soggy. Win/Win Because that is how it is done. Next you’ll be asking why milk goes in tea and Geordies take their tops off when it gets cold. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/53 "2012-02-02T20:16:43Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Why? Are you asking why cole slaw with F&C? It’s common here in the US to serve cole slaw with fried seafood, seafood in general, and many other dishes. I recall in England they offered me some mushy peas or something like that. At my restaurant many people said ‘no thanks’ to the cole slaw even though it was served with every dish. Many people like vinegar on their fish, some on their chips, but tartar sauce for fish and ketchup for fries is the more popular. Are you in England? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/54 "2012-02-02T20:19:24Z")
Whoosh. Purists don’t acknowledge the necessity of anything but the chips, salt & vinegar. The fish is negotiable. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/55 "2012-02-02T20:25:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Are you in England? No, but I am British. The post above this one explains it all, although I would make allowances from some things, like curry sauce. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/56 "2012-02-02T20:34:38Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Why sprinkle the vinegar on? The few times I’ve been in the UK, I’ve just shaken a huge puddle of vinegar on my plate and dipped. You get more vinegar AND things don’t get soggy. Win/Win You ate fish and chips off a plate? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/57 "2012-02-02T20:36:24Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > The post above this one explains it all, although I would make allowances from some things, like curry sauce. Chips and curry sauce is a _whole_ other topic. In my extensive experience, the best chips and curry sauce are to be found in Chinese takeaways. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/58 "2012-02-02T20:39:24Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > You ate fish and chips off a plate? 😕 Classic seaside resort restaurant meal! Fish, chips, garden peas, buttered bread and mug of tea. Edit: a quarter lemon, for the squeezing ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/59 "2012-02-02T20:44:05Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Classic seaside resort restaurant meal! Fish, chips, garden peas, buttered bread and mug of tea. > > Edit: a quarter lemon, for the squeezing This is true. Even though it’s a bit posh to actually sit down and eat off a plate at the seaside, I have done so. But TBH it’s always felt a little wrong to me, like eating a roast dinner or curry or stew out of paper would be wrong. And vinegar for fish and chips is not a dipping sauce. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407/60 "2012-02-02T21:12:42Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > No, but I am British. > > The post above this one explains it all, although I would make allowances from some things, like curry sauce. Just curious if you, or anyone else, has ever been to Malin’s of Bow Street in London [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-style-chips-with-vinegar/611407.md?page=4)