FOOD TRIVIA: FISH AND CHIPS

 The importance of fish and chips to the overall wellbeing of the British is demonstrated by the fact that this dish helped both their troops and civilian populations get through two World Wars. In WWI, Prime Minister Lloyd George made sure that the dish was not put on the ration list unlike bread, sugar, and meat. This served as a great morale booster. Again, in WWII, the government had to maintain a steady supply of fish and potatoes. Even though the price of fish increased, the government still maintained a supply. On the battlefield, as well, fish and chips played a role. To separate friends from foe, the challenge code word was “fish”; response with the reply “chips”, told you it was a friend. Initially, when fish and chips were first eaten by the British, it was wrapped in a cone made of newspapers. This survived until the late 1980’s, when it was ruled. unsafe for food to be in contact with newspaper ink unless there was a grease-proof paper in between. Originally, any kind of fish could be fried and used for fish and sold as “fish and chips” dishes. Now, government regulations apply to fish and chip venues which now, must specify the name the type of fish used, Haddock and Chips, Cod, and Chips, etc. So, while merely "fish and chips" cannot be sold anymore, the British tradition of deep-fried fish served with deep fried potatoes is alive and well and continues not only the United Kingdom but in other countries. as well.  Fish and chips are variously “sauced “in different countries: Australians use Tartar sauce, England prefers malt vinegar, Scotland likes Brown Sauce, mayonnaise in Belgium while in Denmark, Remoulade sauce is used.