The Cultural Food That Is Fish And Chips Every culture around the world have their own iconic food. For the United States it’s probably the cheeseburger. For Japan it could be Sushi. For Germany it’s the brat and for the British it has got to be the fish and chips. This staple has been a part of Britain’s food scene since the 1800’s. In fact, it’s already more than 150 years old and still going strong. Not only is it popular in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand but is has also gained a foothold in other countries such as those in Europe, Southeast Asia and especially the United States. Tasty as it is, this venerable institution is also very simple to make. That’s probably one reason it has lasted this long and has gained a worldwide following. A piece or rather a hunk of battered fish deep fried to a nice golden brown with a side of French fries or chips as they are called. The smell is tantalizing and the taste – well the taste is simply heaven and it is one very filling meal once you get it all down, which you will and in no time flat. Who invented this dish is up for debate as there are many parties that claim to have put it all together. That may not be truly deciphered unless real, intangible proof comes up. That being said, the history of both the fish and the potatoes when taken separately goes back even further anyway. That’s because the potato was bought in from the new world as early as the 1700’s and fried fish became a staple once steam was used to power the fishing boats in the 1800’s. What is true is that once the combination was made it became a hot item in England, especially in London’s impoverished East End. There are over 10,000 fish and chip shops or chippies in the United Kingdom resulting in over 229 million portions being sold annually or so the numbers say. The fish used is usually cod or haddock since this was caught a plenty in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. The fish was dipped in a beer batter and deep fried. The carbon dioxide in the beer helps to make a lighter batter so it does not absorb the oil. It’s usually served piping hot from the fryer but back in the day it was sold cold and not with fried potatoes but with bread. Basically it was everyday blue collar worker’s food. It also was an important staple during World War 2. The fish and chips were probably one of the few foods that were not rationed in anyway. With the way things are going its run as the quintessential British cuisine will not end anytime soon. Not if half the population of the UK keeps going to fish and chip shops at least once a month. As long as there’s cod and potatoes, this dish will still be around for the next 150 years and more.