Was the fish and chip shops during world war 2 better than todays?

Question

cus this was a new food. and cuz it was wrapped in newspaper, did the world war two fish and chips taste better than nows??

Answer 1

As a child I grew up in a small town that had a fish & chip store, they were ALWAYS wrapped in newspaper. Compared to todays offerings, there is no comparison, of course there was an abundance of fresh fish and home grown potatoes. There were even "chip wagons" that sold nothing except fries, they were made from real potatoes, and hand cut and fried fresh when you ordered. NO frozen, packaged or assembly line. AWWW the Good Old Days!

Answer 2

Hi there.
The fish and chips WERE better than most of what we get now (some honourable exceptions, especially in Yorkshire).
Chips were cooked in beef dripping, which is a much better flavour, there was a wider variety of fish available and the portions were bigger - no rationing on fish and chips, the high fat content didn't matter as the rest of the (rationed) diet was very low in fat.
Imagine how good hot, greasy fish and chips would be after a week of healthy food - wow!
The newspaper was just cheap and convenient, not necessary to the taste.
Cheers, Steve.

Answer 3

I was born in 1947 so can't comment on war time fish and chips but I can certainly tell you about those afterwards. When I was a kid Fish and Chips was considered a great treat, The Great British Meal, as it was advertised. Massive pieces of pure white codfish that hadn't been contaminated by pollution, covered in a crispy batter, masses af golden brown chips, crispy coating with a soft floury interior and lashings of salt and dark brown vinegar all wrapped in a piece of greaseproof paper then a sheet of white then finished off with newspaper that insulated the food and kept it hot. All this cooked in pure white beef dripping giving the dish a unique taste that could be found nowhere else in the world. Wonderful. The times I can remember walking home with the newspaper fashioned into a bag so that you could reach in and grab a delicious handful to stuff into your mouth on the long cold walk home. Of course, when you got there your hands were full of grease but that didn't matter. They could easily be wiped on the newspaper. If you didn't fancy fish there were lots of alternatives. All types of pie, Meat and Potato, Steak and Kidney, Meat or Cheese and Onion or you could have a steak pudding made with real suet all covered with lashings of thick dark gravy and accompanied by mushy peas. Sadly progress overtook us, firstly with the introduction of the Chinese chip shop that was allowed to open on Sundays, unlike English ones that were prevented by the Sunday Trading Act which, somehow did not affect the Chinese. None of us realised at the time how standards would slip with these new establishments using vast quantities of monosodium glutamate, 'taste enhancer' to try to make their sub-standard and cheaply produced product taste better. Then before we knew it we were overwhelmed with pizza bars, kebab houses, Indian restaurants, Chinese Restaurants, Burger Bars, KFC and MacDonalds and all kinds of fast food outlets all vying for the trade that was there. On top of all this we suddenly became embroiled in Common Market (Now the European Union) regulations that controlled fishing and vegetable production and the quality of the fish and potatoes declined rapidly. Health regulatuions got rid of the newspapers and they were replaced by the ubiquitous polystyrene tray and plastic fork.

God how I miss those excellent fish and chip suppers of yesteryear and to answer your question, yes, fish and chips did taste better in those days, a lot better. Sadly today's generation will never know just what they missed all those years ago.

Answer 4

It was better because the Fish and Chips were deep fried in Dripping, not oil as they are today. Newspapers were used to wrap them up until the late 70's I think until the hygiene laws got a hold and made the chippies start using greaseproof papers.

Answer 5

You question sound kinda funny but it true that the fish and chips during WW2 was better as during that time you don't have much choice on fish and chips.

Answer 6

as a boy i can remember how good they tasted not like today the fish are full of heavy metals and chips cooked in oil will never taste as good as fried in lard

Answer 7

most probably.
I was born in 1990,so I wouldn't know,but my mum(born in1957)always said fish&chips were better in her day than the rubbish we get served.
It's so hard to get a decent fish&chips now,I had from a local chippy andthey were so greasy,and disgusting,and way to expensive for what you get.

Answer 8

I'd bet that the fish weren't as contaminated then as they are today, making it taste better then. Yes.

Answer 9

During the Blitz the fish took a battering!!!

Answer 10

Yes and cheaper,,,,,