🌞 We can't afford to do this often, but Mrs. JP and I [View all]

Last edited Fri Aug 8, 2025, 05:00 PM - Edit history (2)

went out to dinner last night. We were hoping to find a replacement
for our old fish+chips seafood restaurant, from where we used to live...
another State another time.

The reviews were promising.

We don't drink much, so just had water, the waitress, observing our thirst, asked
if we'd like a carafe. Score 1 for the waitress..

Next she brought 6 slices of warm crusty French bread, with soft whipped,
unsalted, herbed butter, in a small ramekin. Score 1 for the chef.

At this point, I should mention, that I have held every kitchen station. From
Plonger (Pearl Diver if you like), Saucier, Salad + Dessert prep, Line Cook, and finally Chef.
Culminating as a Private Chef for 30 people every lunchtime. A full 3-course meal five
times a week plus menu planning - pretty much a solo endeavor.

Back to my story. Fish & Chips is a quick dish to prepare, so it wasn't long before our
entree arrived. Presentation was well above average. Resting on a full plate of hand-cut
Russet potatoes, were three filets that had been allowed to curl so the whole outside,
and only the outside, was coated with the batter. Fist-sized clumps (my wife initially
thought they were chicken-breasts from their appearance). Two large slices of lemon
flanked a large ramekin of freshly-made Tartar sauce. ( I should point out that this
was the small portion dish, ALL the entrees had a small and large size! )

Tried the potatoes first, then had another and another. Spiced and superb from small
young potatoes. (I knew that the fish would be too hot to just dive in.)

Finally, got to taste the fish and was shocked. Not only was the Haddock Icelandic,
but the batter was literally...uhh ethereal. Now I've had fish'n'chips hundreds of
times, (starting out in the U.K.) in literally dozens of ways including bread crumbs,
Buttermilk and Panko, egg-batters etc. and have never experienced a batter as thin,
(by thin, I mean less than 1/32 inch!) and yet at the same time, it was by itself, very rich in
flavor. The fish itself was perfectly cooked. (insert blanket generalization that Americans
seriously overcook fish, most of the time, destroying its subtle sweetness) This was
NOT overcooked. Moist, tender and buttery .After two bites "I said "Holy Shit!"
"This is superb!" Wife agreed.

Several minutes of munching ensued. (I became thankful I hadn't ordered the large plate!)
Just barely finished mine, wife had a nice doggie bag to bring home. We'll be returning.

Hope this was fun to read...