Fish and chip shops - beef dripping?!
Discussion
On holiday. Thought we’d get fish and chips and eat on the beach. Bought large cod and chips (£12!) sat down to eat, and it all tasted weird. A bit ‘s
t roast dinner’. Like eating the last bit of beef at a Toby Carvery before they have to throw it out. Didn’t finish it.
Got home and checked out Google reviews of the chippy and much raving about the fact that they cook in ‘beef dripping’. Sure enough there was even a sign on the window.
What the fk? Fishermen risk their lives to land some rapidly disappearing stocks of cod, and people fry it in rendered cow fat to take away any semblance of fishiness? When did this become a thing? Are we so poor as a country we have to use abattoir waste instead of proper oil?
t roast dinner’. Like eating the last bit of beef at a Toby Carvery before they have to throw it out. Didn’t finish it.Got home and checked out Google reviews of the chippy and much raving about the fact that they cook in ‘beef dripping’. Sure enough there was even a sign on the window.
What the f
k? Fishermen risk their lives to land some rapidly disappearing stocks of cod, and people fry it in rendered cow fat to take away any semblance of fishiness? When did this become a thing? Are we so poor as a country we have to use abattoir waste instead of proper oil?Far tastier, you may be a fan of or brought up on McDonald's french fries, not old school fish and chips - wrapped in old newspaper for added health benefits 
Dougie.
Village Chippie (EK Village, next to the Monty is old school - my favourite - I drive a couple of miles rather than local shops)
Added for any South side Glasgow chippie veterans
Dougie.
Village Chippie (EK Village, next to the Monty is old school - my favourite - I drive a couple of miles rather than local shops)
Added for any South side Glasgow chippie veterans
Edited by driver67 on Thursday 13th July 00:36
essayer said:
On holiday. Thought we’d get fish and chips and eat on the beach. Bought large cod and chips (£12!) sat down to eat, and it all tasted weird. A bit ‘st roast dinner’. Like eating the last bit of beef at a Toby Carvery before they have to throw it out. Didn’t finish it.
Got home and checked out Google reviews of the chippy and much raving about the fact that they cook in ‘beef dripping’. Sure enough there was even a sign on the window.
What the fk? Fishermen risk their lives to land some rapidly disappearing stocks of cod, and people fry it in rendered cow fat to take away any semblance of fishiness? When did this become a thing? Are we so poor as a country we have to use abattoir waste instead of proper oil?
It’s completely normal in the north but only the best do it in the south. t roast dinner’. Like eating the last bit of beef at a Toby Carvery before they have to throw it out. Didn’t finish it.Got home and checked out Google reviews of the chippy and much raving about the fact that they cook in ‘beef dripping’. Sure enough there was even a sign on the window.
What the f
k? Fishermen risk their lives to land some rapidly disappearing stocks of cod, and people fry it in rendered cow fat to take away any semblance of fishiness? When did this become a thing? Are we so poor as a country we have to use abattoir waste instead of proper oil?Good to know about the local(ish) options. Beef dripping is traditional and as a natural fat is far better for our bodies than vegetable oil which is highly processed and hard for our metabolism to break down. Also, chips fried in them taste amazing — not dissimilar to roast potatoes cooked in beef dripping.
I should add that the chip shop in Anstruther fried them in dripping. Lovely.
I should add that the chip shop in Anstruther fried them in dripping. Lovely.
Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 13th July 00:35
soad said:
Well, if you want it cheaper - buy it fried in oil? Beef dripping gives both the flavour and taste. And it smells delicious.
One of my very first jobs was in a (proper) chippy, I loved it.
To add - I much prefer haddock.
Haddock is much better than cod for frying. It just stays more succulent. One of my very first jobs was in a (proper) chippy, I loved it.
To add - I much prefer haddock.
Quite an interesting post.
I'll hold back from making fun of the OP as I think their comment demonstrates how our flavour expectations vary with time.
Their not wrong to be critical of the taste. Their opinion is as valid as any.
I remember when chippies first moved away from beef dripping and there were outcries then.
I'll hold back from making fun of the OP as I think their comment demonstrates how our flavour expectations vary with time.
Their not wrong to be critical of the taste. Their opinion is as valid as any.
I remember when chippies first moved away from beef dripping and there were outcries then.
andrewcliffe said:
my understanding was that beef dripping for frying fish and chips predates vegetable oil.
It does and it’s never been a secret of any sort.I thought stories about people living under a rock were anecdotal.
I look forward to more rants about ordinary things or situations where the OP didn’t read a sign/explanation.
Edited by Tommo87 on Thursday 13th July 07:30
princeperch said:
Fryers delight in Holborn is the only place I've had f&c with beef dripping and it was superb.
Wow, it is still going, deservedly so, must be twenty four years since I last had a Friday treat with the lads from work. Top fish and chips, very reasonably priced from what I recall.Is there a way to find chippies that use beef dripping. Had some time to kill round Birmingham and went to the black country museum mostly to try their fish and chips cooked in beef dripping and it was well worth it - delicious! But I don't want to drive a couple hours to Birmingham and pay a museum entry every time to get my fix.
ettore said:
It’s completely normal in the north but only the best do it in the south.
This.Within a good radius of me in West Yorks I only know of one place that cooks in veg oil. All the others are beef dripping. If the taste was as bad as you say then it's quite possibly because they haven't changed their fat in a while.
The one place I know that cooks in veg oil is horrible, leaves a thick film of grease in your mouth and you need a tea or coffee straight afterwards to clear it!
The fish might have been cod rather tha haddock too, especially if you're down south, which is a noticeable difference in taste. The softies down there cheap out on that flavourless fish whereas we get the proper stuff (haddock) by default up north. Just don't go too far north otherwise your fish will come bright orange and be coated in breadcrumbs, looking like an oversized fish finger.
I collect good fish and chip shops, the best are a) in the north of England, and b) on the coast. IMO, of course but born of many years diligent sampling.
Hastings best spot I have found in the SE.
Not that fussed about beef dripping one way or the other. The flavour isn't better or worse to my mind, just different. It's the quality of the fish and the temperature and cleanliness of the fat that really matters. Plus real chips not fries.
Hastings best spot I have found in the SE.
Not that fussed about beef dripping one way or the other. The flavour isn't better or worse to my mind, just different. It's the quality of the fish and the temperature and cleanliness of the fat that really matters. Plus real chips not fries.
andyA700 said:
princeperch said:
Fryers delight in Holborn is the only place I've had f&c with beef dripping and it was superb.
Wow, it is still going, deservedly so, must be twenty four years since I last had a Friday treat with the lads from work. Top fish and chips, very reasonably priced from what I recall.Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff