The Golden Chicken BarbeQue Fish & Chips – 03.31.09

The Golden Chicken BarbeQue Fish & Chips
Tavistock Street
Bedford, UK

Finally, a fish and chip place that isn’t too posh or too cheap.  Despite its strange name, Golden Chicken is a fish and chip joint that is simple and straightforward.  The cook was quite a character and you would be sure to find all kinds types of interesting folks loitering outside.

The portions of chips AND fish are huge and contain the perfect amount of grease.  The cod was fresh and cooked very well.  Make sure to add LOTS of malt vinegar to the chips, the vinegar they use is weak and most of the flavor will evaporate quickly.

Idiot proof labels: Mine and Not Mine

Golden greasy goodness

Nice batter and moist flake

Saving the best for last

bru

Rock & Sole – 03.29.09

Rock & Sole
45-47 Endell Street
London

Rock and Sole is your premium fish and chip eatery.  Great location in the hip neighborhood of Covent Garden means great quality fish and chips fried in 100% nut oil (as they put it).  Just a 2 minute walk from the tube station, eat here to rock your world and invigorate your soul.

A lazy Sunday evening and not a table was open in the cramped upstairs.  A good sign.  There was still plenty of seating downstairs.  A quick skip through the kitchen (yes, the only way to the downstairs reminiscent of Mama’s food shop in Alphabet city)  and down the stairs, we were whisked away to another world.  Aquarium painted walls and the hum of refrigerators really made you feel as if you were in a fish tank; deliberate effect or not, I liked.  Also comforting was the scent of humid ocean, which was probably wafting from the fish stored also in the downstairs.

Cod, Haddock, Sole, plaice, scampi (aka shrimp) filets come in regular or large.  The regular filet with chips was more than enough food especially when paired with a cold brew.

The fish had a crunchy batter and was cooked to perfection.  The filet flaked in large chunks and was very fresh.  The chips were cooked as proper english chips and not fries:  thick cut with golden outside, a slight limp, and mush interior.  Just add a dash of salt and as much malt vinegar as you can handle.  The white sauce on the table was a pleasant surprise.  It wasn’t tartar sauce but tzatziki and a very good one at that.  Cool and smooth with loads of dill and garlic, the sauce tasted great on everything.  Wash it all down with a cold lager Budvar (Czech Budweiser) or Efes (Turkish) and you have an international meal that somehow works.  Talk about world peace.

The waiters were not that helpful and didn’t know much.  They had Eastern European accents but the Germans couldn’t get better service either.  The manager (Greek or Turkish) did stop by to the table next to us and he seemed very friendly and knowledgeable.  The service and prices won’t bring me back but the quality of the fish and chips definitely will.

bru
born again malt vinegar believer