A Chippy Tea

 

When the world and their mothers were busy with Mothering Sunday, I took the dogs to the beach and out for a chippy tea.
Now I’m sure many of you may not know what A Chippy Tea is, so I shall explain . A Chippy Tea ( or Dinner) is when historically the lady of the house , through busyness, illness, holiday time or whatever had decided not to cook that mealtime and a rare “ take out” was in order.
For my family A Chippy Tea was a rarity and a treat.
It remains so
It must be well over 2 years since I last had one.
Now, for those that still remain in the dark , the meal consists of a large battered fish fillet ( usually cod or haddock ) lying on a bed of chips. These chips are thick cut fresh fries that are slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, but generally in the steam of the take out, they can be just soft! 
Everything is covered with a generous amount of malt vinegar and salt. Then wrapped in a box and paper.
It’s a delight on a miserable day.
We ate it in the beach car park. Dorothy had a small battered fish of her own ( with half the batter removed) where the Welsh shared my box 

66 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:14 pm

    Ooh you’re making me want chips now! The perfect treat on a grey day like today. Athene

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  2. Wet mothering Sunday here alone watching Rugby on TV.
    Fish and chips are a once in a while treat but usually regretted later.
    Glad you and the dogs enjoyed yours

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    Replies
    1. Dogs love picnics once they understand it’s one at a time.
      I’m a big fan of saying names before giving out treats everyone understand where they stand

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  3. No mushy peas! What the hell were you thinking of man?...Sad to think that that might be Dorothy's last small battered fish.

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    Replies
    1. Yes YP, she’s with me on the couch at the moment and is fading

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  4. How nice a way to change a morning with miserable weather into a delight! Thanks ever so much for
    a recent glimpse of your
    lives,Mary

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  5. Anonymous3:21 pm

    My chippy tea was usually wrapped in newspaper and cost much less than today.
    Enjoy though x

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  6. Oh, bugger, now I want chips. I'll pass on the fish, but a chip butty, lots of salt and vinegar - yum! Glad Dorothy got to enjoy her own little treat. How's the face? Getting better, I hope. xx

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    Replies
    1. A chip butty never loses its appeal, does it? Pure comfort food.

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    2. Or a fishmonger butty

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  7. Barbara Anne3:48 pm

    I'm so glad your family could share a Chippy Tea this morning. What a good idea to t thrill the pack and dear Dorothy.

    You've flung a craving on me, too.

    Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. I know you can recallthe small immediately

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  8. Anonymous3:52 pm

    Skate and chips my favourite especially when eaten out of the paper sitting looking at the sea.
    Glad Dorothy enjoyed her fish.
    Irene

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  9. Yup, a chippy tea was a childhood treat. Not had one in ages! I hope Dorothy loved her fishy xxx

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  10. A takeout meal for supper was a rare treat in my childhood home as well (too expensive to do often). My father would go get us hamburgers and chips from the local hotel restaurant. "Nips 'n chips" they were called.

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  11. Deep fried fish and chips is always delicious. The British version is outstanding with salt and vinegar. Add the box and paper along with a seaside view and it is perfection. The chippy tea is a new term to me. Deciding not to cook and eat out instead is always enjoyed.

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    Replies
    1. I love tartar sauce too

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    2. Anonymous9:34 pm

      Salad cream for me please

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  12. A chippy tea sounds sweet. We rarely did take-out meals. If we went out, my mother wanted to be served.

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  13. Anonymous4:43 pm

    Best way to endure a miserable grey day, glad you all enjoyed your fish’n’chips by the sea. Jan in Castle Gresley

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    Replies
    1. There were several people all doing the same too

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  14. Anonymous4:44 pm

    I don't think it's "well over 2 years" since you last had a chippy meal. Didn't you blog not long ago about eating it in a car park and feeling uncomfortable as two girls in the next car were looking at you?

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    Replies
    1. https://disasterfilm.blogspot.com/2023/09/solo-supper.html

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    2. Anonymous6:31 pm

      For Fuck’s Sake what’s wrong with this woman ?

      Lee

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    3. People suggest you do a book – – I think you could do a hilarious compilation of troll comments and your replies, including this one – – L O L.
      On a serious note – – I’m awfully sorry to hear about Dorothy, I remember when she first came—it feels not that long ago

      Delete
    4. Traveller7:35 pm

      Brilliant comment!

      Delete
    5. Anonymous10:02 pm

      I’m speechless at your mindless trolls and their motivation but that means nothing today does it my friend .

      Brazier straps up or out ? I don’t remember

      Keith

      Xx

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    6. Anonymous10:50 pm

      Your "solo supper" link doesn't work, it goes nowhere. However looking at the date -September 2023 it seems Anonymous is right. The ;last time you had it wasn't even 6 months ago, nowhere near 2 years. Anon can indeed bask in their glory.

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:51 pm

      For fuck's sake "Lee" why would you think it's a woman?

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    8. Why? My goodness. I think it is two women. I recognize one for her pedancy. I recognize the other by her unchanging opinion that she alone is correct in her views. Unfortunately, they both are as relentless as badgers.

      Delete
    9. Anonymous5:18 pm

      I find it significant that the troll comments stopped when a certain prolific replier to anonymous comments also stopped commenting too. It seems the theory that they are one and the same - F.... and Anon may be correct.
      Now F... has started commenting again so has Anon.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous4:53 pm

    Yum! We had "A Chippy Tea" when we visited the UK. So delicious! Have tried to copy it here but no luck. Thinking of you and your dogs today.
    Jackie

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    Replies
    1. I love mushy peas and curry gravy with mine but felt over awed. With the dogs

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  16. We go out for a chippy tea now and then, though I always peel all the breading off my fish which is probably officially a crime in the UK. :)

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  17. I miss the days of chips from newspaper!

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    Replies
    1. I don’t remember that to be honest. Always white squares of paper wrapped tightly

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    2. Wonderful fatty paper for lighting the open fire the next day = nothing going to landfill.

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  18. Such bliss for Dorothy xx 💗

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  19. Ooh! Sign me up!

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  20. Is tomorrow your first
    MIND class/meeting?I searched a few posts and can't find that information.
    ,-Mary

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    Replies
    1. No my references need taking up

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    2. Thank you for answering my question, remember amid caring for all that you do to be good to you,
      too, -Mary

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  21. Thinking of you all

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  22. So was a chippy tea always fish and chips or could other such delicacies be on the menu?

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    Replies
    1. Always fish and chips and peas it was the 1970s

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  23. Blue Springs, Missouri has a food truck that comes to the hardware store parking lot every week or so on a Saturday to sell wonderful fish and chips!! One can stand and watch one's order being dipped and fried... no vinegar for me tho'. Not here tonight... but NEXT Saturday !!

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    Replies
    1. Lashings of malt vinegar and salt lovely

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  24. Nelliegrace9:29 pm

    Mushy peas for me too, and Weston Super Mare pier, wondering where the sea went.
    Making some last happy memories.
    Best wishes to you all.

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  25. Dw i hoffi pysgod a sglodion!

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  26. Sounds like a sweet family outing for you and the dogs.

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  27. Good, an outing for the family!

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  28. Anonymous10:35 pm

    When I was a child, we could never go out to eat because my father had ulcers and had a hard time with food. I would sometimes spend my allowance on a piece of fish. Last weekend my daughter came to help me get the bandage off my back, then I took her down the street for the best fish and chips in Toronto, no vinegar but lots of tartar sauce and greek salad for me. For some reason I don’t like chips! For two of us bill came to $60. We go only about twice a year. Glad you and the gang enjoyed yours. Gigi

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  29. Sounds lovely, enjoy every moment.

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  30. We keep promising ourselves that we'll have some fish-n-chips but we never do; unless it's made by me at home.

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  31. I love fish and chips as a treat! Real comfort food, and you so need that right now.

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  32. I do love a chippy tea. Although they are not the less expensive option that they used to be. X

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  33. weaver10:55 am

    I haven't had a chippy tea in years John. It looked delicious.

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