Friday night, the Marlborough Arms pub was the place to be! The pub was filled to capacity by locals stopping off on their way home from work. The crowd sat at the bar, stood at high-top tables, sat at dining tables, and milled around filling the pub and spilling out onto the surrounding sidewalks. It was a place to relax, unwind, and socialize.
I had a traditionally English pub dinner of fish and chips, followed by a slice of apple pie topped with warmed custard. If you are unfamiliar with the dish, fish is white fish, often cod or haddock, fried in a batter, and chips are fried potato wedges, also known as French fries in the United States. As you can see, fish and chips are, as in this case, often served with a side of peas.
According to BBC, fried fish and chips originated in various nations, but were first married by the English in the early to mid-1860s and have remained a staple on menus. Quickly, fish and chips became a treat in the otherwise bland diet of the working man. Soon, fish and chips followed whereever the Brits went... Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and eventually Canada and places worldwide. During WWI and WWII, fish and chips were exempt from rationing as a way of boosting the morale of working class Brits. They are the ultimate British comfort food! It’s amazing how food can unite people!
After tonight’s meal complete with the laughter and camaraderie of the pub, I’m looking forward to my next pub meal and maybe even more fish and chips.
Alexander, James. (10 December 2009). The unlikely origin of fish and chips. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8419026.stm
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