First, some terminology: chips here in England are known to us in America as french fries. And what Americans call chips are called crisps here in England. This is confusing, I know. It actually makes me want to eat fewer crisps (American for chips) because they’re called crisps, and I want to eat more chips (American for french fries) because they’re called chips. I think it’s because chips sound more appetizing to me.
Fish and chips, or fish n’ chips for short, are one of the most well-known foods in England. In Greenwich, there are fish n’ chips places everywhere, with a couple of places on every block. When I came to London five years ago, I tried it with my family, and to be honest, I didn’t understand why it had all its hype. It just tasted like battered fish with french fries. But now that I’m back, and I’ve tried different varieties, I now more fully understand.
The first chips that I had after I arrived here were not in Greenwich, but in Blackheath, a nearby borough (sort of like a suburb). I was walking home after a concert, and the smell of the place got to me. I got just the chips, and they gave me a sort of “cone” of chips. They were delicious! They were salty, but somehow also sweet. I ate them continuously as I walked home on a rainy evening. It was wonderful.
