I’ll jump ahead a bit, missing out the rest of the Hunstanton visit and Cromer Pier and getting straight to the chips.
When a chip shop calls itself Number One, even if it is at No 1 New Street, it’s making a big statement. When this is backed up by fish and chips at £12.50 it’s doing the same, as you can generally get them for £9.50. So was it really 25% better than the average fish and chip shop?
Difficult to say.
I had hake and Julia had rock (which used to be called rock salmon in the days before trades description legislation).
I’m not sure if either of them were up to the mark. The rock was a bit soft compared to the shark I’ve had before, which has always been quite fibrous, and the hake was a bit too fishy. I believe that hake is generally more fish flavoured than other fish, so this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though again, it seemed a bit soft and didn’t flake well.
Hake and Chips in Cromer
Portion size was good, batter was OK – not quite crisp enough for my taste. They were served seasoned with sea salt. When I’d read this on the menu I imagined a light sprinkle of salt, not the amount that ended up piled on the fish. Look at the photo for an idea of what happened. Too much salt!
The chips, on the other hand, were excellent. Big, crispy and plentiful.
Tartare sauce was tangy and had a great flavour. Ten out of ten for that.
The peas, on the other hand, were bland. We had the non-minted ones – I suppose the minted ones would have been a better choice. I don’t know how you can make bland peas, particulalrly when there was plenty of salt on the fish.
There’s no excuse for poor peas. They should have remembered the 6 P Rule.
Proper Preparation Prevents Peas Poor Performance.
We’re currently discussing this meal – Julia says she would go back again. I say I probably wouldn’t. It wasn’t bad, but I don’t think it was any better than some of the cheaper offerings from less glitzy shops.
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I am slowly catching up and have been reading all your posts with interest. I just had to add a small offering to this one. Since moving to East Anglia in 1988 I have come to realise that a good fish and chip meal is extremely hard to come by here. Why, I don’t know, when the fresh, raw ingredients are to hand. Too greasy, batter too thick/not crisp enough, soggy chips – I could go on at length. Southwold has a (usually) excellent F&C shop in East Street (The Little Fish and Chip Shop) if you are ever in the area again. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g503753-d8796682-Reviews-The_Little_Fish_and_Chip_Shop-Southwold_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html
I hope you won’t be too offended but I must confess to not liking mushy peas. Sorry.
We are all different, and we can’t all like the same things. 🙂
🙂
Basically you are in the wrong country for good fish and chips.
From what I remember of eating fish suppers in Scotland, so are you. 🙂
I would argue that the best fish and chips can be found in Whitby, but it is all subjective and down to personal preference!
We’ve had some good ones in Whitby. You are correct in what you say, and I’d hate to step between a man and his favourite chips!
Liz and I are regular visitors to Cromer. We have eaten there many times. Sometimes first class and others so/so. There is another chip shop just around the corner, same variation. Try it next time you may be lucky!
Glad to hear it’s not just me. I did think about the burger place down towards the pier but couldn’t justify going to the coast and not eating fish.
That’s how I feel whenever I’m back home in Florida. The beach is just an hour from where my family all lives, and there is some amazing sea food at the coast. Usually with a tropical twist, like coconut battered shrimp or fish, mango dips and such. I’ve never found such variations anywhere else. And don’t even get me started on the drinks! Mmmm!
That all sounds very tempting. 🙂
Oh yes! If you like seafood, it’s so amazing that it is truly worth a vacation just for the food, but you get to enjoy your meal on the beach front as a bonus! If you’re ever that way, don’t bother with red lobster. They’re OK, but if you’re at the beach, find another restaurant.
If I ever get to visit England and am on the look out for a good fish and chips shop, I know who to ask! 😉
I am far from being an expert but am working on expanding my knowledge, along with my waistline.
Haha! Well, all your posts about fish and chips make me hungry! Too bad Germany doesn’t have any decent fish and chips shops where I’m at. Even if I can find one, I doubt it would be the same as what you get in England.
It’s our contribution to sorld cuisine. 🙂
I’m with you. Not worth the extra when the fish looks soggy
If I could, I’d like this one twice.
I wish restaurants wouldn’t put the fish on top of the chips like that, it makes it difficult to get the right amount of salt and vinegar to the chips. I like a lot of vinegar so when it is served like that the chips get soggy. On my recent holiday to Suffolk I had some really excellent chips in Lowestoft.
I hadn’t appreciated the subtleties of vinegar application. I just lifted the fish up with one hand and squeezed the lemon . 🙂
My dad who was vey cost conscious was always appalled how much vinegar I would put on chips. He would wait for me to finish shaking and then take my plate and pour the extravagant excess onto his own fish and chips. My dad was a very frugal man!
I admire that – being fairly frugal myself. 🙂
Looks delicious, anyway. As far as I know, fish and chips over here are never served with peas. Thought you might like to know that. 😉
The thought of fish and chips without mushy peas is as hard to take as the flag of the USA minus its stripes.
That made me laugh out loud. In Maine, fish and chips are usually served with coleslaw. Seems normal to me. 😉
It’s a bit early in the morning for revelations like that. I really don’t know what to say. No, really…
Fish, chips and SALAD?
Speechless.
Oh, too funny! ‘Tis normal here. Another revelation, and I hope it doesn’t hit you too hard. I had never heard of mushy peas until I read your and Derrick’s blog. Had to look them up. 😉
We are doing our best to civilise the New World. Or civilize, if you prefer. 🙂