Award winning Scottish chip shop shares secret that draws customers from miles away
Fish and chips are in news this week as National Fish and Chip Day is celebrated on Friday, June 6.
Fish and chips remain a beloved staple of British cuisine, perfect for a day by the seaside, a cosy film night, or a pick-me-up after a night out. This week, the humble chippie gets its moment in the spotlight as National Fish and Chip Day is celebrated on Friday, June 6.
With over 10,000 fish and chip shops across the UK, Scotland boasts its fair share of popular outlets, including The Real Food Café in Tyndrum, about 60 miles north of Glasgow.
A regular on 'best of' lists and a seven-time winner at the National Fish and Chip Awards, the café is famed for its gluten-free fish and chips, attracting customers who sometimes travel 500 miles round trip for a taste, Scottish Daily Express reports.
Owner Sarah Heward shares the secret to creating an outstanding fish and chip meal, emphasising the importance of attention to detail.
"Fish and chips might sound simple, but making a truly outstanding chippy is anything but," she explains.
"It's all about layers of detail. The Real Food Café only uses MSC-certified, sustainably sourced fish. Once prepped and portioned, it's carefully layered in a fish fridge, no more than two or three fillets deep, ready for frying."
Sarah also highlights the science behind the perfect batter: "The batter must be made using chilled water.
"The cold temperature causes the wheat proteins to expand, and when the batter hits the hot oil, it explodes, creating that crisp, airy texture you want – nobody likes a soggy fish and chips! We also use a specialised batter-whisking machine to keep the consistency just right."
When it comes to the chips, The Real Food Café goes through a quarter of a tonne daily, with each potato carefully inspected.
Sarah adds, "When the tatties arrive, we test them for sugar content because too much sugar means chips that fry too dark.
"We rumble 25 kilograms of potatoes at a time, eye them by hand and chip them in a machine that can process a full sack in about 20 seconds.
"Cooking times are constantly adjusted throughout the year for variations in potato and wheat crops. Once it's all cooked, we finish with the final secret ingredients: salt, vinegar, and a generous serving of love."
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This year marks the 10th anniversary of National Fish and Chip Day, celebrated annually on the first Friday in June to honour this iconic British dish.
In other news, Scotland's cheapest city for a chippy tea has been revealed, much to the delight of hungry Dundonians.
According to a new nationwide ranking by WDW Bingo, Dundee ranks as the third most affordable city in the UK for a portion of fish and chips, with an average price of just £9.47.
Glasgow comes in at tenth place, where the average cost is £10.37. Aberdeen and Edinburgh follow closely behind, with prices at £10.67 and £10.93 respectively, proving that while fish and chips remain a classic, prices can vary significantly across the country.
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