The Chippy, Pottinger Street, Hong Kong

The Chippy, a truly British experience.

www.chippy.com

Cultural Holiday

The summer holidays are approaching and soon I will be visiting Blighty for a reminder of the culture I am deprived of. I haven't been home for a couple of years now so the lure of midget gems, fresh Cadbury's chocolate and cream cakes with real cream in them is becoming intense. The food hall at Marks and Spencer's and all those supermarkets with aisles big enough for 2 trolleys to pass each other with a vast amount of choice will be so lovely.

Fish, Chips, Mushy Peas, Bread and Butter, Mug of Tea

Yesterday as a pre holiday treat we went to eat at The Chippy. It is exactly what you imagine. It's a chip shop. A very British chip shop right in Central Hong Kong. They have recreated the grease and smell of a typical fish and chip shop with a menu that wouldn't be out of place in any town in the UK. Cod, chips, mushy peas a mug (yes a mug) of tea (Tetleys) and a slice of white bread and butter. Fish cakes, steak and kidney pie, chips and peas and then the deserts deep fried Mars bar. They also offer the full all day English breakfast with black pudding.

Cholestral Levels

It is all bad but all good on the same place. I just knew that grease was sticking to my arteries as I was savoring the scrumptious crispy batter on my lovely white flakes of deep fried cod and I knew the butter melting through the white slice as the heat of the chips warmed up the bread was raising my cholesterol levels but Lord I enjoyed it. The big mug of tea washed all the fat away and left me feeling cleansed yet belt loosening full.

Posh Chips

The decor was, obviously, white tiles with a touch of seaside blue dado, a wall of blackboard for the menu, rickety wooden tables all stocked with the condiments you expect. HP Brown Sauce, Heinz Tomato sauce, salt and yes you've guessed it - vinegar. The glass counter had pickled onions and pickled eggs on offer in large glass jars. The only pretentious features of The Chippy in Hong Kong, which you don't often get in England, is the reading material provided for customers - The Sunday Times Magazine. The background music was BBC Radio 2 live, via the internet. All a bit posh frankly but it's what us expats expect these days!

Home Sweet Home

The whole experience made us feel comfortable and at home. The only bad thing was knowing we were in Central and had to travel an hour back to the tranquility of Sai Kung in rush hour. Once our clothes are washed and the smell of deep fried fat is removed we'll be fine.

I'll be running tonight to work off those calories.