FISH AND CHIPS

Not surprisingly given my slightly obscure food tastes, one of my go-to choices in pubs and restaurants is often fish and chips. And given many years experience in many parts of Australia and overseas, I confess that I'm a picky fish and chipper. Good crunchy batter. Delicate fish. Tartare sauce with some oomph. Lots of salt. No vinegar, And hot, crisp but not hard chips.

When we moved into Willagee I was pleased to spot a fish and chippery in our little shopping centre. Unfortunately, its turned out to be a disappointment. Apparently the owners have been there for 25 years or more and I don't think the outside or the inside of the shop have changed over that time. While the fish is acceptable, they do a strange crumbed covering rather than a good batter.

Luckily, 7 minutes drive away in Attadale, there's Redfish Fish, Chips and Grill. It doesn't work for me for take away because by the time the chips get home after a 3 kilometre drive, they won't be perfectly hot but there have tables and chairs in a room surrounded by fishing gear and photos of the old Fremantle Fishing Harbour. And to make the experience even better, the place doesn't reek of cooking oil and one can BYO wine. 


The best fish and chip takeaway I've had in Perth has sadly disappeared due to the ongoing development along Cottesloe Beach. In 2023 we came back for a visit and stayed, for part of the time, in John Curtin's house in Jarrad St, Cottesloe. This made it easy to nip down for a swim and pick up some fish and chips on the way home. It felt rather special to be eating them in an ex-Prime Minister's lounge room.

Cottesloe Beach - 2023



Cottesloe fish trying to escape

The worst fish & chips in the last 12 months have been at either end of the universe - the fish market in Bergen, Norway and at a cafe in City Beach, Perth. Watery semi-thawed fish with tastless batter. Life's too short to eat that type of food. Instead, I'll just remember the fish & chips we had on a rainy day in Dingle, Ireland where the fish had been caught that morning by the cafe owner's husband. Perfection.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

VALE INDIGO

Image
Today, we sent our companion of nearly 17 years, Indigo, across the rainbox bridge. That's a phrase a friend uses when you have to say goodbye to a pet. With the help of a gentle vet, we put Indigo to sleep.  She's been an indoor cat all her life and apart from a couple of weeks, most of it has been spent within the confines of the Pink House. We knew that it was going to be a risk disrupting the life of a cat who in human terms was in her 80s. She's had more homes in the last couple of months than in her entire life. First there was Glenlyon Rd, then a 4 hour flight to Perth, a short stay in South Fremantle, a longer stay in Loch St and 10 days in the Furbaby Retreat while Susan and I were at the Port Fairy Folk Festival. We were open to the fact that she might not survive the transition and even said so to the vet when we went for her "Fit to Fly" certificate. But it's one thing to say it and another to face up to it. The lovely owner of the Furbaby Retreat ...
Read more

FARWELL TO THE PINK HOUSE

Image
Susan and I decided to say 'goodbye' to 14 Ward Grove, Pascoe Vale South by sharing the moment with friends. Although the house was full of packed boxes, we invited people over to say farewell...and take a momento. We both made bold decisions about art and craft that had been part of our lives for years. For example, I'd had a Gustav Klimt print hanging on various bedroom walls since the 1970s. A tea pot I'd bought from a ceramist in Canberra last century. A Boda vase that I'd been given. There were smaller pieces from ceramic pots to glassware, vases, both antique and modern, knick knacks from all over the world, and even hats. And in contemplating a new home, we needed to leave some space for new acquisitions. This was a clean out where we knew each piece was going to bring pleasure to someone else and so it was much easier to let it go. Debora, Glenda, Jesse, Murray & Loretta Kath, Susan & Julie Gemma, Pam, Dale & David
Read more

THE ROAD TO HELL

Image
The key reason for going to Melbourne this time was to see the musical  Hadestown .  It was created by the singer/songwriter Anais Mitchell in the 2000s but it feels very ‘of the moment’. The Australian production is the original Broadway show recreated by Opera Australia with Australian singers/performers/musicians who are, in my opinion, even more skilled than those I’ve listened to on the Broadway and West End soundtracks. The story is of Orpheus, the musician, and his love Eurydice. It’s a story of gods oppressing mortals. It’s a story of the power of art. It’s a Greek myth  that’s inspired operas and novels, poems and films. My favourite TV series of last year Kaos  also featured this story. Two of my favourite retellings are poems. There’s an exquisite moment of deep hurt in Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem  Orpheus, Eurydice, Hermes . Orpheus travels to the underworld to rescue Eurydice. After using music to soften the heart of the god Hades, he’s allowed to tak...
Read more