8th February 2010

National Chip Week 15-21 February

Now in its 19th year, National Chip Week is organised by the Potato Council to promote home-grown spuds. Over a quarter of the country’s potatoes are made into chips, with the fish and chips shop sector alone worth £1.2b accounting for 13% of the entire UK crop.

With 2010 being a particularly special year for the fish and chip industry – it is said that the country’s first fish and chip shop was opened 150 years ago by one Joseph Malin in Cleveland Street, London – why not benefit from the extensive media coverage and participate in National Chip Week yourself?

Last year over 800 fish and chips shops actively participated in National Chip Week and this year will see similar sizzling activity up and down the land.

For example, Eddie Gilbert's, the award-winning fishmonger in Ramsgate, Kent that recently opened a fish and chip shop (and 50-seater gourmet fish restaurant,) will be giving away a free portion of chips with every large portion of fish bought from the chippie during National Chip Week.

According to Eddie Gilbert’s Michelin-trained chef Craig Mather, the art of cooking the perfect chip is to “Fry quality potatoes with a low moisture content, in small quantities, in beef dripping at a consistent temperature.” That said, the establishment also offers customers the choice of fish and chips cooked in vegetable oil.

For details of National Chip Week visit www.lovechips.co.uk