Brixton Water Lane, old chip shop – and the Windrush ‘water feature’

[tarannau]

Yes, they make Chinese chips out of bamboo and those funny wide hats. And they just can't lay off the five spice either, which plays havoc with my vinegar.

Eh? They just cook or buy potato chips like everyone else.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yes, they make Chinese chips out of bamboo and those funny wide hats. And they just can't lay off the five spice either, which plays havoc with my vinegar.

Eh? They just cook or buy potato chips like everyone else.

No they don't. I don't know whether they used different oil or what, but I never liked them.

Funnily enough, nowadays I do, but I didn't then.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yes, they make Chinese chips out of bamboo and those funny wide hats. And they just can't lay off the five spice either, which plays havoc with my vinegar.

Eh? They just cook or buy potato chips like everyone else.

You're in a right grouchy mood today

 

[tarannau]

I was alive back then as well. There was no 'Chinese chip'oil that comes straight on the narrow boat from the River Kwai or wherever. Folks generally used the same suppliers and C&Cs then more than they even do now.

I'll admit to getting a bit peed off with bollocks like this (and 'Chinese restaurant sydrome' from MSG) at the time too. It was and is a load of betty swollocks.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I was alive back then as well. There was no 'Chinese chip'oil that comes straight on the narrow boat from the River Kwai or wherever. Folks generally used the same suppliers and C&Cs then more than they even do now.

I'll admit to getting a bit peed off with bollocks like this (and 'Chinese restaurant sydrome' from MSG) at the time too. It was and is a load of betty swollocks.

Why would Hong Kong Chinese use oil from a narrow boat from the River Kwai?

I happen to be very fond of Chinese, so I'm not slating the Chinese. Some of my best friends are Chinese. (OK, that's a little white lie). Their chips just tasted different. In fact, whenever I go to local Chinese, b/f asks for chips as he likes them from there, as do I.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I was alive back then as well.

Yeah, I know. You were in your 50s weren't you?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I think a poll is needed as to whether Chinese chips taste better than English chips.

I've done a bit of googling, and it seems I'm not the only person that thinks they're different.

Obviously it is a bit silly to order chips from a Chinese takeaway but if you have ever done so you will know that the Chinese have a secret magic recipe. Somehow their chips taste nicer than any others. I have no idea how they prepare them, and I have never thought to ask. Perhaps they cook them in a wok. Whatever it is they do, it elevates the chipped potato to a whole new level.

Other comments

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Food-and-Drink/Question56324.html


Sorry Editor, this should be on a separate thread shouldn't it

 

[tarannau]

I'm 344 actually. Confuscious says so

I think you should get that pyschosomatic taste problem sorted it though. Chinese take aways and chippies (and yes, like Mahasiko on these boards, I've got family who work in them) don't buy different types of oil and chips to 'native' chippies on the whole. The attraction of deep frying things simply in oil compared to the variety of an oriental menu is one of the main drivers for many Chinese taking over and outcompeting local chippies across the country

If anything, things have got more similar since the days of beef dripping finished - groundnut's the high temperature oil of choice in the main.

There is no 'Chinese' chip taste imo, nor was there ever likely to be.

 

[editor]

Mind you, there's always been a big difference between "traditional' fish and chops and some of the lesser stuff knocked out at restaurants and fast food joints, regardless of their ethnic background.

If it ain't wrapped up in an old newspaper and covered in vinegar, it's not proper chips in my world. And those little thin slithers posing as chips? nah!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Mind you, there's always been a big difference between "traditiona;' fish and chops and some of the lesser stuff knocked out at restaurants and fast food joints, regardless of their ethnic background.

If it ain't wrapped up in an old newspaper and covered in vinegar, it's not proper chips in my world. And those little thin slices? nah!

True, just take McDonald's shite as an example

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm 344 actually. Confuscious says so

I think you should get that pyschosomatic taste problem sorted it though. Chinese take aways and chippies (and yes, like Mahasiko on these boards, I've got family who work in them) don't buy different types of oil and chips to 'native' chippies on the whole. The attraction of deep frying things simply in oil compared to the variety of an oriental menu is one of the main drivers for many Chinese taking over and outcompeting local chippies across the country

If anything, things have got more similar since the days of beef dripping finished - groundnut's the high temperature oil of choice in the main.

There is no 'Chinese' chip taste imo, nor was there ever likely to be.

Maybe it was nothing to do with the taste and more to do with the texture. Chips from my local Chinese are crispy. Chips from other chippies I used at the time may have been the limp, soggy type which I may have liked then.

 

[tarannau]

Look Minnie. Once many Brits believed that curries mostly came with sultanas and that MSG in chinese food poisoned them in significant numbers too. The fact that there's collective myopia and occasionally widespread misguided beliefs doesn't point to the truth in any way

Some chinese chips may taste different in some places, just as chips in some old school chippies taste different to other chippies. The idea of a 'national' chip taste, particularly to a community as diverse and well established as the Chinese, seems more than a little ridiculous when you think about it.

 

[editor]

Look Minnie. Once many Brits believed that curries mostly came with sultanas and that MSG in chinese food poisoned them in significant numbers too. The fact that there's collective myopia and occasionally widespread misguided beliefs doesn't point to the truth in any way

Some chinese chips may taste different in some places, just as chips in some old school chippies taste different to other chippies. The idea of a 'national' chip taste, particularly to a community as diverse and well established as the Chinese, seems more than a little ridiculous when you think about it.

Can I just add this photo (found when looking for Chinese chips) on account that it is so weird?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm 344 actually. Confuscious says so



groundnut's the high temperature oil of choice in the main.

is that what English chippies use then?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Can I just add this photo (found when looking for Chinese chips) on account that it is so weird?

WTF's that, a memorial to all the dead he knows?

 

[tarannau]

Yes, and the ones run by Cypriots, halfbreeds and mongrels do too.

Or at least some of them do, iykwim

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yes, and the ones run by Cypriots, halfbreeds and mongrels do too.

Or at least some of them do, iykwim

You'd think they could use all the spare oil from the kebabs instead of forking out for more

 

[rioted]

If it ain't wrapped up in an old newspaper and covered in vinegar, it's not proper chips in my world.

You mean Non-Brewed Condiment from an oil refinery somewhere. Yuck!

 

[JWH]

Can you clarify who owned it please, as it's annoying me

No eye deer. I can send someone an email and see if they remember by any weird chance.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

No eye deer. I can send someone an email and see if they remember by any weird chance.

It's alright, I'm thinking of the one in BWL which was owned by HK Chinese, not the one Editor's posted up

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

If it ain't wrapped up in an old newspaper and covered in vinegar, it's not proper chips in my world. And those little thin slithers posing as chips? nah!

But you didn't mention whehter they be crispy chips or soggy, floppy chips?

 

[el-ahrairah]

The EP closed chippie is odd. When I first moved nearby I occasionally went to buy chips from there only to find it was closed. After this had happened enough that it occurred to me it might never be open, I peered through the windows and letterbox. Inside it's like a 70s chip shop, almost pristine. Yet... the front is 90s UPVC. And the bins outside are used. My conclusion is that someone lives there but doesn't use the chip shop for anything.

 

[billythefish]

The EP closed chippie is odd. When I first moved nearby I occasionally went to buy chips from there only to find it was closed. After this had happened enough that it occurred to me it might never be open, I peered through the windows and letterbox. Inside it's like a 70s chip shop, almost pristine. Yet... the front is 90s UPVC. And the bins outside are used. My conclusion is that someone lives there but doesn't use the chip shop for anything.

Do you mean the Sea Fresh cafe in Elm Park? It's in scaffolding now, so something's up... curious to know what it will be as I miss the convenience of having that there. We used to take our pie and chips into the Elm Park Tavern with us.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Do you mean the Sea Fresh cafe in Elm Park? It's in scaffolding now, so something's up... curious to know what it will be as I miss the convenience of having that there. We used to take our pie and chips into the Elm Park Tavern with us.

No, EFFRA PARADE

Elm Park's been shut for ages. It had gone downhill so not a huge loss

 

[Badgers]

Brixton Water Lane, old chip shop – and the Windrush ‘water feature’

Do you mean Elvis Presley?

 

[Planty]

I used to go to the chippy in the 80's. Was really good. Shit, how old am I?

The fountain is lovely - particularly the rainbows - but I'm not sure the brickwork will stand the water soaking in like that. Seems like a dodgy design to me.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Do you mean Elvis Presley?

or Elvis Parsley even?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Anyway, I think the fountain looks shite.

We should have had a dancing style fountain that kids can play in

 

[Winot]

The kids of chip shop owners by the looks of things.

 

[komodo]

the photo is of the one in Effra Parade the chips weren''t bad. Its been closed years but left in a Marie Celeste type condition. Even had an aspidistra in there taht I used to worry about. It was used in at least one film - Buster - i believe.