One of the most loved British dishes of all time is good old fish and chips. Trying to find a gluten free version of this requires a bit of hunting and usually some research.
A lot of fish and chip shops out there will have a gluten free day, which is the day of the week that they change their oil over, and so serve gluten free fish that one day before reverting back to normal and contaminating it all with horrible gluten.
(Some 'normal' people out there may have noticed that every now and then their fish tastes different...this is why, you've gone on a gluten free day!)
Now this is fantastic if you have a local fish and chip shop and aren't fussed about which day you eat it, but is no good for random fancies for the fried food, or forays into unknown places on your holidays.
I've found a few fish and chip places which serve it every day, haven't made me ill (and so I assume have good practice for avoiding contamination) and are also delicious! I'd like to share these places with you.
Firstly, my most recent discovery;
Vinegar Jones
Bowness-on-Windermere, UK
Very close to the lake, this fish and chip shop has a lot of options. They serve gluten free fish and chips every day, which is superb, and they even have gluten free vinegar which a lot of places don't have. They have a dine-in option for a bit extra, but we opted for take-away.
It was very busy, but despite this, service was quite fast and was with a smile. I'd definitely go here again! Please note that they don't take cards, so visit a cash machine first.
It was very busy, but despite this, service was quite fast and was with a smile. I'd definitely go here again! Please note that they don't take cards, so visit a cash machine first.
Secondly, for fish and chips by the sea;
Wolfies of Hove
Hove, UK
Similar to the last place, this fish and chip shop caters every day for the gluten free. They too have gluten free vinegar and the fish and chips were cooked to perfection. So delicious! They have a variety of different fish you can request, which I liked as I'm conscious about over-fishing of certain species, so I could choose a fish which wasn't under threat (although all of their fish is sustainable). They also use local potatoes for their chips to keep the food miles down. They only take cash here too, but there is a machine in Hove railway station which is just up the road.
Thirdly, a bit different, this isn't a take-away, but a pub.
Bartons Mill
Basingstoke, UK
This pub is in a gorgeous setting. They have their own lake and pond, with plenty of outdoor seating as well as cosy inside seating with their fireplace burning away in the colder weather. This is a very different venue compared to my other mentions, as it's dine-in instead of take-away, but definitely worth a mention as it's very tasty. They have a whole separate menu for gluten free diners, and seem to be knowledgeable about contamination. They do both gluten and gluten free fish and chips, so make sure you say gluten free when ordering. The fish is also dairy free, and the tartar sauce is dairy free too. They also come with homemade minted mushy peas. I don't usually like mushy peas, or minted peas, but these were yummy. :) This pub also has an area for formal dining, I can imagine it would be lovely for a wedding reception.
