Posted on June 5th, 2024 by Ronel
Surprisingly, it was not Britain but Portugal that introduced fish and chips. Seven centuries later, two Greeks in South Africa revitalised this iconic dish. Their ideas and enthusiasm, backed by their mother’s culinary skills, were the seeds that would eventually germinate into a seafood restaurant franchise destined to span the globe.
Chefs have varying ideas about how to produce the perfect chip. Most agree they are best fried twice, first at a lower temperature to ensure the potato is thoroughly cooked before heating it to a higher temperature to form the crispy outer layer. On the other hand, when buying fish and chips in Birmingham and the Black Country, the chips are more likely to be served in a crispy orange batter coloured with paprika or turmeric.
The French and Belgians claim that nothing compares with their skinny, unbending pommes frites, a somewhat stiffer version of the American French fries that now pass for chips in most burger joints. More recently, novelty versions like waffle fries, curly fries, potato wedges and sweet potato chips have found a place on some menus.
Understandably, the Ocean Basket chefs are not keen to reveal how they create their version of the perfect chip, but there is no secret about the fish component of this iconic duo. In this case, the keys to perfection are freshness and quality. Every piece of seafood served at Ocean Basket has been sourced from ethical and sustainable fisheries and rushed to the restaurant with minimal delay.
Although most Brits will be familiar with hake, the species caught in the North Sea, Baltic and North Atlantic are distinctly different from those that inhabit the warmer waters around the southern tip of Africa. The appropriately named Cape hake is renowned throughout the world for its firmly textured white flesh and delicate taste.
Cape hake is featured extensively on the Ocean Basket menu as part of the seafood Platter for Two, as well as the Family Platter and Full Deck Platter. This delicious fish is also available as a combo with calamari, the contents of a fish burger, or the OB version of fish and chips. This portion includes a fillet of succulent Cape hake and has quickly become an all-time favourite with the locals of Bromley and Kingston upon Thames.
Ultimately, customers always have plenty of choice at an Ocean Basket seafood restaurant. Some diners prefer to stick to what they know and are reserved about trying new dishes. OB offers them the option to pair cod, haddock or even grilled Scottish salmon with their chips.
Anyway, who says fish and chips must always be served together? The following are other tasty ways in which Ocean Basket combines chipped potatoes with seafood:
For fish, chips, or both, an Ocean Basket restaurant combines high-quality, Mediterranean-style seafood dishes with friendly service in a relaxed environment ideal for individuals, families, and party groups. So, why not click here to book a table and join the OB family in Bromley or Kingston upon Thames?
