literally another aussie in london

chicken, chips & all that shit

There is no real reason for this, but for some reason I had myself convinced that London was the home of roast chicken and chips.

On my first trip here I don’t remember having them at all.

But the first thing I wanted after 30 hours of not sleeping was bit of roast chicken and chips from a take away place.

My guide, seeing my desperation, said no problem, I was assured chicken surrounded us on every corner.

Unfortunately there was a cultural misunderstanding.

Chicken and chips in London means fried chicken.

If you want fried chicken there is a place on every corner.

KFC and I have never got along, it’s like a sick substitute for real chicken, like ordering winona ryder and getting phoebe cates.

I love the way it sweats in a bag you see (chicken not winona), and you can’t get that at a pub.

After 5 weeks I had given up on roast chicken and chips in a bag, and when I lost that dream, a little piece of me died.

Then one day at my local fish and chip shop, one I had somehow not eaten at, and there just behind the counter, hidden under a plastic container I saw chicken, real roasted chicken, just innocently sitting there under a sign that said 3.40.

So I asked the guy about his chicken and chips, was it indeed, non fried.

Yes, Yes, 3.40.

So I told him my little story, and he was thrilled I wanted roasted not fried, and we got talking about the history of chicken and chips in this country, as only an Australian and an Asian man.

He said roast chicken and chips was an institution in this country.

Then those bastards KFC came here and they ruined it for everyone.

Now instead of having roast chicken, everyone has fried chicken, at least that’s what Mr Dandy said.

Such a shame.

September 22, 2008 - Posted by Jrod | living in london | fast food, food