Culinary delights of the West Midlands

[2002EarlMarischal]

Ay up!

As fish is fried in batter, little bits of the batter detach themselves from the main body and cook on their own. These are then scooped up and, in civilised places, are offered as an accompaniement to the main event. Provided the fat is clean, they are crisp and tasty - the best part of fish and chips IMHO.

Ask any Yorkshireman!

Thanks for the explanation BB! Now I'm feeling hungry again!

[strang steel]

I remember the bags of broken crisps for a penny in our neck of the woods (Stevenage), too. And the 'bits', 'scraps', etc., we knew as 'scrumps'.

I find it fascinating how these terms vary around the country, along with the culinary delights. I dont remember too many fish cakes being sold in chippys around where I lived but if they were, they would be fish mixed up with mashed potato and a bit of parsley for good measure then battered and deep fried.

I bought some fishcakes in Bakewell once and was amazed to find that they were large objects with a piece of fish sandwiched between two layers of mashed potato. I had never come across that before, but assume it is a North Midlands delicacy.

[Mickey]

Wot food is associated with the west Midlands out of interest?.

Come on i feel like a laugh!!.

[Blink Bonny]

I remember the bags of broken crisps for a penny in our neck of the woods (Stevenage), too. And the 'bits', 'scraps', etc., we knew as 'scrumps'.

I find it fascinating how these terms vary around the country, along with the culinary delights. I dont remember too many fish cakes being sold in chippys around where I lived but if they were, they would be fish mixed up with mashed potato and a bit of parsley for good measure then battered and deep fried.

I bought some fishcakes in Bakewell once and was amazed to find that they were large objects with a piece of fish sandwiched between two layers of mashed potato. I had never come across that before, but assume it is a North Midlands delicacy.

Ay up!

SS, it would seem that you are used to what we know in Yorkshire as Scones. Only found around Keighley but sadly no longer. I sed to like them meself, but I've never been fond of the Spud Sandwich, found all over Yorkshire.

As to grub associated with the West Midlands, it seems to be mostly inedible, though doubtless Mrs BB will have summat to say about that! Owzabout Faggots (Pork Meatballs to the unititiated) with Mushy Peas and Gravy?

[Mickey]

Yeah not bad BB Meatballs are fairly tasty.

In the Midlands you can still get a nice drop of Mild beer which has vanished down in London Town for the last 25-30 years mores the pity cos i use to like the odd glass of Mild.

[strang steel]

Well, I will have to don my tin hat because I know that I am going to upset someone (sorry in advance), but whenever I hear of a regional dish it always seems to be later claimed by Yorkshire as original from there.

I was assured that parkin (the cake-like substance, not the authority on Mk1 coaches) was originally from the West Midlands by a person whose family had made it there for generations.

Someone also told me of a Black Country food called lubby (or at least that is how I think the spelling goes), which is basically just another variation on hotpot, where old bits of certain meat joints are simmered in a pot with whatever veg has been left over from previous meals. It tasted lovely, but then this kind of concoction was probably cooked by everyone in the past, irrespective of where they lived.

[Mickey]

Lubby sounds like some dish that the barge folk would cook up on there narrow boats and there was plenty of canals around Birmingham and the west Midlands.

[strang steel]

I have been on a narrowboat through certain West Midlands canals Micky, and it is not something I would wish to repeat in a hurry. This is mainly because we suddenly became targets for idiots firing air rifles somewhere in the vicinity of Wolverhampton.

We beat a hasty retreat up the Staffs & Worcester towards Cannock.

[Mickey]

I have been on a narrowboat through certain West Midlands canals Micky, and it is not something I would wish to repeat in a hurry. This is mainly because we suddenly became targets for idiots firing air rifles somewhere in the vicinity of Wolverhampton.

We beat a hasty retreat up the Staffs & Worcester towards Cannock.

Yeah i can imagine John especially passing through the built up inner city area of Birmingham and Wolverhampton once your out in the open country it isn't to bad although you've still got to be on the look out.

[strang steel]

The great thing about canals is that they do follow or cross the railways in many places, so they are good for watching modern day plastic going by.

Mind you, I was so concerned that day that I found a nice stretch of wide canal surrounded by green fields and moored up on the opposite bank to the towpath for the night, then made sure everything was firmly locked up.

[52D]

BBs scones in South Yorks would be 'cakes short for fishcakes consisting of two slabs of potato with flaked fish between them and battered. My Northeast understanding of fishcakes is a mixture of mashed potato and fish either breadcrumbed and fried or deep fried, this to a South Yorkshireman would be a rissole.

[strang steel]

Well now you are really getting down to basics.

My understanding of a rissole was something similar to a burger but with meat potatoes and cooked veg all fried in an circular fashion.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Different names for the same thing, really. I know 'em as Scones in Keighley but nowhere does 'em now. They're all doing spud butties.

Owzabout a Meat Pie Floater. Like a Pork Pie but made with a mixture of pork and beef dropped in a dish of mushy peas.

Can't abide mushies but I'd kill for the meat pie!

[Mickey]

My understanding of a rissole was something similar to a burger but with meat potatoes and cooked veg all fried in an circular fashion.

Yep i use to virtually live off BIRDS EYE RISSOLES back in the early 1970s.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Of course we've completely ignored the Indian takeaways here.

The Balti was invented in Birmingham.

The Biryani and Bhuna from Bradford.

The Madras from Manchester.

The Korma is from London.

The only "Traditional" Indian dish on many Indian restaurant takeaways is the Vindaloo, invented in India to take the wee-wee out of drunken English army officers who were offensive to the waiter. If you say "Find a loo" with an Indian accent, the derivation of the name becomes clear.....