Abu Dhabi The Reem Island Chippy serves up an authentic chip shop experience in Abu Dhabi
By Andrew Scott – The National
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he long-awaited Chippy on Reem Island has finally opened, with its promise of an authentic UK fishand-chip-shop experience. I went to The Chippy with a degree of trepidation as I find that many of the chippies in the UAE offer a product and an ambience that are aw atered-down version of what’s served back home. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’m eating fish and chips in sunshine and in shorts, or that the potatoes or fish aren’t even from the UK in most cases, but the experience is nearly always, as I’m sure Douglas Adams would have said, “almost, but not quite, entirely unlike fish and chips”. If you don’t understand the place of and love for fish and chips in British culture, consider there are about 10,500 specialist fish and chip shops in the UK, compared with 1,200 McDonalds and 840 KFCs.
Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • April 2020
Before I go on, when I say chips, I mean British chips – sort of French fries with attitude – deep-fried, serious oblongs of potato with no regard for calorie count or waistline. There really is no comparison between a fast-food French fry and British chippy chip. Hence my concerns at the opening of an outlet with claims of British authenticity. Those concerns were somewhat allayed when I looked at the menu – these people obviously knew what an authentic chippy offers. I also learnt that the restaurant sources its potatoes from Ireland, and its fish from Scotland and Northern Ireland, to further its promise of the full British experience. My eye was immediately drawn to the chip butty sitting proudly in the middle of the menu (this is a chip sandwich made with buttered white bread, and plenty of salt and vinegar), as well as curry sauce and gravy. The Chippy also offers brown sauce. My traditionalist side won out, though, and I ordered the battered cod, chips and mushy peas. Known as the Chippy special
Chippy Chat & Fast Food Magazine • April 2020
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