The Frenchmark

By Austen Dack

Babylon Fried by Century Old Shop

Isle of Ely Produce have been promoting a new Chip Ambassador role to promote the great British Chip in association with Agrico. The aim will be to carry on the good work promoting chipping potatoes at their hugely successful open days, and through the ‘Field to Frier’ award.

The Chip Ambassadors will become part of an UK wide group of shop owners and fryers who will promote best practice for potato buying, storing, and of course frying. The chain will also include key growers too like PJ Lee & Sons, and A. L. Lee Farming Company, as IOE looks to nurture the relationships they have grown across the whole supply chain during the last twenty years.

Agrico have partnered with Isle of Ely Produce to bring two new varieties into the trade initially via our Chip Ambassadors. The two varieties Babylon and Lugano will be sampled at some of these ambassadors to back up the results of early trial successes.

This month I visited French’s Fish & Chips in Wells Next to Sea. I met with owner Marcus French ahead of a busy Friday shift. It is a big year for Marcus and the team, as they are celebrating 100 years of fish and chips in the town a massive achievement over seen by Marcus for over a third of this tally! French’s is one of the best fish and chip shops in the UK and very much a destination shop for over 50 miles around.

Armed with some pre-cut Babylon I gave them to Marcus to fry alongside some Maris Piper. Their Florigo range, is equipped to cope with a very busy seaside queue, and was ready for the expectant deluge of customers already starting to gather outside as we arrived pre-opening.

Once cooked and plated, both myself and my wife Sarah tucked into some Babylon chips with some fantastic FAS

cod. Marcus too tried some chips. He was impressed by the fry colour, crisp outside and size of the sample. He also said that they compared really well to his usual supply of piper, and he would look out for Babylon next season for use in his shop.

It was so good to see Marcus and his team in action. Quality and a consistent product has kept people coming to French’s for over 100 years now, something that Marcus is keen to continue with daughter Alana taking over as shop manager, with him continuing as MD.

Oliver Boutwood Isle of Ely Director says. “It’s good to hear a shop of French’s calibre like the all-round good characteristics of Babylon. We are pleased with this partnership between Agrico IOE and chip shop owners.”

Alex Moore, Agrico UK Sales Manager said: “We are thrilled to be working closely with Isle of Ely Produce & the Chip Ambassadors to launch two exciting new varieties. As a business we are always trying to breed better tasting and more sustainable potato varieties.”

Chip shop owners already signed as Chip Ambassadors for Isle of Ely Produce include Colin Cromer – The Fish Hoose, Kerry Brennan – Golden Union, David Henley – Henley’s, Richard Ord Jr – Colmans, Eric Snaith – Eric’s, Kelly & Tim Barnes – Krispies, Lauren Kellaway – Kellaways, Charlie Collins – Frydales, Fred Capel- Chez Fred, Matt & Ashley Phillips – Shap Chippy, Malachy Mallon The Dolphin Takeaway, Richard Foster – Fish and Chips at Weston Grove, Emir Hikary – Hiks, Alan Shillingford – Shillingfords, Gregg Howard The Chip Shed, Ian Wallis Henry’s Hunstanton, John Hudgell Pimp my Fish, The Petrou Brothers, Marcus French, and Sarah Heward – The Real Food Café.

We will be featuring Babylon and Lugano reviews in the coming months. Email austen@chippychat.co.uk if you would like to try them for yourselves.