Three is the Magic Number!
Top 3 off to London for The National Fish & Chip Award’s Field to Frier Category
By Austen Dack
The National Fish and Chip Awards had named the top 10 finalists for its Field to Frier category, it has since undergone two more rounds and been whittled down to just three. The Field to Frier category is sponsored by Isle of Ely Produce, who are responsible for supplying over 2 million bags of potatoes into the fish and chip industry every year. They have been joined this year as an award partner by the Agrico variety Babylon. Babylon is a relatively new variety that has been trialled at fish and chip shops across the UK with great success over the last two years.
The top three business shortlisted are:
Pier Point Fish & Chips, Torquay
Fiddlers Elbow Fish & Chips, Leintwardine
The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum
We luck forward to seeing all three shops in London next month and handing over the winner’s baton from Fish & Chips @ Weston Grove on the day.
Alex Moore Sales Manager for Agrico said: “We have been working with Isle of Ely and Chippy Chat to champion best practice in regard to new varieties. Babylon is one variety which has already tested well in chippies across the UK. We are thrilled to be a co-sponsor of the Field to Frier Award at the 2023 National Fish & Chip Awards and wish all of the three shops the best of luck. We also look forward to working with all of the Top Ten shops and sending them some Babylon to trial.”
Commenting on the news, Andrew Crook, President at the NFFF, comments “We received such a high standard of applications this year, many have come from their attendance at the annual Isle of Ely Open Day where they learn so much about how to choose, store and fry potatoes so we’re thrilled to see so many were shortlisted from across the country, and now the final 3. Congratulations & good luck to everyone involved!”
Isle of Ely Director Oliver Boutwood said: “This award is crucial for us to help educate shops on the basics of how to get the most from their potato supplies. Knowing about which varieties suit them best (this changes by geographic area), how to store and treat the potatoes and also making the best chips from what is available at every given time will help us all to serve great chips every time.”
The National Fish & Chip Awards are hosted by The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF), on the 28th of February 2023 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Seafood from Norway are the overall sponsor of the awards.
They will be presented by TV presenter and comic Jason Manford. For further information on the National Fish and Chip Awards 2023 including how to buy tickets, please visit: www.thefishandchipawards.com
About the Awards
The National Fish and Chip Awards is the largest UK-wide event dedicated to raising standards across the industry whilst supporting fish and chip related businesses. For more than 30 years, the awards have celebrated the nation’s favourite dish, while championing the eclectic eateries that hold up this loved British tradition.
Comments