Batter Up Trivia Quiz

Answer: Water, flour, baking soda, and vinegar

Water and flour are mixed together to make the batter. Baking soda and vinegar are added to create bubbles in the mixture. Instead of water, beer can be used to make beer-battered fish. Adding beer makes the batter look more orange, and different types of beer result in different tastes.

Answer: Triggerfish

Cod can be found in shops in many countries, but halibut is more common in America than in Britain. In Australia and New Zealand, shark meat might be battered and served up with chips instead. Triggerfish aren't normally seen on chip shop menus - if at all. Depending on factors like size and species, they can be poisonous, so some people avoid eating them altogether.

Answer: Soft and thick

Chips in Britain are different to chips in the USA. They are more like fries, but the potato is usually cut into thicker strips. Traditionally, salt and vinegar are poured over the chips to add flavour. They are made with white potatoes and are soft on the inside.

There are disputes over who opened the first fish and chip shop in Britain. In 1863, one Lancashire establishment claimed to be the first fish and chip shop in the world. In 1860, however, a fish and chip shop was opened in Cleveland Street in London.

Answer: They are soaked in water, rinsed, and simmered with sugar and salt.

Mushy peas are a thick, green mash. Dried marrowfat peas are soaked in a baking soda and water mixture overnight. After being rinsed, they are simmered with salt and sugar.

Fish and chips became increasingly popular throughout the 19th century. The development of the railways and steam trains allowed fish to be transported away from coastal areas, to be enjoyed by people living further inland.

Answer: Curry sauce

The curry sauce is made with minced onion and a blend of spices. European empire-building from the sixteenth century onwards led to the discovery of different spices and ingredients that were taken back to Asia and included in curry recipes. Today, curries are known for their chili content, but until chilies were discovered and imported from South America, south Asian recipes relied on local ingredients like ginger and turmeric.

Answer: Gravy

Gravy is a popular accompaniment to chips in the north of England. Fish and chips as a meal was seen as such a staple of British cuisine, that it was one of the few foods that was not rationed during World War II. It was thought that limiting the ingredients would affect morale. During the D-Day landings, soldiers would say 'fish' to each other. If 'chips' was the reply, they knew they had found an ally.

Answer: Salt

Salt has been used for seasoning and preserving food for a long time. Ancient Egyptians used salt to preserve their abundant supply of fish. They collected it from shoreline salt flats or by evaporating water.

Salt was also used in mummification to dry out the body. Salted food was left in tombs for the deceased to eat in the afterlife.

Answer: Chips between two slices of bread to make a sandwich.

A chip butty is a sandwich with a filling of chips. They are often served in British chip shops, sometimes under other names like 'chip sarnie' or 'chip roll'. The slices of bread usually have a generous helping of butter on either side. Condiments like ketchup or vinegar can be added for flavouring, too.

Answer: Scotland

The Carron Fish Bar in Stonehaven, Scotland, considers itself to be the birthplace of the deep-fried Mars bar. The Mars bar is covered in batter that is normally used on the fish. It began as a novelty snack, but has grown in popularity since the 1990s.

In 2012, the chocolate company, Mars, claimed that it could not endorse the product because it was contradictory to their 'healthy lifestyle' policy.

Answer: Newspaper

Fish and chips used to be wrapped up in newspaper so that customers could carry their food out of the shop. Most establishments no longer use newspaper for hygiene reasons. Instead, plain paper, cardboard boxes, or polystyrene trays are normally used. Sometimes the paper is printed on the outside to look like newspaper. Chip shops provide little wooden or plastic forks to eat with, too.