Rum & Dal

So we’ve been in Melbourne for 16 months and are yet to have ourselves decent fish n chips.
The quest started a week after we landed here, many chippies were sampled but always failed scoring 1/5. Main reason for the rejection was the batter quality and the use of frozen chips with lemon as apposed to salt and finger. Criminal offence.

Us Brits have a set criteria when we’re abroad, alcohol, tea, fish n chips and someone who appreciates the British sense of humour.

Our dear friends Kate and Gerald, who are born again Brits from East London were very exited when telling us about there experience at a fish n chip shop that they came across in Brighton. (Melbourne also has a Brighton not quite as forward and extravagant, if you know what I mean

So to set the scene… it was a beautiful sunny day, Dal and I walked down to the station to meet Kate and G. We were early so we ducked into the near by pub (Young and Jackson) for a quick pint, as you do and were soon in the mood for a greasy fish n chip, lovely jubbly.

Took the train down to Brighton, if it wasn’t a Sunday Dal and I would have taken our hip flasks, oh well next time. Once in Brighton Kate took us to the chippy via the scenic route, Beautiful houses, lovely lush gardens, automatic gates, definitely dream homes for us.

The chippy wasn’t much to look at but it certainly had that well used look which can only be a good sign of tasty fish n chips. We received our fish n chips in a cardboard tray wrapped in paper the smell was just like home. As soon as we got ours we ripped through the paper to reveal a lovely golden battered fish and freshly peeled cut chips. So they certainly looked the part and They tasted like home too. All four of us had a smile from ear to ear, even the weather felt the need to accommodate as it started raining, we could have been sitting in Brighton, UK.

Freshly cut potatoes, fried and served with salt and vinegar! Yes, it sounds easy but they use frozen chips over here and they have white vinegar instead of malt vinegar! The fish wasn’t cod but was good never the less. Batter was nice and it wasn’t too greasy.

Stuffed and happy we moved to a ‘romantic’ walk along the beach in the rain, which was picking up by now and soon pouring. Brollies were out, the beach was totally empty and even the colourful little beach huts were shut tight. Looking behind was a beautiful view of the city but unfortunately we all forgot to bring a cameras! We continued the walk back to the station through the expensive rows of housing, only to find a bra on one of the street corners… what’s that say about Brighton hey?

Final stop was a beautiful cafe where we enjoyed dessert and a cuppa. Gerard and I made the wise choice and opted for scones. Dal went for a Chocolate Truffle and Ice cream (which she had some serious difficultly with), while Kate had a lemon tart and mint salad (the mint salad was two pieces of tangerine in a mint dressing)!

Thanks to G and Kate for the lovely day out. We have decided to follow your trend and get a Sunday saver pass and explore every Sunday. For $2.90 it’s an absolute bargain.

Flatheads Brighton (fish n chip shop) has easily scored 3.5/5 and is definitely worth visiting. So where can this chippy be found? Flatheads Brighton, 230 The Esplanade, Brighton.

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