Tom Kerridge defends his £35 fish and chips
The TV chef claims fish served in chip shops is sometimes up to a year old.
Tom Kerridge has claimed that fish served in traditional fish and chip shops can be up to a year old when it is served.
The TV chef — who runs his own fish and chip restaurant in London department store Harrods — defended his £35 price tag for the traditional British dish, which has been heavily criticised since it opened in 2021 amid the rising cost of living crisis.
Kerridge, 49, told the Radio Times: "Fish and chips was always seen as cheap, fast food and I get that because of where I grew up.
Read more: Tom Kerridge: 'Liam Gallagher should be Prime Minister'
"The fish in most chippies is frozen at sea, in a big block, a year ago, then cut up and portioned.
"The potatoes are maybe four weeks old, have gone through a chipper, been cleaned and put into cheap oil. They’re wrapped in paper, with malt vinegar and salt.
"I love it, but at Harrods it’s line-caught, day-boat turbot. The potatoes are specifically sourced for their sugar and starch content, then individually cut up by a person."
Speaking about the disapproval he receives for charging £35 at his fish and chip restaurant he said: "I’ve learnt to deal with it.
Read more: Tom Kerridge defends 'easily justifiable' £32.50 charge for fish and chips
"I’m seen as a man of the people, so when I put fish and chips on for £35, they shout at me for it being expensive. But the people criticising me don’t understand how it’s priced."
Kerridge worked as a child actor after attending theatre school and appeared in an episode of Miss Marple in 1991.
He then developed a love for cook and trained at culinary school aged 18.
Kerridge earned his first Michelin star after opening his first pub the Hand & Flowers with his wife Beth Cullen-Kerridge in 2005.
He rose to fame after competing as a chef on the Great British Menu in 2010 and is now a judge on the BBC food show.
He has hosted many of his own series including Tom Kerridge's Proper Pub Food and Sunday Lunch.
When he turned 40 the father-of-one embarked on a healthy lifestyle regime, taking up swimming and developing his won 'Dopamine diet' which involves cutting out alcohol and carbs and eating smaller, regular portions of food rich in dairy to boost the happy hormone Dopamine.
Read more: Tom Kerridge slams 'horrific, gut wrenching' racist trolls who targeted Marcus Rashford
He has presented several shows about weight loss including Tom Kerridge's Lose Weight for Good.
Watch: Tom Kerridge reveals the childhood meal that got him into cooking
