Opened up over the last few months, Nanjing’s latest attempt at the British staple Fish’n’Chips is bang on the money, in some ways at least.
Benny Teddy have gone to great lengths to project an air of British authenticity, going so far as to suggest they have shops in London, Manchester, Sheffield and Swansea, “since 1860”. Truth be told, Google has never heard of Benny Teddy. There’s even a hilarious video on the Benny Teddy WeChat account with a non-native speaker trying to copy the voice of Come Dine With Me, and very badly too.
If there is anything to convince that this is indeed a British firm that has opened up shop in China, it is the taste and quality of the fish itself; 100 percent pure sea cod, in crispy batter, identical to that found back in Blighty. Elsewhere on the menu (it’s fish and seafood only) are to be found interesting local offerings all given a good battering, such as fish balls and shrimps with heads, tails and all.
As for the chips, we can hardly expect the same welcoming stodge of home, but thankfully Benny Teddy are not insulting us by presenting French Fries. Something in the middle is the compromise and they happily come with a dusting of paprika. Yet, the salt is missing and so is the vinegar. In their place however, are five different kinds of sauces; tomato ketchup is complimented by honey and mustard mayonnaise, Australian spicy mayonnaise, Thousand Island Dressing and Berlin sweet mayonnaise.
And yes, they ARE served up in newspaper! But it’s fake newspaper, especially printed for the enterprise, adorned with headlines from the wonderful world of chips, and stories of the cultural associations with being an island, from a culinary perspective, that is. No soggy mess too, the paper is thick enough to be formed into a robust cone from which one can snack while staring at the big screen, in the case that you have purchased from the New City Mall location.
But alas, no mushy peas, deep fried sausages, gravy, curry sauce, black pudding or haggis. What is wrong with this world? Find Benny Teddy Fish & Chips in The Central (Xinjiekou), Aqua City, New City Mall (Hexi) and Raydu Mall (Jiangning). Additional locations in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Yangzhou.
