Chip shop offers healthy alternatives to greasy fish supper

Published on Monday 26 July 2010 12:42

FOR generations it was a straight choice between a cod or haddock supper - with the only decision being whether to add salt and sauce.

But now one ambitious chippy has brought the ultimate in chic fast-food cuisine to the Lothians.

For starters, at The Tower in Penicuik you can choose between sea bass, salmon, and tilapia, either lightly battered or breaded.

And in place of dousing the fish into a vat of bubbling grease, the customer's choice will be gently eased into a coal-fired oven.

&#149 Would you be tempted by a healthier version of the traditional fish supper? Vote here

Owner Domenico Pia, 30, and his team said they took a chance when they broke from tradition but have tempted many new and old customers with their unusual chippy offerings since they re-launched.

He said: "We wanted to try out the idea of the healthy takeaway, that you didn't just have once a week as a treat.

"Seasonal high-end fish is very expensive, but we found that we could serve things like sea bass and salmon for little more than the cost of haddock.

"Initially a lot of people are tentative about trying something new but nine times out of ten they are happy that they have experimented."

In a radical departure from its rivals, The Tower has favoured broccoli and cauliflower - deep fried or not - as an alternative to soggy chips, however it still serves traditional cut wedges, along with freshly made roast potatoes.

Staff decided to oven bake their dishes while the customers wait, using olive oil instead of vegetable oil, and are among a handful of chip shops that serve gluten free fish and chips.

Customers can order the mackerel with the knowledge that it is an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and vitamin B12, or try Scottish salmon.

Domenico said: "We were really keen to cut down the amount of calories in the suppers so people could enjoy them more often. The tilapia dish, with roast potatoes cooked in olive oil, is just 300 calories. And even though the mackerel is a double portion, because it's so cheap, it's only perhaps 450 calories oven roasted.

"As far as we know there is only one other chip shop, right in the north of Scotland, that offers the kind of fish that we do, so we like to think we're changing old habits and giving people the chance to try something new.

"I never thought you'd see people sitting on a bench eating roast sea bass and broccoli on a Friday night but there you go."

ON THE MENU

Tilapia Fillet

This low in total fat, low saturated fat, low calorie, low carbohydrate, low sodium protein is not well known in the UK but was in fact named by Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith in 1840. Served with a portion of roasted potatoes, and baked in an oven, this contains just 300 CALORIES - a fraction of the staggering 1,385 CALORIES that a large battered cod and chips contains.

Salmon Fillet

Known for producing some of the finest in the world, Scotland has a great selection of salmon, but has not found its way to many greasy local chippies on a Friday night. Weighing in at around 400-500 CALORIES, including broccoli or roast potatoes, this high protein fish is far less artery clogging than its popular Irish cousin rock salmon, which stands at around 1,920 CALORIES, and 115g of fat for a large portion with large chips, gravy and 2 slices of bread and butter.

Sea Bass Fillet

A popular dish in many upmarket restaurants, this fine textured can grow up to 1 metre in length and usually costs more than the popular British haddock and cod. Also comes in at just 400-500 CALORIES for a whole supper.