Mobile food trucks are nothing new in the Tampa Bay area but a new addition is guaranteed to catch your eye.
This particular food truck is emblazoned with the British Union Jack along with life-size pictures of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.
Inside, it’s outfitted with 4 deep-fat fryers, microwave, fridge, beverage dispensers and a prep area. The highly visible truck is set to appear weekends in Hernando and Pasco counties at various popular locations.
Food truck co-owners Alan Gold and Sabrina Kyte-Gold recognize the value of mobile catering and recently launched their Brits Fishn Chips fully equipped kitchen on wheels to deliver a menu of classic British food to Hernando County and beyond.
“We want to bring traditional British food to people in Hernando County, said Kyte-Gold, “and this food truck is the best way to reach them in a place we’d otherwise not be able to. Alan Gold, who hails from England, is Sabrina Kyte-Gold’s father-in-law.
“It took us quite a while to design and refit the truck to suit the type of food we wanted to offer,” said Kyte-Gold. “We learned a lot in the process but we finally launched in September 2015, starting out in the Trinity area of Pasco County,” she said.
Thursdays through Sundays, Kyte-Gold and friend Kate Mahoney drive the truck to arranged locations. Kyte-Gold takes orders from customers and Mahoney handles the food preparation and the fish fryers.
Kyte-Gold said nothing is more British than fish and chips. Freshly cooked, piping hot, moist, flaky white fish in a crispy batter nestling next to chunky golden chips, smothered in salt, sprinkled with malt vinegar and wrapped in newspaper.
“It’s a meal traditionally eaten outdoors and one that cannot be beaten,” she said.
Cooked to order, customers can choose from haddock or cod. Each filet of fish is individually dipped in batter and watched over in the fryer until golden and crispy.
“The batter recipe is a secret family recipe originating in Ireland, said Mahoney. “And we fry the fish in 100 percent soy oil that’s filtered daily. It’s much healthier than the traditional beef dripping used in the UK,” she said.
English chips are usually thicker than American-style French fries served in fast food chains, resulting in a lower fat content per portion. Americans refer to them as “steak fries.”
Each order of fish and chips takes about 8 minutes to cook and is served in a paper dish complete with faux newspaper wrapping.
In chip shops in the United Kingdom and Ireland, salt and vinegar is traditionally sprinkled over fish and chips before serving to the customer. Brits Fish ‘n Chips condiments include authentic malt vinegar, tartar sauce, mayonnaise, ketchup or brown sauce. Portions are a good size and good value with a small fish and chips at $7.99 and a large at $11.99.
Accompaniments
Love them or hate them, mushy peas are the classic accompaniment. They’re dried marrowfat peas that are first soaked overnight in water with some baking soda, then rinsed in fresh water and simmered with a little sugar and salt until they form a thick lumpy green soup.
Since the 70s, a mild curry sauce has also gained favor and is a favorite late night snack in Ireland when the pubs close. These sauces are usually poured over the chips.
Brits Fish ‘n Chips sides include mushy peas, baked beans, onion rings, coleslaw and mushroom fingers.
Fish and chips is not the only classic British dish offered from the mobile kitchen. Alongside the order window are pictures of other classics like bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie. Also a choice of beef, chicken or veggie pub curry served on a bed of fluffy white rice. For the less adventurous, there’s homemade beef barley, potato leek or veggie soup, popcorn shrimp and fish fingers.
Desserts include delicious homemade bread pudding, funnel sticks drizzled with raspberry or chocolate sauce and warm moist chocolate cake. “The bread pudding is another family recipe from my mother-in-law, who is from Ireland, said Kyte-Gold. “And we serve it with freshly made yellow custard.”
Tandy Barbar, a healthcare professional from Clearwater, said the Union Jack and the images of the Royal family in particular, caught her eye as she was passing and pulled in to investigate. “You don’t have to be British to enjoy fish and chips,” Barbar said. “I’ve never been to England but I adore their fish and chips.”
“Maybe it’s the faux newspaper the fish and chips are served on but I think it’s a top quality offering and excellent value,” Barbar said.
Kyte-Gold and Mahoney are loving life in the mobile fish and chip truck. The pair said they regularly get requests to cater special functions.
“We are hoping to build the business up and this area has welcomed us with open arms, Kyte-Gold said. “There is definitely a demand for this type of food in this area.”
“We plan to make our food available at promotional events like concerts and sporting events, or where there’s something happening in the community.
“It is important to connect to people in their environment,” she said.
Sue Quigley can be contacted at 727.808.9587 or by email at saffronbleu@hotmail.com.