first thing I discovered when I came to the UK was that Brits love potatoes. In fact, Brits are the tenth largest consumers of potatoes in the world – 240 pounds per person, per year. 

I ate more potatoes in the first three weeks I was in the UK than I ate the previous three years in the States. At restaurants, sometimes, I would get three different types of potatoes with one meal.

There are different culinary approaches to cooking potatoes in different regions of the UK (Actually, it all pretty much the same, just different names for the dishes.).

However, the one thing all the Brits have in common is a love affair with chips. 25% (About 60 Lbs per person, per year) of all the potatoes used in the UK are consumed as - CHIPS.

Now, the more erudite, cosmopolitan people who live in the south of the UK will unequivocally say that they are not into chips, and chips are for the plebeians and countrified Northerners. However, that’s a bald-faced lie. In the ten years I’ve lived in the UK, I’ve never met a Brit who will turn their nose up at an order of chips.

In grocery stores, often, I’ve seen a complete isle of the frozen food section dedicated to chips – Thick chips, thin chips, curly chips, crinkled chips, fish and chip shop style chips, flavoured chips, celebrity chef cut, flavoured chips, and just plain old generic store brand chips.

It’s quite common when eating out with companions to watch them order a meal that comes with chips and ask for an extra portion of chips. In fact, I had them notice that I didn’t finish my generous portion of chips and say, “Mind if I finish those off for you?”

I’ve seen people mix chips with mashed potatoes. They say it’s something about the different textures, but I still don’t understand.

People wander around on the streets grazing on chips smothered in gravy, curry, mushy peas, etc., etc.

The portions of chips one gets at the average chip-oil (fish and chips shop) must weigh close to a pound, and it requires wrapping them in about four layers of paper to keep the oil and moisture saturated package from disintegrating before you get out the door.

But that’s not the end of it, the Brits are so nuts about chips some Chinese restaurants automatically serve chips instead of rice with meals, and Indian restaurants serve curry and chips.

As a rule of thumb, to operate any successful restaurant in the UK, you have to include chips on any A la carte menu and even as table d’hôte no matter how inappropriate something like chips with Mandarin cuisine may seem.

Chips are even often included as a topping for pizzas.

Then, there is lasagna and chips.

Of course, there are chips and eggs for breakfast.

You can get chip sandwiches - 'chip butty' which is a large buttered bun called a 'bap' with a generous portion of chips as a filling.

In Glasgow, you can get deep fried Mars candy bars and chips.

The most valuable cultural insight I’ve learned in Great Britain is that if you want to impress a Brit, just put a plateful of chips with some vinegar and salt in front of them. It don’t matter whether it be breakfast, lunch, tea, or just a snack, they’ll quickly devour every last chip.

As far as the ‘Great British Menu’ goes, you can’t go wrong with the critics as long as you include a generous portion of chips with every course.