Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Irish Potato not good enough for chips ?

Options
2

Comments

  • Options
    #32
    Harry Palmr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    Hamsterchops wrote: »
    Best chips.

    Potatoes grown from the Scottish seed variety of potato.

    Scottish seed potatoes are considered a global gold standard because they are less prone to diseases .....

    and we are now unable to import them which is going to be a problem for most small scale growers. On the other hand it does mean Ireland could rediscover the art of seed saving for spuds.


  • Options
    #33
    VillageIdiot71
    Registered Users Posts: 578 ✭✭✭VillageIdiot71


    bigar wrote: »
    They should start importing the Bintje potato from Belgium and The Netherlands instead as that is the best chip potato. I believe Supermac's already does.
    Never realised chips were so complicated, and had such a backstory! It looks like the issue isn't just the raw potato, but where it can be processed.
    https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/irish-potato-farmers-pressure-fast-food-outlets-use-100-imported-chips/

    Supermac’s Procurement Manager Pat Lynch confirmed that the company sourced all its frozen chips from Belgium and the Netherlands.

    “There is no chipping plant in Ireland,” he said.

    “Up to 10 years ago, Ballymoney Foods in North Antrim was supplying the Irish market with frozen chips. And we did business with that farmer-owned comany prior to its closure. Today, we have no option but to source the chips that we need from Europe.

    “Our specification cites the growing of a Bintje potato that is harvested, washed, chipped and frozen during the months of September and October. We have a requirement for 4,000t of chips annually.”


  • Options
    #34
    greenspurs
    Registered Users Posts: 10,252 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    Irish mutiples wont pay enough to growers/suppliers for them to grow more potatoes - its cheaper to import them, and then sell them on.

    The majority of the Irish population has a gra for Roosters, as they are a 'jack of all trades' spud for the consumer (chip/boil/mash) whereas years ago you would have had more Golden Wonders , Home Guard , Cara , Records were available but consumers have swung towards a "One spud" fits all use nowadays.

    So the problem is with Brexit, prices will become inflated, and potatoes will be a bit harder to get so thats why there is a worry over supply of spuds.

    So be prepared for a rise in price in the multiple stores, if they decide to pay growers/suppliers a more correct price for the produce.
    247469249_2017413731748359_7675802031635703098_n.jpg

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... "



  • Options
    #35
    JustAThought
    Registered Users Posts: 5,323 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    four thousand tonnes of chips!!

    God I’d murder a tub of Supermacs chips with coleslaw and sprinkled with salt.

    Went to a SM in Wexford last summer to get some & was horrified to see they were off the menu! Chips and coleslaw - an urban staple! What is wrong with the planet!!

    Eddie Rockets does great chips thou - so long as they are brown enough. Georgous. With cajun dip or garlic sauce. Mmmmm

    Wonder where they get their potatoes from?


  • Options
    #36
    Ten of Swords
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 22,285 CMod ✭✭✭✭Ten of Swords


    SmartinMartin, I've just deleted a load of off topic and abusive posts that completely derailed the thread for several pages

    Don't post in this thread again

    Moderator: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender, Vegan & Vegetarian

    Category Moderator: Social & Fun



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #37
    Dyr
    Registered Users Posts: 23,246 ✭✭✭✭Dyr


    Teagasc really dropped the ball here, how could we have allowed our national potoato crop to fall so far behind international developments?


  • Options
    #38
    loyatemu
    Registered Users Posts: 14,771 ✭✭✭✭loyatemu


    Bambi wrote: »
    Teagasc really dropped the ball here, how could we have allowed our national potoato crop to fall so far behind international developments?

    Teagasc invented the Rooster variety, which dominates the Irish potato market as it's a good all rounder and grows well here.

    Personally I always buy Maris Pipers though as they're excellent roasted or mashed.


  • Options
    #39
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users Posts: 11,812 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    Bambi wrote: »
    Teagasc really dropped the ball here, how could we have allowed our national potoato crop to fall so far behind international developments?


    Because basically all we grow in this country is fúcking grass!


  • Options
    #40
    PMBC
    Registered Users Posts: 1,106 ✭✭✭PMBC


    We can switch to rice if we are short of potatoes except for chips lol
    Roosters are a good all round spud except in Summer time. I understand from what I read re Romayo's/Macaris that they uise Irish spuds and since our soils dont suit Maris Pipers they are obviously using something else. THe standard of chips has gone down from what it was in the 60s and 70s and I think that is down to the cooking oils/fats used. On a good day I can still smell the fresh chips from Macaris when they first opened in my home town circa 1962.
    Funny/sad story. My aunt and uncle ran a small chipper from the front room of a house in late 40s/early 50s. They cooked the chips in large saucepans on primus stoves. They also sold 'crubeens' and business boomed for a while. Unfortunately a fire put a stop to it.https://b-static.net/vbulletin/images/icons/icon8.png


  • Options
    #41
    greenspurs
    Registered Users Posts: 10,252 ✭✭✭✭greenspurs


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    Because basically all we grow in this country is fúcking grass!

    Due to government/european levies that have reduced crops worth.

    AND (as i have mentioned ) the Supermarket chains/multiples will not pay enough for the produce for it to be a viable business for farmers/suppliers.

    Also the absolutely ridiculous "Specs" that are imposed re sizing, colour etc .. the waste caused by these "account executives" sitting in their offices is unbelievable.
    Anyway , thats a different discussion ....
    247469249_2017413731748359_7675802031635703098_n.jpg

    "Bright lights and Thunder .................... "



  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #42
    dan_ep82
    Registered Users Posts: 2,693 ✭✭✭dan_ep82


    km991148 wrote: »
    The real outrage here is that they are probably using UK potatoes because they are readily available frozen and are cheaper due to economies of scale.

    Chippers should cut chips on demand.

    But considering most don't even batter fish fresh anymore then no chance at all...
    English potatoes come in uncleaned and uncut. The takeaways peel and cut them.

    Its a mix of markies for most of the year with a few months of Spanish and maris piper when the markies are out of season. Very few Irish suppliers used as they just don't chip well the way they are cooked in irish takeaways.

    Some diners etc use irish but your average corner takeaway is using English potatoes.

    Romayos source their own potatoes so can't speak there but all the Macaris we delivered to use English potatoes.

    7 years in the industry


  • Options
    #43
    jester77
    Registered Users Posts: 11,262 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    Can't beat a Bintje spud for chips


  • Options
    #44
    Hyperbollix
    Registered Users Posts: 931 ✭✭✭Hyperbollix


    I was waiting for some gourmet cuisine in my local Italian chipper recently when a young fella came in an asked the guy behind the counter did he have those large foil trays to put stuff in. Yes, we use them for curry chips he told him.

    Perfect says the lad, stick a pile of chips in one, smother it in cheese, then lob in some goujons on top and cover the lot in a ladle of curry sauce. The guy looked perplexed. "But Sir, I can give you the curry chips in the tray and put the other stuff separate or if you want a cheese chip, I can supply the curry as a dip"

    "Oh no!", says the lad. "The whole lot in a box! Lash on the curry sauce! Back in 10 minutes!"

    The guy behind the counter looked at me with resignation and disgust, and shook his head.

    You may be wondering what this has to do with anything, but my point is, in such a climate of utter depraved barbarianism, does it matter what feckin breed of spuds they use to make chips.


  • Options
    #45
    ShatterAlan
    Registered Users Posts: 2,807 ✭✭✭ShatterAlan


    Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »
    Wrong (about the order). If you put the vinegar in first, the salt stops at the first bit of vinegar it meets. Salt in first allows it to move down the bag more evenly...and then the vinegar.


    Correct.



    Salt goes in first. The majority of it comes to rest on the summit of the chip pile naturally unless the chip lady shakes the bag.



    The vinegar then washes it down through the bag coating lower layers of chip.


  • Options
    #46
    ShatterAlan
    Registered Users Posts: 2,807 ✭✭✭ShatterAlan


    whisky_galore wrote: »
    So they buy something approaching 80% from elsewhere?
    Impressive stat.


    Maths is your FORTE. :p


  • Options
    #47
    partyguinness
    Registered Users Posts: 8,207 ✭✭✭partyguinness


    Vast majority of chippers in Ireland do not cut their own chips on site. Basically brought in bags from McCain or wherever.

    In England it is the opposite most chips are cut on site from the potatoes brought in whole.


  • Options
    #48
    km991148
    Registered Users Posts: 4,275 ✭✭✭km991148


    dan_ep82 wrote: »
    English potatoes come in uncleaned and uncut. The takeaways peel and cut them.

    Its a mix of markies for most of the year with a few months of Spanish and maris piper when the markies are out of season. Very few Irish suppliers used as they just don't chip well the way they are cooked in irish takeaways.

    Some diners etc use irish but your average corner takeaway is using English potatoes.

    Romayos source their own potatoes so can't speak there but all the Macaris we delivered to use English potatoes.

    7 years in the industry

    I know what season is what spud :pac:, (but from when I worked in the UK..).

    In Ireland I see a lot of those pre cut chips.
    Can't speak for those two chains (I avoid the Irish Italian chippers like the plague) but burdocks for sure use the pre cut.


  • Options
    #49
    cherryghost
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 17,133 Mod ✭✭✭✭cherryghost


    I think we're missing the ball here. It's a great opportunity for existing or even new potato farms to grab the industry by the balls and get a bump on their income here!


  • Options
    #50
    dan_ep82
    Registered Users Posts: 2,693 ✭✭✭dan_ep82


    km991148 wrote: »
    I know what season is what spud :pac:, (but from when I worked in the UK..).

    In Ireland I see a lot of those pre cut chips.
    Can't speak for those two chains (I avoid the Irish Italian chippers like the plague) but burdocks for sure use the pre cut.

    We delivered wholesale uncut potatoes to burdocks, they pre cut there own in house in cookstown but are supplied the same as every other takeaway. The only pre cut your likely to see is in Indian takeaways but most in the city tend to cut their own.


  • Options
    #51
    dan_ep82
    Registered Users Posts: 2,693 ✭✭✭dan_ep82


    cherryghost wrote: »
    I think we're missing the ball here. It's a great opportunity for existing or even new potato farms to grab the industry by the balls and get a bump on their income here!

    They are trying, a few around rush are doing it. The problem is getting customers to switch. There are certain farmers in England that always have good stock and can be relied on. The chips always taste the same or at least good. The irish stuff we sold (which was the same price as the English shipped over) could be great then terrible from one load to another. Chips are just filler but can lose customers if they are bad enough.

    Another point is currently no one is doing the volume required. One of the busiest shops we delivered to in Dublin was using over 3.5 tonne of potatoes a week.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #52
    Riddle101
    Registered Users Posts: 8,380 ✭✭✭Riddle101


    Funny that this thread should pop up when RTE is doing a special on the Great Famine.


  • Options
    #53
    Thelonious Monk
    Registered Users Posts: 13,785 ✭✭✭✭Thelonious Monk


    I like baby potatoes, I bought some from Keogh's today of crisps fame. And weed now.
    It is a bit nuts though, like I wont buy garlic in Lidl because it's always product of China. Why do we need to import garlic all the way from China? Dunnes and Aldi have Spanish garlic which always has lovely big cloves and at least it's coming from the EU.


  • Options
    #54
    saabsaab
    Registered Users Posts: 7,760 ✭✭✭saabsaab


    For the Record(s) this must be a plot of the British Queen. Plans in place since King Edwards time.


  • Options
    #55
    km991148
    Registered Users Posts: 4,275 ✭✭✭km991148


    dan_ep82 wrote: »
    We delivered wholesale uncut potatoes to burdocks, they pre cut there own in house in cookstown but are supplied the same as every other takeaway. The only pre cut your likely to see is in Indian takeaways but most in the city tend to cut their own.

    Ah ok, that explains it.

    So they do it in bulk, bag em and redistribute back out to their own shops?


  • Options
    #56
    dan_ep82
    Registered Users Posts: 2,693 ✭✭✭dan_ep82


    km991148 wrote: »
    Ah ok, that explains it.

    So they do it in bulk, bag em and redistribute back out to their own shops?
    Yep, Beshoff do the same


  • Options
    #57
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,760 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Hamsterchops wrote: »
    Best chips.

    Potatoes grown from the Scottish seed variety of potato.

    Scottish seed potatoes are considered a global gold standard because they are less prone to diseases .....
    That's mainly because it's cold and wet.

    The parasites that overwinter in other potato growing regions can't survive there.


  • Options
    #58
    gozunda
    Registered Users Posts: 18,996 ✭✭✭✭gozunda


    Bambi wrote: »
    Teagasc really dropped the ball here, how could we have allowed our national potoato crop to fall so far behind international developments?

    Ireland has a potato growing sector which is almost self sufficient for maincrop potatos due to advances in cold store technology.

    Certain varieties are preferred here - mainly because of our growing conditions.

    Also out of season 'new' potatos which are grown in warmer climates and sold here out , Our own 'baby ' potatoes season is May - Dec approx. If you want them outside this period - likely they will have been imported.

    Potato cultivation is also very hard on soils. Rotation is necessary to avoid disease. A lot of land used to grow potatoes is leased for a single growing season by specialist growers...


  • Options
    #59
    wandererz
    Registered Users Posts: 2,528 ✭✭✭wandererz


    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/romayos-clonsilla-best-chipper-dublin-19380507.amp


  • Options
    #60
    Surreptitious
    Registered Users Posts: 8,130 ✭✭✭Surreptitious


    I'd love a bag of chips now but it's only a half baked notion. I should get to the root of this problem and not let it get under my skin.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #61
    Yyhhuuu
    Registered Users Posts: 798 ✭✭✭Yyhhuuu


    Are Maris pipers not grown in Ireland. I see them for sale in Marks and Spencer where I shop usually

    Who in right tight mind would eat in most if those chippers cooking ENGLISH potatoes in LARD. so DISGUSTING and saturated fat clogging arteries. Make your own home cooked in olive oil.Also the price of same is through the roof in chippers. Tons of salt thrown on by staff. Not to mention cancer causing acrylamide. A carcinogen as determined by the W.H.O

    IRISH ROOSTERS are delicious in mash.

    BUY IRISH.


Advertisement