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One reason the vinegar tastes different is that chip shops use non brewed condiment vinegar whilst asda et al only sell malt vinegar(unless you are really lucky)

My mum won't buy malt so I have to keep my eyes open for when I see a bottle of NBC.

Anyway, as for thick vinegar, nope leave it as it is, teh spirit part is what gets up your nose and enhances the whole experience.

Balsamic is lovely, I particularly like it with sweet tomatoes that have been marinated in it for ages. Stawberries are lovely with a good coating of freshly ground black pepper or just dipped in a good quality brandy.

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I thought that I was weird in liking toast with jam and some good Cheddar cheese, but balsamic vinegar on strawberries?

It doesn’t hit my spot.

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Aaaah but black pepper on fresh strawberries is delicious, the pepper really brings out the flavour of the strawberries. If you have never tried strawberries this way, then do.............they're brilliant.:D

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I know someone who puts marmalade on his kippers - REALLY weird.

Put the vinegar on first, as Madhatter says, then it doesn't wash the salt off and the salt sticks and holds the vinegar.

It's definitely off down the chippy tonight, then. Our local one in London even does mushy peas - most London chippies look at you as if you were bonkers if you ask for mushy peas. Perhaps civilisation is spreading south.

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Do you have chips with gravy on them in accy or down london, because its popular here and at liverpool, but some people think it's wierd.

Also You know when you ask for chips in a tray with mushy peas, do they put a sheet of plastic over the tray so it's between the tray and the chips? they do that up liverpool but not here in the midlands.

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Yes Madhatter, chips and gravy is popular here too.. In fact chips, mushy peas and gravy all in one tray is my favourite. A sheet of greaseproof paper goes over the chips here before wrapping..:D My family owned a chip shop for several years and I spent my teenage years working in it. It is an absolute must to put the vinegar on first, then the salt. It is the only way that both condiments will stay on the chips.

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In Soup on Warner St they do a really fabulous cheese and red onion jam sandwich - worth coming into Accy just for that.

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Many thanks to everyone who suggested Balsamic Vinegar. I found some at Asda for just under three quid. I got me some Maris Piper spuds and after ‘the match’ this afternoon I will be making me a plate of chips liberally sprinkled with salt (sod the heart) and this new vinegar. A mug of tea and a couple of slices of a fresh Lancashire white loaf with best butter and a wedge of Cracker Barrel will complete my feast.

Cheese on a chip butty muffin with a sludge of salad cream has always been a favourite of mine, as has cheese on a chicken butt, also with a dollop of salad cream - Heinz of course.

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kept telling my ex vinegar then salt but she's too stuborn to believe me.
our chips go straight in the tray here, in liverpool they use a clear piece of cellophane , like a flower sleeve plastic, there you use greesproof paper, so why nothing here? or why do you need greeseproof paper?

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The greaseproof paper covers the top of the tray here, once the chips are in it. If your chips are being wrapped instead of in a tray there will also be greaseproof paper in the wrapping. This stops the grease and vinegar from the chips leaking into the surrounding paper after wrapping. That way your chips will stay wrapped and intact until you get home and open them. I don't know why they put cellophane on the bottom of the trays, my only suggestion is that they may be using cheap trays which absorb the fat and vinegar and would deteriorate mid-meal. We don't line the trays with anything here, our greaseproof paper goes on the top.:D

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all these unusual combinations reminds me of when I had a thing for syrup and tomato ketchup sandwiches, sounds disgusting but it was yummy. Not tried it for years but it def had a sweet and sour thing going for it!!! :p

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why on earth do they put a piece of greeseproof paper on top of the chips? You only have to take it off again to get to the chips.

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We always used to use open topped trays here Madhatter, the greaseproof stopped the contents leaking into the wrapping paper, so therefore the wrapping paper wouldn't stick to the chips..

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This vinegar first or last debate is as much use as the milk first or last in a cup of tea.

Surely it’s all a matter of choice?

I never have a problem with the salt not sticking to chip shop chips. They are so soggy and loaded with oil that anything except vinegar sticks to them, including greaseproof paper.

The only way to get proper salt and vinegar crisps is to get plain ones and add your own salt and real vinegar. The same goes for those tomato ketchup crisps.