Food enthusiast Toby Inskip, known online as Eating with Tod, visited Rock and Sole Plaice in Covent Garden, one of London's oldest fish and chip shops, and was left baffled by a classic northern combination: gravy on fish. The pairing, beloved by many in northern England, sparked a heated debate during his visit with UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall, who hails from Salford.
The historic chippy
Rock and Sole Plaice has survived two world wars and been serving fish and chips for 150 years. Toby and Tom visited to compare northern and southern chippies. The restaurant offers traditional London sides like pickles, coleslaw, and pickled egg.
Tom tried the pickled egg and simply said, 'That's not great.' Toby joked, 'You're not tapping out, are you?'
Gravy controversy
When they moved on to the battered cod, Tom started slathering gravy everywhere. Toby exclaimed, 'Come on, mate, what you doing? Not on the fish, surely. The batter is gonna get all soggy.' Tom replied, 'Bonus points for that.'
Tom described the gravy as 'not that good,' while Toby thought it was 'so thick.' Tom insisted it wasn't thick enough and 'not proper' northern-style gravy. Toby tried the chips and gravy but confessed, 'I don't get it.'
Northern vs southern verdict
After the meal, Tom concluded, 'This was good, but it's not a northern chippy. A northern chippy takes it, easy.' Both delivered their catchphrase: 'If you can't take a date, take a mate.'
TikTok users were divided on whether gravy belongs on fish or only chips, with others praising chip shop curry sauce.
