Episode Six. Week one-Tugboat Fish & Chips #18

mmm-yoso is on vacation.  The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.

So, the San Diego County Fair is over and you have been good for what, three months, now? No fried olives or avocadoes on a stick, or deep fried Twinkies, Snickers, or asparagus. No batter fried Australian potatoes, 10 pound loaves of bread, or plate of pesto pasta ( a favorite of the Mister).  The cinnamon rolls were great, again this year, as were the giant pickles, BBQ chicken and cream puffs. The San Diego County Fair, 5th largest in the US, is history.

The Ginsu knives are also history, along with the jewelry cleaner, mink oil for your hands, the eyeglass cleaner.  You can't find either of your "Incredible Mops" (if you bought one, you got the other free).  The Russian nesting dolls are getting dusty, the healing crystals don't heal.  That belt buckle is someplace-you'll find it in time to use as a Christmas gift.  Hopefully you are still using the Bamix and Vitamix machines, at least once a week, if not daily, and that sewing/embroidery serger machine has been put to good use also. The pickled garlic was nice to eat, the soup mixes are somewhere in the back of the cupboard and that prize winning strawberry jam was *really* good. (OK, the photos were taken before the Fair opened, but the look is the same as when they had to break it down).

So, that craving has returned.  Deep fried something.  Tugboat Fish & Chips fits the bill.  The location, in Lemon Grove, has been there for at least three years now...and it is  officially know as Tugboat Fish & Chips #18.  There are at least 17 others around the state.   None in SD County as far as I can tell.  There is no main website for the company: its "under Construction".

Here is the menu.  Look carefully.  The only items not fried are the coleslaw and the beverages.

Oh.... yeah.

So, it being Friday and all, and me in my "just in case" way of living, well fish and chips are the way to go. Those of us who grew up in the Midwest fondly remember 'fish fry friday' and this is as close as I can find out here without driving to Point Loma Seafoods.

This is the two piece meal ($6.39). The fish is Pollock, in good sized pieces, not the pre-formed cod stuff.  The batter is more "London" style, not all beer batter/fluffy and cakey. In fact, the malt vinegar made the flavor of the crust improved and there were references to London as part of the decor, along with Beatles music being played as part of the "ambiance". Lots of fries served with each plate: generic, but not greasy or bad per se.

These are condiments on the table. The tartar sauce served is smooth, not chunky and very good.  The cocktail sauce is mild but has a nice horseradish flavor.

The side order of fried oysters was pretty good ($ 2.99), they were juicy, but I know made from either jarred oysters or were frozen and already battered .  The batter is made of cornmeal.  Still, when I have a craving....

This is the fish and clam plate ($6.99). Clam strips, one piece of fish. Lots of food.

The coleslaw dressing had a touch of vinegar taste to it, like the Marzettis from a jar. 

We have had the shrimp platter, the vegetable platter, the seafood platter, the fried mushrooms (you get five) and the fried zucchini.  The scallops were not that thrilling.

The family who works there are very friendly and honest.  The food is not bad, not greasy.  The iced tea is brewed, not instant.

You can phone in an order and pick it up. Tugboat fulfills many cravings.

Tugboat Fish & Chips 8047 Broadway, Lemon Grove 91945

(619) 465-7060 Mon-Sat 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., closed Sunday

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Just a reminder- Oktoberfest in the Village of La Mesa started today. The food, entertainment and street sales of crafts will be going on Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon until 6 p.m. Admission is free. You can take the orange or green trolley line to get there.

Comments

[Ed]

Did you know that the cheaper fish and chip places used shark instead of either pollock or cod? I tried it a couple of years ago with a few pieces of the local shark (soaked in milk first to slow the urea deterioration). The result tasted just like the fish and chips I had as a kid.

[RONW]

I'm planning to find some of that Four Monks brand malt vinegar that the restaurant uses for their own condiment.

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/tb2.jpg

Unless, you know of other worthy malt vinegars brands (hint).

[cathy]

Hi Ed....hmmmm....Never even thought about shark. Then again, growing up in Detroit would preclude that from being a fresh fish....our local was pickerel/ walleye. I have had a beer battered salmon (at Rock Bottom) and it was good...different too, but never shark. Yay! That was my "learn something new" for today!

Ron- The only other malt vinegar I have tried is Heinz, I think. But now, I have a quest....thanks.

[dietchilicheesefries]

hey cathy!

great job!!! you are not doing a Niban job by any means...

fish and chips is one of those foods that is hard to mess up, but its also hard to recall any real exceptional ones either... ya know?? well i can't at least...

go Cathy!

[cathy]

Hi DCCF- Fried anything is pretty darn good, in my opinion, as long as its freshly fried, anyhow...

The fried seafood items at Boston and Maine, upstairs at Horton Plaza, are exceptional- its the only place we can get belly clams on this coast-

Thanks for the kind words. The Mister and I will be at your movie next Friday the 13th! (www.sdaff.org)

[dietchilicheesefries]

Cool! Can't wait to meet everyone!! Count all the food references in the movie... might be a record eh!

[dave]

there was a tugboat fish and chips place next to surfside sushi in PB for a brief couple of months. the last time i drove past it had morphed into something else.

[cathy]

dave- hmmm...fish and chips next to sushi...easy for delivery people...must have gone out of business because of health nuts...