By Anna Griffin, Editor in Chief

You can take the girl out of England, but you’ll never take England out of the girl, as they say, and no truer is word was ever said than when it comes to a British lass and her home comforts . . . Like fish & chips . . .

However, despite my patriotic calling, this dish is not one often found on my menu being high in fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, and nowadays having a dubious question mark around the source and quality of the fish.  What joy of joys to then find Hook, a reinvention of the classic British fish & chip joint, in bustling Camden, London

As you would expect from anything discovered in Camden, Hook is ahead of the crowd. Such is the draw of this iconic Borough of London, that since the early seventies it has become synonomous with iconoclastic British culture, notably rock n’ roll and fashion, and is the home of the legendary Camden Market. Keeping one step ahead, Hook has now also expanded into another infamous London community, Brixton.

Founded by Simon Whiteside and Barry Wallace, Hook was born as a simple market stall in Dublin n 2011, making a name for themselves with a unique, “new-school” take on fish and chips. With a commitment to serving delicious, high quality food sourced from the best, local suppliers and working with 100% sustainable fisheries , Hook reinvents fast food as good food. This restaurant is so off-the-hook, that it was featured on the U.S. Food Network’s hit show, Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives with host, Guy Fieri.

Bringing a new twist to an old classic, fish is seasoned to perfection with hand-crafted herbs and spices, then dipped in delicate panko breadcrumbs and tempura battered; the beloved British side, mushy peas, is given a makeover with an infusion of fresh mint, and all of their sauces including tartar, ketchup, truffle, Chipotle, and basil and chili, are hand-made using special herbs and seasonings.

Sustainability is at the heart of this quintessentially modern, British restaurant brand, who are SRA-acredited and incorporate both water aid and fair-trade ethics in their commitment to operating a responsible business.

From 100% biodegradable corn-starch cutlery, and reusable, reclaimed wood, service boxes, to sharing education about sustainability with local schools and colleges, Hook’s commitment is to reflect their love of the Earth and its communities, in everything they do.

And with a simple core brand ethos of “awesome food, served by amazing people, in fantastic locations. It’s how it all began, and it’s how we will stay,” how could we be anything other than hooked?

Photo Credit: Hookrestaurants.com