Comments on: The Englishman & The Eel https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Tue, 06 Feb 2018 17:53:53 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Mary K https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1194265 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 17:53:53 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1194265 Worked as a Biology teacher in Walthamstow in the early 70’s.
I remember the very busy pie and mash shop well.
We used to take the students down Walthamstow Market where
lots of them used to work on the stalls….either legally or legally!
I remember passing an eel stall on the corner of the market and
a small eel had been rejected .
The students insisted we took it back to the Biology Lab and we
kept it as a ‘pet ‘ in a tank , fed it and called it ‘Eleva.’ The students
developed quite an attachment to this eel…
Not sure what happened to it eventually but look back on those days
fondly as it was a great community to work in.

]]> By: jacqui newling https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1194036 Mon, 05 Feb 2018 00:10:33 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1194036 Hi, thank you for this wonderful story, and superb photographs. I made a point of visiting some eel, pie and mash shops when in London last year. Sadly I didn’t get to Manze’s and was disappointed to see tubby Isaac’s is now a kebab and burger stand. But I did get to F. Cooke’s (and their gorgeous old premises now the Shanghai), and another in Greenwich. I’m glad to see the eels being cooked on site at Hoxton – at Greenwich they were bought in, ready-to-serve in jelly from Holland and I wondered if Cooke’s does the same.

]]> By: Greg Tingey https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193973 Sun, 04 Feb 2018 09:31:05 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193973 Londoner through & through that I am … I’ve never liked eels, in the serving-style shown here.
BUT
There is also Smoked Eeel, which is a real delicacy & to be earnestly sought out if possible

]]> By: Lynne Perrella https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193903 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 14:39:00 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193903 Bear with an American, as I say (in the most loving way possible……)
YIKES.
However: Whether or not I would ever be tempted to sample the food, I am totally captivated
by this presentation of local customs, nuances, the unique eateries, the tile work (wow!) and
the preservation of recipes and condiments. Surely this is what makes London such a special
place, among zillions of other reasons.
What a town!? Hats off to YOU.

]]> By: Connie Unangst https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193901 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 13:30:04 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193901 As a food historian, I enjoy your articles on food in history. I always share the information with my fellow foodies.

]]> By: thelondoni https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193893 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 12:44:56 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193893 A lovely article and some nice photos of the shops in action.

I did a blog entry about the history of these shops including how the Cooke’s and Manze’s are connected: http://thelondoni.com/pie-mash-and-liquor-at-manzes-on-deptford-high-street/

Thanks as ever for your wonderful site.

]]> By: Bailey Jones https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193882 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 11:02:33 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193882 Pie and Mash is a southern delicacy. It never caught on in the North.

We were discussing in an adult English class the other day, after looking at a cartoon about Victorian foods. Eating eels was met by squeals from some.

One day I will pluck up the courage to try. A good excuse for a visit to London. Last time I was there, I spotted Manzies in Tower Bridge Road on my way back from Greenwich. Wonder if they have mini portions in case I hate it?

]]> By: Peter Coles https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193869 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 09:17:54 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193869 Lovely photographic essay.

]]> By: Lesley https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193868 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 09:13:20 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193868 Pie and mash really should be eaten at Kelly’s in either Bethnal Green Road or Roman Road.
Being resident in Essex now, we eat ours in Southend but whenever we return to Bethnal Green, pie and mash is our repast of choice. Of course, it must be seasoned with copious amounts of chili vinegar.

]]> By: Jamie Surman https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/02/03/the-englishman-the-eel/#comment-1193863 Sat, 03 Feb 2018 08:49:52 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=163610#comment-1193863 Wonderful feature… In these times of being told we are to celebrate all cultures and diversity etc etc… It’s a shame our original indigenous culture of working class London – stretching back hundreds of years, is sidelined. More features like this in outlets like The Guardian, would be very welcome…

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