What is flake fish? Fish and chips in Australia
Flake in Australia means shark – it’s usually a euphemism for gummy shark. Flake and chips is a standard in Australian fish and chips shops and restaurants.
Fish and chips might be a traditional British dish, but Australians don’t half go for it too. Most relatively busy coastal suburbs will have at least one fish and chip shop, and really busy ones like Bondi Beach in Sydney will often have fierce competition.
Australian fish and chips: Flake fish
But Australia doesn’t tend to use the same fish as Britain, largely because the likes of cod, haddock and plaice don’t inhabit Australian waters.
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If you’re splashing out, the fish to go for is barramundi. Caught in Australia’s tropical regions, barramundi is a fabulously meaty fish. Try one, and it’ll soon become your Aussie seafood default.
If you’re just going for the standard option in an Australian fish and chips shop, however, you’ll probably be eating flake. But what is flake in Australia?
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- Take Blue Mountains day tour from Sydney – with kangaroo-feeding at a wildlife park, Scenic World tickets and a Parramatta River cruise.
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Meaning of flake in Australia
Well, in an Australian fish and chips shop, flake means shark. But, given that many people might be put off by something labelled as shark, a little marketing finesse is required.
Flake works pretty well for fish and chips for several reasons. Firstly, the species of edible grey sharks used are fairly abundant around the Australian coast, and can managed in commercial fisheries.
These shark species – gummy shark is most commonly used – are relatively cheap and have a mild fishy flavour that doesn’t put too many people off. The gummy shark also maintains shape and consistency pretty well after frying.
Oh, and flake is pretty cheap, too. Hence the popularity in Australia.
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More Australian slang
Bottle shop | Budgie-smugglers | CBD | Cellar door |
Drop bear | Galah | Goon | Hoon | Manchester | Pom | Ranga |