Mushy Peas

A colleague who lives in the US recently learned about mushy peas, a UK favourite side with fish and chips. He asked whether mushy peas are a thing. This is my reply.

Imagine it’s Friday, you had a tough week at work, and you decide to nip down to the chippy to treat yourself to a nice hot and greasy portion of fish and chips. You get haddock instead of cod because why not, you deserve it. The lad behind the counter, he grew up in the area and his family owned the chippy for at least four generations, he asks in the thickest cockney: “Mushy peas with that, bruv?” And without thinking for a second you say: “Yes, of course, mate, it’s Friday, innit, earned it.” You head home, the rain just stopped and now the sun is out. You walk with a spring in your step because you know what’s waiting for you when you get home; the fish and chips in one hand, the grease slowly seeping through the paper, and the tub of mushy peas in the other hand. An older gentleman tips his hat, a woman hands you her phone number, and the rude boy on the corner says: “Alright there, you have a good one, yeah”—because they know there walks a man of great taste.