What defines us are our memories.
From my childhood, I can still taste the warm, bitterness of malt vinegar as it drenches a piece of hot batter-fried fish from the local Arthur Treacher’s. It was a treat whenever we ate out and fish and chips has always been a favorite of my dad.
When I had the opportunity to take my parents to Walt Disney World for their first trip in 2001, we planned a dinner at the Rose and Crown. Not that my father was dubious about visiting “a place built for kids”, but he didn’t understand my healthy obsession with Walt Disney World. We picked the Rose and Crown since we had grown up eating Arthur Treacher’s fish and chips and my dad had eaten quite a bit of it while overseas in the Navy.
Sometimes a shared experience is greater than the actual experience. The fish and chips served at the Rose and Crown and Raglan Road have always been fantastic. You can get a cheaper version at the Columbia Harbour House, but it isn’t quite the same. The pieces are a little smaller and the fish isn’t as juicy. Also, it can be difficult to find the small bottles of malt vinegar scattered throughout the restaurant. Regardless, every trip I have taken since 2001 has fish and chips in it somewhere, even if it is from the Columbia Harbour House.
It is that memory from childhood and the fact that I was able to treat my parents to a trip to Walt Disney World that makes me long for the Fish and Chips from any dining establishment in the theme parks. Of course, my youngest son doesn’t feel the same way about the malt vinegar.
George writes here and at Imaginerding, where he focuses on Disney books and theme parkeology. He is also a travel agent and you can email him at George@pixievacations.com for free vacation planning and help booking your next Disney vacation. You can also follow him on twitter @biblioadonis.
3 pings
Guest Assistance Card at Walt Disney World » The Disney Navigator
January 7, 2012 at 1:38 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Fish and Chips from the Rose and Crown (and Columbia Harbour House and Ra… (disneyfoodreport.com) [...]
Magic Kingdom First Aid and Baby Care Center » The Disney Navigator
January 9, 2012 at 3:00 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Fish and Chips from the Rose and Crown (and Columbia Harbour House and Ra… (disneyfoodreport.com) [...]
Bring Back the Half Yard! | Disney Food Report
January 13, 2012 at 2:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] half yard cup of beer. Curiosity got the better of me and I ordered a half yard to go with my fish and chips. It was a modest $12.00 and they offered refills for [...]