Gorton's Fish Sticks
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retrophile remembers...I was fed fish sticks as part of my regular meal rotation. I loved them with mom's tartar sauce (Miracle ... More »
Posted on 03/02/09
It’s hard not to feel like a little kid when you sit down to a plate full of fish sticks. It’s one of those childhood foods that you either adored or despised, and most kids fell into the former category. Moms saw them as a quick and easy meal to prepare, and knew that as long as you had a heaping supply of ketchup or tarter sauce to dip them into, you’d probably finish them. Besides, moms, in their infinite wisdom, knew that if something was crunchy, there was a good chance that even picky kids would eat it. As a result, we all likely have a few fish sticks in our collective memories.
Records are inconclusive when it comes to the exact origins of fish sticks (or fish fingers, as they are referred to in the U.K.) What is known is that there are versions that date back to the early 20’s in both countries, as a result of trying to find ways to use cod, a rather plentiful fish. Of course, the version we are most familiar with is of the frozen variety. For these, we have frozen food innovator, Clarence Birdseye, to thank. His legacy began with the realization that fish that he caught and froze in the snow happened to retain its freshness when later thawed. With the invention of his plate froster, the first “quick-freeze” system, Clarence experimented with a number of foods, notably fish and vegetables and the rest is history. It was another company, Gorton’s, who, in the 30’s would first introduce the frozen fishy morsels known as fish sticks to the American public. Almost 20 years later, they were made available in Great Britian.
With cod now considered an endangered species, other forms of fish are often used in fish sticks, including whiting and haddock. However, as seafood itself is rapidly being depleted, one wonders if children of the future will have an opportunity to enjoy the same fish stick experience that their parents once did. It would be a shame for them to miss out on a food that, even though it was fried, was relatively healthy compared with today’s onslaught of fast food choices. Luckily, at least for the time being, fish sticks seem to remain plentiful and popular, both with kids and adults. And with the modern ability to microwave them, fish sticks are even easier to prepare.
So, the next time you are pushing your cart down the frozen food aisle, don’t be ashamed to go ahead and toss a bag of fish sticks in and relive the memories of youth. They are one of the foods that we all seem to share a bit of experience with. And remarkably, they stand the test of time pretty darn well. You might even find them to be more pleasing than you remember. Regardless, they have earned their well-deserved place on a long list of comfort foods, sure to bring back a flood of memories of an earlier time when mom knew just how to make our stomachs happy.
