Flying Fish and Chips, Pyrmont

I've been the pitiful victim of constant overtures on the gastronomic joys of Flying Fish.

Friends have waxed lyrical about the Sri Lankan snapper curry, others have raved on about the divine seafood degustation, and head chef Peter Kuruvita seems to be forever popping up in the pages of Good Living.

So when we found ourselves heading back to the car after last month's Growers Markets at Pyrmont, well, we had to walk straight past its (relatively) new takeaway outlet Flying Fish and Chips.



At 9.50am, it's a little early for curry perhaps, but surely we're shopped long enough to deserve some of their legendary hand-cut chips? =)



To our distress, we're told that the deep-fryers aren't turned on until 10.30am. But we are dedicated. So we explore the shop (ie. I take lots of photos) and then we sit outside and bask in the sun, watching the rays glint off the waters of Jones Bay.


Prawn and avocado wraps


Lamb spring rolls and vegetable rolls, each $2.00


Flying Fish extra virgin olive oil


Flying Fish's famous chillie (chilli?) salt, $10.00

10.29am... a nod to the counter staff (who seem somewhat bemused by our hot chip urgings) and voila, six minutes later, our first encounter with the much-lauded hand-cut chips.


Flying Fish hand-cut chips $4.50

The serve is enormous--fat chunks of potato show off their Paris Hilton tans and shimmer in a heavy dusting of chilli salt.

The potatoes taste like they've been parboiled, cut and then deep-fried to an extra crispy exterior. Inside they're soft, sweet and fluffy, and remind me immensely of Sunday roast potatoes.

Adding plenty of zing is the chilli salt, which isn't very hot at all, but provides an elegant rustic twist on the ol' chicken salt favourite of every Aussie's formative adolescence. The seasoning is equally salty and sweet, and carries the flavour of its fried shallots and garlic with just a glimmer of chilli.



At bargain prices compared to a la carte (the hand-cut chips as a side dish in the restaurant costs $9.50), Flying Fish and Chips is a great way to try some of their specialties before taking the big leap (mains start at $39).

Or if you really want to eat in style, Flying Fish and Chips will deliver your order to your boat within the harbour from $25 (free delivery within the marina for orders over $25). Now that's cool.


Flying Fish and Chips
Suite 124 19-21 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont, Sydney
Tel: 02 9571 6637

You can recreate their famous chilli salt by using the recipe here.