Golden Cutlets

[barry1010]

Anyone familiar with this term for smoked haddock? We had golden cutlets often when I was a child but I have never heard anyone outside the family use the term.

[Tilly2]

Not heard that Barry. We used to call it Finny Haddy. (Finnie Haddie?)

[cashier]

We had it a lot when I was a child, but I have never heard that term for it

[Buenchico]

Your definition is recognised here:
http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/goldencutlets.htm

[rowanwitch]

I thought golden cutlets were what you bought if you couldn't afford smoked cod or haddock. In the Birmingham Fish Market they sell them as a separate item I asked once and they said they were pollock

[Buenchico]

From the website of The Fishmongers' Company:
"In the early days, fish were smoked in old smokehouses with kilns that resembled giant chimneys. The smokers would add a lot of salt, colour and smoke in order to disguise the raw material which was not always of the best quality. Thus the bright yellow coloured product became de rigueur and small block fillets of whiting or haddock smoked in this way even became known as golden cutlets."

https://discoverseafood.uk/fishing-through-time/just-like-always/

[Buenchico]

Relevant to the Finnan Haddock references above:
"The reputation of Finnan Haddock spread quickly and became a popular food, especially in London during the 18th century. The introduction of bad peat and softwood sawdust, which was influencing fish acridity lead to its unpopularity. After some years, it started to rebuild its celebrity-status and quality, however, with the help of modern cures using artificial dyes. There are still few small independent smokers who follow the traditional method. Mass produced cold smoked haddock are called golden cutlets, whereas a true Finnan Haddie is the split headless whole gutted fish ..a much rarer find."

https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/traditional-finnan-haddock/

[Buenchico]

Sainsbury's product labels from the 1960s
https://d1nvj7b44vmgv4.cloudfront.net/_source/pkc/SA_PKC_PRO_1_16_2_1_1hr.jpg
and, more specifically, from c. 1967
https://d1nvj7b44vmgv4.cloudfront.net/w800/pkc/SA_PKC_PRO_1_16_2_1_2hr.jpg

[Atheist]

Reminds me of 'Sky blue pink with a finny haddy border' I'm sure this has been on AB before.

[Buenchico]

For Atheist:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases-and-Sayings/Question459921.html

[Atheist]

Thanks, Buen..

[barry1010]

Thanks all. Fascinating to see the Sainsbury labels, I was wrong to think it was a family term.
I didn't know we were eating that awful pollock in the 50s and 60s, I eat a lot of fish but hadn't heard of it until 20 years ago.

[Atheist]

Barry; if you enjoyed that pollock in the 50's and 60's, why do you now call it awful?

[barry1010]

Atheist, I have only eaten pollock once, 20 years ago. I meant 'we' as people in the UK, not my family. I should have said I didn't know pollock was sold in the UK during the 50s and 60s