Surely not? Jars of pickles on the counters were (are?) commonplace, aren't they?

Could be. Mind you, I only said 'pickle' because I've been in Canada for years and no longer say Gherkin.

it's a Wally. Not a new thing at all.

I had to look up wally. Apparently it's a Gherkin (as I mentioned in a response to spouse) and Gherkins are Pickles in Canada.

I double checked earlier to make sure they were the same.

I've still never seen one with fish and chips though
Of course I'd never seen coleslaw and gravy with fish and chips until Canada either.

But this report is a Brit thing, so maybe regional? Like mushy peas

When in Rome/Canada...


It's gherkin in Oz too, they're the sweet spiced ones. 'Pickle' is used for a dill pickle, I mistook one for a gherkin once and nearly choked!

I never saw a pickle/gherkin with fish and chips in Liverpool. Mushy peas (yum!), yes, gravy (yuck!) yes, but never a pickle.

Yeah I know o f only one place in Canda where I have gotten mushy peas with my fish and chips.... I still get a perplexed look when I say hold the coleslaw... I dont mind the coleslaw but gravy is as horrific to me as it is to most Canadians getting mushy peas....they dont like that at all!! whcih is a bit of a nerve... who the hell has gravy with fish????

At least you can treat the coleslaw as a salad starter but it's as pointless as that piece of lettuce and slice of tomato with steak and chips.

Well I guess as Brits living in Canada we have to adapt or find a place who can anticipate what it is what we want. At least if ordering fish and chips you usually end up with coleslaw and a wedge of lemon and asked if you want gravy as a side.
Chippy style gravy only goes on pie and chips or steak puddings. How many times have you had to ask for malt vinegar rather than the white crap they put out with the ketchup.

I've never had gravy with fish and chips but I have to say I'm not averse to the idea. What's not to like?

If the gravy is on the side then go for it. Now pouring the gravy over the fish is not everybody's cuppa tea. Now obviously growing up on chippy type gravy or homemade by mum for the traditional Sunday roast I can honestly say that usually I stay away from Canadian style gravy offerings however the odd place has produced a palatable gravy looking substance.

I suppose that in the land of Poutine, gravy and fish might not be so bad

Could it have been the original Four Seasons Motor Hotel at Jarvis and Carlton? THere are some pictures here https://robertmoffatt115.wordpress.c...-four-seasons/

My local chippy at uni - about 5 doors down from the house I lived in so heavily frequented by me and housemates - had jars of pickled eggs, gherkins and onions on the counter. A pickled egg with a chicken pie and chips was a go-to combo if it was close enough to closing time that we didn't want to make the owner have to fry up a fresh batch of fish (was always wise to keep in his good books....)

I guess its only slight different to having "chip shop curry sauce" with your fish and chips which is as popular a side as mushy peas in some parts of the UK

Stop it. One can only imagine the fragrance of curry sauce, mushy peas, gravy and fish and chips washed down with a pint of Guinness.