If anyone ever puts together a list of the world’s most unappetizing dishes that actually taste great, they should definitely consider this version of the popular fish and chips cooked in an activated charcoal batter. It looks like a scorched stick, but reportedly tastes amazing.
Activated charcoal is commonly used in cosmetic products and toothpaste, for its ability to trap toxins in its micro-pores and clean the body, but people have also been using it as an eye-catching food ingredient for a few years now. Back in 2014, we wrote about a jet black Cheddar cheese that got its unique coloring from activated charcoal, and last year, black ice-cream almost broke the internet after photos of it went viral on Instagram and Twitter. Now, a cafe in Melbourne, Australia is getting its five minutes of internet fame for combining the classic fish and chips with activated charcoal to create one of the least appealing dishes in history.
Photo: Long Story Short Cafe/Facebook
The Long Story Short cafe, a beach-side eatery in Melbourne, wanted to add a unique version of the popular dish to their venue, to match all the other intriguing meals they offer, including “fairy floss dessert burger” and “quirky hot chocolate”. Someone suggested dipping the classic ingredients in activated charcoal batter, and owner Ly Nguyen apparently thought it was a smashing idea. Although the dish turned out like a burned tree branch, they put it on the menu, and despite a wave of negative comments on social media, the Long Story Short cafe isn’t even thinking of taking it off.
Photo: Long Story Short Cafe/Facebook
“We love having a wow factor with our food, one of the things we live for is seeing people’s reaction when they come to our cafe,” owner Ly Nguyen told news reporters. “People are saying ‘This looks like something you’d see at the bottom of a toilet’, but in saying that, the response has been phenomenal.”
Photo: Long Story Short Cafe/Facebook
Looking at these photos of the unique dish, you’re probably thinking something along the lines of ‘I would never put that stuff in my mouth’, but you’d apparently be missing out on a delicious meal. Ly Nguyen said that activated charcoal fish and chips has been such a success that they are selling out every day. Most of her customers don’t even use social media, so they haven’t been exposed to the negativity surrounding the dish.
Photo: Long Story Short Cafe/Facebook
“People finish the whole dish and they say it’s really delicious, so we’re really happy with it,” the owner said. “Some people say it doesn’t look good, but then when they have it they say it’s the best fish and chips that they’ve tried.”
Photo: Long Story Short Cafe/Facebook
“All of this social media storm I think is really exciting – and I don’t take offense to it, because we’re the ones that are selling the dishes. Even though the response has been negative on social media it’s one of our most popular dishes now and we won’t be removing it anytime soon.”
Sources: News.com.au, Daily Mail
