Most of us already know that the North East is home to some of the best fish and chip shops in the country.
But while we've all got our own favourites, two of our region's chippies were recently singled out by a national newspaper as being among 20 of the best seaside fish shops in the country.
The Guardian named Colmans, in South Shields, and Coastline, in Blyth, in its list, to the delight of owners and staff.
Read more: Two North East seaside fish and chip shops named among the best in the country
We wanted to see if we agreed, so I stepped forward to sample the fare on offer at both takeaways, ordering a a cod and chips at both places. Both delivered a huge portion of fish and chips in cardboard boxes, perfect for balancing on your lap as you enjoy lunch on the beach.
It was quickly easy to understand why both chippies have received national acclaim. Colmans has two branches in South Shields and I tried the chips from the Seafood Temple branch, which offers the quickest access out on to the sand, though I'm sure the original Ocean Road branch is just as good.
The fish was clearly fantastic quality and the portion more than generous, the meaty cod tasting great even without its coating of batter. The batter was light and crispy on the outside, with that soft interior layer that melts into the fish that you sometimes get in battered cod.
Batter at Coastline was probably slightly crispier, without that softer interior layer - I enjoyed both greatly, so which is superior is probably just a matter of preference.
Both venues offered chips that managed to be very slightly crisp whilst remaining properly soft and fluffy inside. A true chippie chip should be neither soggy nor too hard on the outside, and in both cases these hit that perfect sweet spot in the middle.
Although I wanted to sample the classics, both places offer a few more unsual choices.
Coastline has an extensive menu, including more high-end seafood options like hand-cut squid rings or pan-fried king prawns. That being said, you can still get a battered sausage or a spam fritter, so it's not as if they've lost touch with their chippy roots.
At Colmans there's not quite so much variety, but you can enjoy some more unusual fish choices like lemon sole, while there are a few good options for vegetarians too, including their famous mushy pea fritters.
Both also offered the option of salting and vinegaring my chips myself - Colmans providing sachets and Coastline leaving the salt and vinegar out for customers to use after being served. I really appreciate that touch, as it means you can season your meal to your exact taste.
Both perfectly located for a seaside picnic and both serving well cooked, great-quality fish and chips, it's easy to see why these takeaways have been singled out for national praise. The only possible downside to either is the price, which might be higher than some would expect for a chippie tea. Cod and chips set me back £11.50 at Coastline, while it's cheaper at Colmans, where cod and chips goes for £8.50.
