A chippy tea is one of the greatest treats there is and not two establishments are quite the same.
Many have their own specials that people love them for which is why I went to Happy Seasons in Huyton to find out about their highly recommended chip barm. It is also known locally as ‘Ming’s Wings’ because of their salt and pepper wings that used to be served up by the man himself.
Daniel Wong, 38, took over from his dad Ming about four years ago but has been working in the Happy Seasons for 15 years on and off. He remembers the chippy always being part of his life and remembers spending his childhood in the back while his parents worked hard.
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There weren’t always plans for Daniel to take over the family business, but when asked what drew him back, he said one thing swayed him the most. He said: "The customers. The customers are great, I love talking to them. We have a good number of loyal customers, some who come in every week."
The community is very much at the heart of the Happy Seasons, when the ECHO visited on a Thursday evening in February, it was very busy, a buzz of people coming in for their favourite order or some of their famous ‘Ming’s Wings’. The staff are lovely and chatty confirming to me the chip barm I am asking for is indeed ‘a thing’.
Daniel said the menu has developed over time due to its customers: "My dad came to the UK in the 70s and took over the chippy from a lovely couple around 1990. At the time it was just a basic chippy and then we added Chinese dishes and my dad added things as he got to know people. Someone would come in and ask ‘can you put chips on a barm’, that never used to be on the menu."
And this is exactly how the local delicacy of chip barm with chicken bits and soy was born. Daniel said about 15 years ago a customer asked for some of the leftover crumb from the salt and pepper chicken wings to be sprinkled over his chips and the local classic was created.
Having tasted it myself, it is easy to see why it is raved about on Google reviews. The salt and pepper mix has a good kick but also has a slight sweetness giving it an incredible umami flavour. The crunch of the ‘chicken bits’ with the soft, fluffy chips is addictive and the soy adds a wonderful, rich saltiness that compels you to eat more.
I devoured my barm, and still had leftovers of the generous helping of chips still in the paper. I will admit I took a break, but then the smell of the salt and pepper spices lured me back in to polish off the rest.
And at only £2.60 it was an indulgent bargain. I live about 40 minutes away from the chippy but I can easily see myself craving one of their signature barms in the near future and going back soon to try the wings themselves.
Daniel told the ECHO he loves the food at the Happy Seasons and while many go wild for the wings he has a soft spot for their sweet and sour. Mr Wong has retired from the chippy now but still visits every week to keep a close eye on his son and their famous dishes.
Happy Seasons is located at 98 Page Moss Lane and is open every evening except Tuesdays and open for lunch service on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
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