The truth about British food
We have many different types of food in Britain today. After years of other countries making fun of British cuisine, it now has an excellent reputation. In fact some of the great chefs now come from Britain!
In London especially, you can try the best of British food, but also the best foods of the world as there are many different cuisines to sample, Chinese, Indian, Italian and Greek restaurants are amongst the most popular.
Although some traditional dishes such as roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, Cornish pasties, steak and kidney pie, bread and butter pudding, treacle tart, spotted dick or fish and chips, remain popular, there has been a change in eating habits in Britain. People are eating more and more rice and pasta and less meat and potatoes. Vegetable and salad oils are now used instead of butter.
Roast beef is still the national dish. It is called a "joint," and is served at midday on Sunday with roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, two vegetables, a good strong horseradish, gravy, and mustard.
Today fresh ingredients are very important in the better restaurants and markets in the UK. Fish is still important to the English diet, we are after all an island surrounded by some of the richest fishing areas of the world.
National dishes
Bangers and Mash
You might see this in a pub or cafe. Simply put, bangers are sausages, and mash is potato that's been boiled and then mashed up (usually with butter). The sausage used in bangers and mash can be made of pork or beef.
Bubble and Squeak
Bubble and squeak (sometimes just called bubble) is a traditional English dish made with the fried leftover vegetables from a Sunday roast dinner. The main ingredients are potato and cabbage, but carrots, peas, brussels sprouts, and other vegetables can be added.
Fish and Chips
Fish and chips is the traditional take-away food of England, long before McDonalds we had the fish and chip shop. Fresh cod is the most common fish for our traditional fish and chips, other types of fish used include haddock, huss, and plaice.
The Humble Sandwich - yes that's ours too!
Where would British be without the cheese sandwich? The origin of the sandwich is as British as it could be. The name refers to the Earl of Sandwich who lived 1718 to 1792. The Earl of Sandwich enjoyed gambling and he didn’t want to stop so that he could eat. So, he invented the sandwich, so that he could eat while he gambled.
Indian Cuisine in the UK
The word curry, meaning 'to spice' has been used since the medieval period. Nowadays, a night out in the pub, followed by a curry, is a tradition in many cities