2. A bit of history
British cuisine is shaped partly by the
country's temperate climate and its island
geography; and partly by its history, first as
the target of European invaders, and then
as a colonial power in places such as
North America,China and India. Traditional
foods with ancient origins, such as bread
and cheese, roasted and stewed meats,
meat and game pies, and freshwater and
saltwater fish, are now matched in
popularity by tomatoes and chillies from the
Americas, spices and curries from India.
Britain was also quick to adopt the
innovation of fast food from the USA and
continues to absorb culinary ideas from all
over the world.
3. Can’t we say anything good about English food?
- English breakfast
The full English breakfast (or "cooked
breakfast") also remains a culinary classic.
Somerset Maugham is quoted as saying "To
eat well in England, you should have
breakfast three times a day." Whether the
fry-up is accompanied by orange juice and
usually of tea or coffee, or only bacon, eggs,
and toast, it is regarded as a ritual comfort.
- Sunday dinner
Sunday Dinner, is a meal traditionally eaten in the
United Kingdom on Sunday. Its origins lie in being the
only meal of the week where the whole family eats
together. The meal traditionally consists of potato-
new potato in spring and summer and mashed potato
in autumn and winter, other vegetables most
infamously brussel sprouts and some form of meat
and gravy- usually roast beef though chicken is not
uncommon. The meal is somewhat like a far less
grand version of christmas dinner.
4. Traditional dishes
• Toad-in-the-Hole - sausages covered in batter and roasted
pickled onion, and a chunk of bread
• Ploughman's Lunch
This dish is served in Pubs. It consists of a piece of cheese, a bit
of pickle and pickled onion, and a chunk of bread
• Shepherds' Pie
Made with minced lamb and vegetables topped with mashed
potato
• Lancashire Hotpot
A casserole of meat and vegetables topped with sliced potatoes.
• Black Pudding (Blood Pudding)
Looks like a black sausage. It is made from dried pigs blood and
fat)
5. Why does British cuisine have such a bad reputation?
The Industrial revolution that began in Britain in the 18th century is responsible
for the former very poor reputation of British food. Unlike the populations of most
other countries, by the mid 19th century the majority of the British population
were working in city factories and living in very poor housing. The new working
class had lost contact with the land and the standard of cooking declined as a
result.
6. What else gives English food a
bad name?
- Take-away food
The rise of the industrial revolution was also paralleled by the advent of take-away
foods such as fish and chips, mushy peas, and steak and kidney pie with mashed
potato (pie and mash). These were the staples of the UK take-away business for
many years, though ethnic influences, particularly Indian and Chinese, have led to
the introduction of ethnic take-away foods. From the 1980s onwards, a new
variant on curry, the balti, began to become popular in the area around
Birmingham, gradually spreading to other parts of the country. Kebab houses and
American-style fried chicken restaurants aiming at late night snacking have also
become popular in urban areas.
- Marmite
Marmite is a popular British savoury spread, used in
sandwiches, made from yeast extract, a by-product of the
beer brewning process. It is a sticky, dark brown
substance, with a distinctive and powerful taste which you
either "love it or hate it". Upon first taste, most foreigners
hate it!
7. - Home-made desserts
At home, the British have many
original home-made desserts such
as bread and butter pudding,
spotted dick and trifle. The
traditional accompaniment is custard
, known as crème anglaise (English
sauce) to the French. The dishes
are simple and traditional, with
recipes passed on from generation
to generation. The pudding tradition
reaches its height with the
Christmas pudding. - Tea-time treats
At teatime, traditional British fare
includes scones with butter, jam and
clotted cream, as well as assorted
biscuits and sandwiches. A hand-
made favourite is butterfly cake.
Some schools teach young children
how to bake such sweets during
cookery lessons.
8. Tea
Britain is a tea-drinking
nation. Everyday they
drink 165 million cups of
the stuff and each year
There are 2 types of tea around 144 thousand tons
•AFTERNOON TEA (The of tea are imported.
traditional 4 o'clock tea)
•HIGH TEA (The traditional 6
o'clock tea)
