England for Foodies

Food is often considered the great unifier. Surely no one in the world is unaffected by good and tasty cuisine, presented in an attractive way. Contrary to popular opinion, England does have its own delicacies. Some are relished only by locals, while others are appreciated by visitors, or even reproduced internationally. Who has not heard of fish and chips, roast beef, or Yorkshire pudding? There are some culinary traditions that are to be savored and enjoyed, without giving too much thought to calorie value or the grease!

Traditional Foods
Food in Britain typically consists of beef, pork, chicken, fish or lamb, served to an accompaniment of potatoes or other vegetables. Traditional delicacies include sandwiches, fish and chips, pies like Cornish pasty, roast dishes, and trifle. Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding is a Sunday family lunch staple.

The Great English Breakfast
Heavy, filling, greasy, sinfully delicious, and tasty are some of the adjectives commonly used to describe the hearty English breakfast. Derided and loved equally, this iconic meal is synonymous with British cuisine and must be enjoyed at least once during a visit to this country. A combination of fried eggs, grilled tomato, traditional bacon, toast, various sausages, and baked beans makes a complete meal that will keep one full all day. There are healthier options to the traditional recipe, but the real foodies swear by the original. It is available at most hotels and restaurants, but it’s at the ‘bed and breakfast’ lodgings throughout the country where you will find it in its most authentic style.

High Tea or Afternoon Tea
The traditional afternoon tea, introduced by Anne the 7th Duchess of Bedford in 1840, usually comprises a variety of sandwiches, scones served with clotted cream and preserves, cakes and assorted pastries, together with the quintessential British beverage, tea. The meal is an elegant and unforgettable ritual that can be enjoyed at any of London’s best hotels, or better still at an old-world tea room in the west country, which includes Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset.

The English Pub
A public place where people gathered to drink and talk, the English pub is a unique institution that goes back to the Anglo-Saxon period in British history. A typical and popular part of the national culture, pubs are to be found everywhere and are a popular tourist destination. Today’s English pub is not just about drink, but also about delicious food. Every week, around 15 million people meet and greet each other in them.

The food at the English pub is typical hearty British fare; fish and chips, cottage pie, hamburgers and chips, triple decker sandwiches, and soups. They have a light meal, appetizer, and main meal menus that feature every English specialty that any foodie would enjoy.

Toad in the Hole or Bubble and Squeak?
Food monikers in England often have a whiff of the funky and humorous, which is so much a part of British culture. Would one opt for a ‘Toad in the Hole’, or a ‘Bubble and Squeak’? How about ‘Bangers and Mash’, or perhaps some ‘Spotted Dick’?

Toad in the Hole, a uniquely English concoction, is really nothing more than sausages swimming in Yorkshire pudding, with some vegetables and onion gravy—absolutely no toads included. Bubble and Squeak uses beef kidney and leftover vegetables usually from the Sunday roast. Bangers and mash is just sausages with mashed potatoes, while Spotted Dick is a traditional steamed suet pudding with dried fruit, served with custard.

These delicacies may not be found in conventional restaurants but are worth seeking out in quaint pubs and countryside eateries, as they give the foodie a taste of the typical traditional English cuisine.

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England for Foodies

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