There you are, daydreaming about the European vacation you’re planning. The incredible places you’ll visit, the food, the mouth-watering local delicacies!
French cuisine, Ooh la la!
Italian cooking, Mamma mia!
Spanish dining, Dios Mio!
British food . . . uhhhh . . . (tumbleweed) . . . sure, I guess?
We have suffered this reputation for many years, and we can’t seem to shake the impression that our food is flavourless, stodgy and boring. Is there some truth to this?
Let’s have a look at some of the dishes you might have heard of to set the scene.
Fish & Chips:
Of course! The most requested dish in London and a staple in every pub throughout the land. Haddock or cod deep fried in oil served with big, thick chips. If you want to be really authentic try it with mushy peas (nicer than they sound) and drenched in salt and vinegar. Although Fish & Chips is a pub classic it was originally a cheap takeaway option, you’d visit your local “chippy”, the meal would be made in front of you then wrapped in paper and you’d eat it at home. In fact, that’s still the norm for most people.
Side-note 1: Cod is currently suffering from overfishing and stocks are low so Haddock is a more sustainable choice.
Side-note 2: There is a common misconception that this is ALL WE EAT. Not entirely true.
The Sunday Roast:
A great British tradition, served in many households on, you guessed it, Sunday. It usually consists of a roast chicken, leg of lamb, side of beef etc with roast potatoes, gravy, vegetables and Yorkshire puddings. If you haven’t tried a Yorkshire pudding with your roast, soaked in gravy, you are missing an absolute treat!
If you happen to be in London on a Sunday many pubs will serve their own version of this with varying degrees of success. The common refrain you'll hear is that “nobody does a roast quite like my mum”. In my case it happens to be true.
Sausage & Mash: (AKA Bangers & Mash)
Another pretty self-explanatory option. I’d like to say it can come in all shapes and sizes but in fact it always tends to look exactly the same. A pile of mashed potato with two or three sausages stacked on top with onion gravy poured all over it. I’m not really selling this one am I. It can actually be delicious and if you’ve been marching around London on a cold day it’s hot, tasty and filling.
The Full English:
Forget about a bowl of granola or a croissant to start your day, this is not for the faint-hearted. A Full English usually consists of the following: Fried eggs, fried bacon, fried tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread, sausages, baked beans, black pudding (don't ask) and toast. . . usually accompanied by a mug of tea.
If you want to try this heart stopping classic properly seek out a traditional British Café, often referred to as a “greasy spoon” (though never to the proprietor).
Ok, I’m starting to see why we have this terrible culinary reputation, it’s all making sense now.
Steak and Ale Pie:
There are other pies to choose from, but this is likely to be the type you’ll see listed on a pub menu. A hard casing of pastry containing chunks of meat in a thick hot gravy. Its usually served with chips (what else?) and vegetables on occasion. In my experience a pie in a pub can be a delicious winter treat but it depends where you go. Sometimes the pie ends up sitting on a hot plate for too long and when it finally arrives in front of you it's like trying to chew a hockey puck. Good luck.
Toad in the hole:
We are getting a bit more obscure here, this isn’t something you’re likely to come across very often but whilst we’re here: Do you like sausages? Do you like Yorkshire puddings? Well this is those things smushed together and covered in gravy. Nice.
Spotted dick:
Another dish you are unlikely to come across, but it has a funny name so it gets a mention. It consists of a fruit sponge pudding covered in custard. Why is it called Spotted Dick? The answer is neither funny nor fascinating so lets leave it at that.
Whilst we are on the subject of dessert, I have a recommendation for those of you with a sweet tooth. STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING. Don’t ask questions, just do it. Many pubs serve it, it’s a British classic and you won’t regret it.
Hmmmm. On reflection this list doesn’t exactly do a lot to undermine the whole “stodgy” argument. We could benefit from adding a salad and a few less fried items but hey! I don’t make the rules.
However, London has a great tradition of innovative, exciting dishes, created by ground-breaking chefs. We have an eye-watering selection of incredible restaurants to choose from and every style of food you could possibly imagine. This is one of the many great benefits of being a city with a hugely diverse melting pot of cultures. So if you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, look no further than London.
Afternoon Tea:
You’ll notice I didn’t mention this quintessential English tradition but as I’m asked about it constantly, I’ll deal with this in an entry all of its own. Watch this space…