Guest Author - Karyn Johnson
When most people think of English food, the word they use to describe it is generally not flattering. Most people would be surprised to know, however, the English food is changing for the better. And the cuisine is more than just fish and chips. Many other cultures and cuisines are influencing British cuisine for the better, and even classic English dishes like Shepherd’s Pie and Bubble and Squeak are getting makeovers.
The most popular dish in England today is Chicken Tikka Masala. And while that sounds like an authentic Indian dish, it was actually invented in England using Indian food as inspiration. In fact, this dish is now considered to be more quintessentially Indian than Tandoori Chicken, and its popularity has far surpassed England’s borders. On a trip to London last summer, I noticed that the menu at Garfunkel’s offered not only this dish, but fish and chips as well as pasta and American hamburgers.
Of course, England, like everyone else in the world, has experienced the American fast food invasion. But fast food or “take-away” can also be Chinese, Indian, pizza, and Turkish. Additionally, you can also get fast food at a “chippy” (fish and chips shop) and pick up such portable English foods as pasties and pies (of the steak and kidney variety). Some take-away places can have a variety of cuisines in one place. In Bath, for example, I noticed a fish and chip shop that also had Chinese take-away.
The stereotype that English food is merely bland roasted meats and vegetables is starting to fade away with the popularity of such British celebrity chefs as Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson, and Gordon Ramsay. They are well-known names abroad, and are starting to give English food a better reputation. They educate people on cooking foods with very fresh, high quality regional ingredients. These chefs also like to make traditional English foods with a twist by adding herbs and spices not found in Britain.
Modern England also has a high concentration of vegetarians. Grocery stores and restaurants accommodate vegetarians very well, so if you’re a vegetarian tourist traveling through England, you can eat almost anywhere without worry.
If you’re still leery of eating English food, give a traditional English breakfast a try. Many hotels serve it, and any restaurant that serves breakfast will generally offer it. While it’s no longer a staple in English households, it is still popular with tourists. The breakfast usually consists of fried bacon and eggs, toast, sausages, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, baked beans, and possibly black pudding (sausage made from blood). While I’ve never been brave enough to attempt black pudding, I generally find the other elements of an English breakfast to be excellent and filling. Also worth trying: Sticky Toffee Pudding, Cornish pasties, Shepherd’s/Cottage Pie, and Bangers and mash (sausages with mashed potatoes). And of course, try the Chicken Tikka Masala.
