Lunch time
Hello! Let´s begin this journey with food. Let´s have lunch together.
I know UK is not particularly known by their exquisite cusine. However, neither is Sweden nor the Netherlands. So, why is it that Brits come under fire so often for this reason? I reckon it must be their high profile in so many areas these days that forces people to find something to complain about – complaining certainly is a world sport! 🙂
One thing that has always intrigued me ever since I came to London is the fact that even Brits would almost warn me with regards to their food. Naive as it might sound, I don´t believe them. Two reasons for this:
- There are so many cookery programmes on TV showing the joys of British food. It´s not all about pies, as I have learnt;
- The older generation of British expats have mentioned to me that they are not quite happy to see what their national cuisine has been reduced to.
Having said this, I love their penchant for foreign food. There are not that many places around the world where you can have Austrian, Turkish, Indian, Lithuanian, etc. All in one place!
So what are you having for lunch today? I might have a home-made turkey and spinach wrap. Bon appétit!
I think maybe their bad reputation with food comes from decades ago -maybe from the 60s or 70s. Like the way my mother-in-law cooks, i.e., ‘meat and two veg’ and ‘prawn cocktail’ with maryrose sauce being the height of sophistication for her ;). People tend to have images of terribly overcooked food slapped on a plate without any finesse when they think about British food, but things have changed – a lot.
Their cuisine has a lot to offer. Go to any modern British restaurant and the choice of food you can have is overwhelming. The quality is outstanding too. They have evolved massively and learnt how to combine ingredients and present food. Then you have all the ‘celebrity chefs’ too that although they can be a *tad* annoying sometimes (Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver – I’m looking in your direction) they have certainly contributed to raising the profile of Bristish cuisine abroad (they love Jamie in Spain!).
They are a lot more open to trying foreign foods too. I find it amazing that in a smallish town like Nottingham you can find a restaurant of just about any nationality. The choice is huge.
Their bad reputation with food is just a lazy cliche as far as I’m concerned. If after living in this country you still think that you can’t eat well here, then you must be an extremely picky – and closed-minded -eater!
Any recipes you particularly like?
Mmmmmm, I’d have to say honey-glazed pork belly with apple and mustard mash, one of my top faves 🙂
Today, I´d like a choc egg!! Are you, guys, having a chocolate egg today? What about painting one?
I love this tradition here ( as well as good venison or Cumberland sausages with little mash, yummy!).