Food lovers all over the world tend to agree that French food is perhaps the best cuisine in the world. The French themselves tend to believe this wholeheartedly as they think that their many culinary delights are indeed superior to those that are offered by other global cuisines. It’s no surprise then that French restaurants and French Chefs are regarded quite highly in culinary spheres, as they are sought after by good food lovers everywhere. Unfortunately, British cuisine, which tends to suffer from quite a stodgy image doesn’t enjoy this same appeal, as many people dismiss it as being awful and lacking in flavor. I happen to travel to England quite a lot as my better half’s family resides there and over my many visits across the pond, I have grown to know, love and enjoy the many oddly named but quintessentially British foods which are in fact quite delicious.
A Full English or A Full Monty or a Fry-Up
The British love their hearty breakfast meal and depending on where you are in the British Isles, this breakfast meal is known either as a Full English or a Full Scottish or a Full Irish with various regional variations. Since I tend to be based in London, a breakfast meal here tends to consist of eggs, bacon, fried or grilled tomatoes, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, toast and sausages. Many cafes and restaurants even offer other traditional additions, such as black pudding or Bubble and Squeak. A full English breakfast, which has all these goodies, is often also referred to as a Full Monty or a Fry-up. The Full Monty is truly a hearty affair and after you have indulged in one, you usually don’t need to eat for the rest of the day.
Bubble and Squeak
This yummy fried concoction can trace its origins to the times of scarcity during WWII when left over vegetables from a traditional Sunday roast were combined with mashed potatoes and served as a breakfast accompaniment or even added to an evening meal of cold meat (also left overs from the previous day’s lunch) and pickles.
Black Pudding
Black Pudding or blood sausage, is a dark sausage which is stuffed with pig’s blood mixed with pork fat or barley. It is definitely savory and not sweet as its name suggests. Black pudding is also often battered and fried and served as a snack in British chippy shops (fish and chip shops).
Yorkshire pudding
A Yorkshire pudding is not a pudding in the traditional sense, but rather a golden brown puff which is a traditional component of a Sunday roast lunch, which also features roast potatoes and gravy. As its name suggests, Yorkshire pudding originated in the North eastern county of Yorkshire in England. It was initially used as filler for poor people who couldn’t afford meat. Years ago, meat used to be cooked on a spit and the pudding batter used to be placed under the meat and the juices from the meat would drip on the batter and if there wasn’t enough meat to go around, these Yorkshire puddings used to be doused in gravy and served as the main meal to young children.
Toad in the hole or Toad in a hole
Toad in the hole is the ultimate British comfort food, though it is quite full of fat and quite an artery clogger, as it is a combination of both the sausage and batter used for Yorkshire pudding. To get the pudding to rise, most chefs recommend the use of butter or bacon grease rather than margarine or vegetable oil. Toad in the Hole is a favorite pub dish which is also made for special occasions like Christmas. It is usually served with vegetables and gravy. Needless to add, it doesn’t feature any amphibians of any kind.
Bangers and Mash
Bangers and Mash is another classic British comfort food dish, which started out as a dish that was popular with the working class and is now also served at many Tony Gastro pubs that grace London’s dining landscape. Bangers refers to the traditional British beef or pork sausages which are traditionally served on Mash or ordinary mashed potatoes. Bangers and Mash are usually topped with onion gravy and downed with a glass of cider. The term ‘banger’ refers to the sausage’s tendency to crackle or bang in the pan when it is cooked over high heat and not to any rocking head banger!.
Shepherd’s Pie/Cottage Pie
This pie is not made exclusively by a shepherd or for a shepherd, but it has its origins in the late eighteenth century when the potato was touted as an edible vegetable for poor people. Shepherd’s or cottage pie is made with beef or lamb which is then topped with mashed potato and baked.
Welsh rarebit/Welsh rabbit
Yet another delectable British classic, Welsh Rarebit or Welsh Rabbit, is a dish which features a sauce made of melted cheddar cheese that is sometimes seasoned with ale, mustard, cayenne pepper or paprika that is placed on slices of bread and baked. Contrary to its unusual name, Welsh Rarebit/Rabbit doesn’t feature any cute bunnies, so animal lovers can breathe a sigh of relief.
Cream Tea
The British love their tea and tea time is yet another revered British tradition when they usually enjoy indulging in cream tea or tea that is served with milk and is accompanied by warm freshly baked scones, clotted not whipped cream and strawberry jam. One of the best places in London to enjoy cream tea is at the temple of good food, Fortnum and Mason which has a tea room that serves a traditionally British cream tea as well as a champagne cream tea.
Suet Pudding/Spotted Dick
Suet refers to the fatty substance that surrounds the kidneys and loins of sheep and cattle. This white and fibrous substance is mixed with flour and used to make puddings like Death by Suet, which is made from boiled Suet and served with golden syrup. After Eight chocolates or the Spotted Dick, is a steamed suet pudding which is made with sultanas and raisins that give the pudding it’s name - spotted.
Hot Cross Buns
Hot Cross Buns usually make their appearance at Easter time and consist of a currant or raisin yeast bun which is adorned by a cross made from lemon flavored icing. These Hot Cross Buns were originally used in old English ceremonies and rituals. The Christian Church tried to ban them but such was their popularity that it wasn’t able to so it went ahead and adopted these buns when Queen Elizabeth I passed a law which stated that these buns were to be only consumed during religious festivals like Easter. These Hot Cross Buns are extremely popular even today and have also inspired a favored children’s nursery rhyme.
Mince Pies
Mince Pies are a British Christmas treat. These pies originally were made with minced meat but meat was dropped in the nineteenth century and now these mince pies feature a filing of ‘mincemeat’ which is made of apples, dried fruit and spices. Mince pies are a beloved British treat which were once banned in the 17th century by the ‘Lord Protector’ Oliver Cromwell who regarded Christmas as a pagan holiday and detested it. He then went on to ban the Christmas celebration in 1657 but thankfully Christmas was restored when King Charles II ascended the throne in 1660.
Next time you are in Great Britian or anywhere else in the United Kingdom, you must try and sample some of these weirdly named but utterly delicious British foods.
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 17th, 2009 at 5:21 am and is filed under Europe, Food, Travel Ideas. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I’m working up an appetite just looking at the photos of these delicious dishes! Great post…
July 1st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Glad you enjoyed it, do keep visiting often
July 8th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Interesting story about Hot Cross Bun’s and the law passed by Elizabeth I. I’m guessing that law is no longer in use, but I suppose it created the tradition that still exists.
July 10th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
This is fascinating. I’d seen these foods mentioned in books many times, but never happened to see pictures. So Welsh Rabbit is a spicy version of cheese toast? I always thought it was some kind of game dish.
Suet and syrup? Argh. I guess they needed a lot more calories a few generations ago!