Comments on: British Cuisine Becoming Extinct

By: Rosi

Rosi — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:02:01 +0000

English food isn’t about flashy presentation and exotic tastes, it’s just good simple food, like fruit crumbles or rabbit stew (my favourites). I can see why you’d call it bland, as it doesn’t really include many flavours, but pretty much most American cuisine stemmed from England (an “American” apple pie? Are you joking?), so it’s only yourselves you’re insulting.
And I have to agree with Brodel about the awful imitation “British” food. I went to a so called “authetic British pub” when I was in Washington DC and the food there was absolutely terrible. And don’t get me started on the shortbread biscuits you have over there…

By: Clint

Clint — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:09:24 +0000

British food is absolutely lovely when done right. It is real comfort food and cheers you up no end.

Bubble and squeak,
Black Pudding
Spotted Dick
Beef Wellington
Fish and Chips
Mushy peas
The good ol Sunday roast

all delicious.

By: Tsauce

Tsauce — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:43:23 +0000

Seems like a lot of people dont like english food but i personally think its delicious. cornish pastys are the bomb and so is most “pub grub” in my opinion. its hearty food that keeps you happy and content on a cold, dreary english day.

By: A.Non.E.Mous

A.Non.E.Mous — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:51:19 +0000

The problem is that cooking real British cuisine is actually quite difficult. Real British cuisine does not rely on strong spices or rich sauces. It relies on basic foods cooked perfectly with delicate flavors. Most British dishes do not translate well to restaurants, and so are pretty unknown outside homes with good cooks. Many of the dishes are also highly regional, so many people are just not familiar with them.

Spotter Dick is a wonderful baked pudding with raisins served with custard. Trifle is a really good dessert made from layers of lady fingers soaked in brandy, jello, and custard. Beef Wellington is filet mignon cooked in puff pastry with liver pate and mushrooms.

British food can only be good with fresh ingredients and a good cook. It just doesn’t work if the ingredients aren’t there or if the cook does not know what they are doing. You just can’t make it from a can or a packet.

By: TT

TT — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:55:06 +0000

Yeah but what’s the big deal? Some of them dishes are so tasteless and boring, if you tried to make them tastier with other ingredients they wouldn’t be British any more! So what does that tell you about British cuisine?

By: Skipweasel

Skipweasel — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:32:00 +0000

Considering how the supermarkets all sell beef tough enough to make wellingtons out of, it’s sad to see Beef Wellington in such a decline.

By: oakling

oakling — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:14:38 +0000

This is so silly. Everything goes through cycles. And I wouldn’t say that 70% of whoever has cooked spag bol or curry… I bet they’ve cooked some nonsensical Briticized version. And that at least half of them made it from a can.

By: nyslee

nyslee — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:06:38 +0000

The survey by Tesco…

I stopped reading there.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:42:36 +0000

I think before you set you opinion you have to consider where you’ve had your “horrible dishes”. I’m sure in places like Italy where there are a handful of Mcdonald’s they probably think that North American food is crap. Here is Saskatoon (Canada) we have a great British restaurant called Simon’s British flavours… FYI the bubble and squeak is deadly good.

http://www.simonsbritishflavours.com/

By: rdubs

rdubs — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:44:04 +0000

spotted dick….. huhuhuhuhuhuh

By: whodathunkit

whodathunkit — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:29:56 +0000

Oh no! No more Bubble And Squeak?
No more Clotted Cream? Yeah, that’s right, Clotted Cream. You see, even when the Brits come up with something that tastes good they give it a disgusting name.

By: Brodel

Brodel — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:27:20 +0000

British food gets an undeserved bad reputation, especially from Americans. Which is fair enough considering it stems from opinions of soldiers when there was rationing during and after WWII, but it’s now pretty outdated.
I’ve lived in the US and whilst it may have the best fast food or ready made meals etc, I think the basic foods such as breads, cheese, butter etc and many British dishes are far tastier than those available in the US. It probably isn’t helped by the imitation British food dished out abroad is often nothing like the real thing either.

By: Sofar

Sofar — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:44:57 +0000

The food is one of the numerous things about Britain that I don’t miss. I’ve been living in America for twelve years, and the food here is just awesome. Plus when I came here I moved to New York. I had never had a good sandwich before New York.

By: medussa

medussa — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:21:47 +0000

There is a reason why British food is going extinct. Hmmm, what could it be.

By: Dave9

Dave9 — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 17:11:51 +0000

I don’t think i would miss bangers and mash, though bacon butty’s are pretty good.

By: Webomatica

Webomatica — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:57:37 +0000

Oh well – many british dishes I’ve had are bland and horrid. Exception made for fish & chips and mass produced chocolates.

By: radleyas

radleyas — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 16:48:43 +0000

I’ve just made a traditional sunday roast, complete with yorkshire pudding and bisto gravy … right here in Kentucky. Also, I adore coronation chicken salad … the best chicken salad!

As an American married to a Englishman, I’ve picked up quite a few Brit dishes. Some of the best, simple and hearty food.

By: David B

David B — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:45:04 +0000

It’s a traditional English dessert made with a type of pudding and raisins.

By: NiteWhite

NiteWhite — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:21:12 +0000

What the heck is spotted dick?! Is it like our Rocky Mountain Oysters?

By: Ali S.

Ali S. — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:12:24 +0000

I can attest to the “blah” of British cuisine. Having lived in London for 2 years you get to try out food from a colorful background of ethnic groups. But it’s pretty standard for every visitor to try out the local food first. Trust me when I say blah! However, it is true that the British population have adopted many other ethnic foods as their own such as curry like the famous spicy dish “Vindaloo”.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 14:53:29 +0000

And good riddance.

By: JB

JB — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 12:40:07 +0000

…cooking a spotted dick… now who would do such a cruel thing anyway?