British cuisine was saved by South Asian immigrants who made Indian takeaway the national dish. In the past few years, though, katsu curry has emerged as the kingdom's hottest food craze, to the extent that McDonald's and Burger King have tried incorporating it into their menus, as well as long established restaurants. Katsu curry is a Japanese dish made of breaded and fried meat cutlets served with a curry sauce. The strange part of the story is that katsu curry was introduced to Japan in the late 19th century by the British navy! Really. The dish was promoted by the imperial Japanese government to bring more nutrition to its citizens by encouraging the consumption of red meat. "Curry" is just a name for a sauce that's flavored with Indian spices, and the exact ingredients vary widely. The curry sauce introduced to Japan hid the unfamiliar smell and flavor of beef, pork, or mutton, and became a popular dish in Japan. More than 100 years later, it has returned to Britain.
Still, those who know will tell you that while British katsu curry is pretty good, it is not the same as katsu curry in Japan, nor most curries in India. When foods make their way around the world (and back again, in this case), they are changed and adapted to local tastes. Read the story of katsu curry and how it became a favorite in the UK today. -via Metafiter
(Image credit: Andy Li)