What’s your attitude/view of English Food?

[Ladywinesalot]

Thread about a thread, now taken down.

Many cultures around the World cook their family meals at home from scratch. (Whatever it be)

There is now an opinion that most food in the western world is unhealthy and junk food based, and that this junk food is primarily fed to children and one of the reasons for the increase in children’s obesity.

Even though my dc’s school say or are meant to provide healthy food they will still serve a hotdog (with veggie option) or a slice of pepperoni pizza.

But I don’t think this is typical of English food, this is junk food but for some reason given to children in school and is claimed as a ‘well balanced diet’.

I think proper English food is roast dinners, stews, casserole.

When and how did English food turn into junk food and be accepted for our children as a balanced diet?

There is junk food and fast food in France but most people eat it less often and there is not the same snacking culture, or eating food on the go.

But totally agree this is not just a British thing!

Re the French and our puddings, when staying at a relative’s place in France where French neighbours are often invited for dinner, they invariably enjoy a crumble, and I’ve been asked how to make it.

There’s always fruit that needs using up there, so it’s often a mix of apple, strawberries, rhubarb from the garden, and the odd peach or nectarine that won’t last another day.

I also once read a piece where an Italian woman raved about our puddings - Sussex Pond pudding was her favourite.

English food done well is a thing of beauty.

However it lost it's way. English food as cooked by my MIL, my Nan, places we went out to eat when I was a child in the 70s and 80s was an abomination.

Veg boiled into oblivion. Dry roasts. Sauces and gravy out of a packet. Watery mash. No herbs/spices/flavourings/garlic.

The rediscovery of English food has been wonderful for the restaurant industry. But at home I do tend to options with less washing up.

Are you specifically talking about English food OP? Or does this discussion include the rest of the U.K.?

@Hardbackwriter

People in the UK always have this romanticised idea that no one eats junk food or ready meals in Italy/France/Spain. If that's the case their supermarkets certainly have a lot of the stuff around as decoration...

👏🏻 @MrsFin.

@MrsDThomas

👏🏻 *@MrsFin*.

Thank you MrsThomas.

It gets my goat when English people confuse England with the U.K.

None of the residents of the other constituent nations of the U.K. make this mistake. Only the Saesneg.

It’s pretty uninspiring for vegetarians — despite the availability of wonderful fruit and vegetables — with the meat and two vegetables/stew/casserole emphasis. However, when we lived in Leicestershire, the food we ate at our British Asian friends’ houses was excellent, and bore no resemblance to what tends to be served in your standard neighbourhood Indian restaurant, and I’d certainly count such food as ‘modern British’. And living in London was a delight from a food POV.

I don't think the Brits being the most obese country in (western) Europe helps the image much. But I think a lot of it is others being a bit snotty over English food.

Again, Vladimirs, English, or British?

It’s pretty uninspiring for vegetarians

I agree. We eat a lot of vegetarian food, but it generally is things like risotto, Italian pasta dishes, Middle Eatern, Mexican and Asian dishes.

Wtf? Hungry gap at the moment but later in the year we'll have a whole plate of varied home grown veg from a British garden. If we can grow it so can the farmers. Just learn to eat seasonal plus frozen.

@murbblurb

Wtf? Hungry gap at the moment but later in the year we'll have a whole plate of varied home grown veg from a British garden. If we can grow it so can the farmers. Just learn to eat seasonal plus frozen.

Only that’s not what I said. I used to have an allotment, grow my own herbs and salads and buy seasonally from farmers markets. I’m not talking about produce, I’m talking — as the subject of the thread suggests — about the type of dish the majority of posters have said constitutes ‘traditional British food’, stews, casseroles, roasts. Where vegetables, other than a few root vegetable staples, aren’t key, and hence aren’t inspiring for vegetarians, as I said.

I love a lot of British food but every time I go to the UK I am astonished at the huge portion sizes. Not just with meals but the size of a sausage roll, or a piece of cake, or millionaire's shortbread.

I see friends post photos of their roast dinner on Facebook and I am shocked at how many calories can be packed onto a plate - who needs 2 or even 3 of boiled, mashed and roasted potatoes on the same plate and why is so much rich gravy necessary. And don't get me started on the yorkshire puddings - which are glorious, but you don't need to stack your plates with them.

I also find British food much more sugary in general - a Dairy Milk has either got too sugary or my tastes have changed over the years.

I am often envious of the choice in your supermarkets though. In fact I often feel quite overwhelmed in the bigger stores.

However , the need for fruit and veg available all year round baffles me - things taste so much better in season. I eat fresh in season, and frozen off season for veg, and fruit only in season. It's just better.

but every time I go to the UK I am astonished at the huge portion sizes. Not just with meals but the size of a sausage roll, or a piece of cake, or millionaire's shortbread.

You are not wrong @MesmerisingMinerva. We have lost sight of what a sensible portion size is. I used to enjoy a three course meal in a restaurant, now I just have one course, and am ridiculously full afterwards. A Chinese or Indian taeaway does us for two meals.

I never buy sices of cake in a cafe now because they are a ridiculous size. The last couple of times I had an afternoon tea out I have brought a box full home of stuff I couldn't eat. And I don't have a dainty appetite.

Dairy Milk is sugary and doesn't even taste of chocolate these days anyway.

Which country are you in?