British Cuisine

Some time ago Somerset Maugham said that 'to eat well in England, you should have breakfast three times a day.' To be perfectly honest, most British food was considered by many people as terrible. It included overcooked vegetables, boring sandwiches and greasy sausages. It was definitely not an enjoyable experience. However, these are now only stereotypes. Things have changed a lot and food has become very important in British culture. Not only TV cooks are more famous than writers, but also their recipes and books are well-known across the Europe. The 'New British cuisine' is changing the 'fish and chips' image and has become multicultural. There are about 80 different international cuisines and British restaurants may compete with those anywhere in the world in terms of price and quality.

In the majority of European countries it is normal to have a long break in eating in the midday. This is not really widespread habit in Britain. British people eat out rather regularly. They have three main meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, the three are often accompanied by four additional meals- elevenses, brunch, tea-time and high tea.

Breakfast is usually eaten between seven and nine. Most people believe that the ordinary English breakfast comprises of 'eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms and baked beans all washed down with a cup of coffee.' Nonetheless, the British are more likely to eat toasts with butter and jam or 'Marmite (a dark brown spread made from yeast)', fruit juices, cereals, some type of fruit -especially melons and grapefruits, porridge and a cup of coffee. In some homes and workplaces this meal is followed by something called 'elevenses.' It is some kind of 'tea break at about eleven in the morning.' It consists of a cup of tea or coffee and some cookies. If the breakfast and lunch are linked together the meal is called brunch. It is usually eaten in the late morning. Another mealtime is lunch. It is eaten between 12.30 and 2 p.m. In general, it consists of a sandwich, crisps and a drink. Traditional meal that is eaten at Sunday lunchtime is Sunday roast. On this day people do not have to work and they take the chance and eat together with their families. Tea-time is a small meal which is consumed in the late afternoon. It is a cup of tea, biscuits, cakes, or 'savoury foods such as sandwiches, crumpets or tea-cakes.' The additional light meal, which is popular in north England and Scotland, is called high tea. It is usually eaten in the early evening and is made up of a pot of tea. Finally, we have supper. For most families it is the biggest meal of the day. The typically served meal is meat and 'two veg'- meat dish together with two types of vegetables. Nevertheless, the latest survey revealed that it is rarely eaten nowadays. It is replaced by curry. In fact, at the moment curry is becoming very popular dish in England.

Nowadays, people are busier in Britain; and frequently do not have time to prepare or cook meals. Therefore, it is more and more popular to go to an eating place or order something in fast food restaurant. This habit gained popularity in the seventies. Now, one of the most famous fast food sellers is McDonalds. Yet, the most popular take away food is just fish and chips. According to numerous surveys, more money is spent on fast food in Britain than in any other western country. It is 'an appetite that's grown by 21 per cent in the last ten years.' Dr Wendy Doyle of the British Dietetic Association warns that 'the popularity of such food plays a big role in our growing rates of obesity.' The Health Survey for England, made in 1998, rates that '62 per cent of adults are now overweight or obese, a figure that's rising at the same rate as America, one of the fattest nations on the planet.' On the other hand, many towns have a variety of international dishes, for instance Indian, Italian, Chinese, Greek and etc. In this way they allow to try different tastes of the world. 'Most towns have an Indian restaurant, serving foods such as curry and chicken tikka masala. Chinese restaurants are also very common; popular dishes include sweet and sour pork and aromatic duck. Many people like Italian pizza and pasta dishes.'

Even though many people believe that there is nothing like typical traditional English dish and that Britain has the fast-food reputation, the traditional cuisine has survived. It is practiced mainly in the countryside and among the British upper classes. It includes: roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, toad-in-the-hole, pie and mash, black pudding, roast chicken, roast lamb, bangers and mash, bubble and squeak ploughman's lunch, hotpot, shepherds pie, Welsh faggots, syllabub, cock-a-leekie, mulligatawny soup and many other. What is worth mentioning here is that some world known food was invented in Britain. For instance, mayonnaise, HP sauce, marmite or simple sandwich. Many people also believe that steaks originated in the USA. However, they are so much British that in the past times British 'elite troops were referred to as beefeaters.' Additionally, Britons try to guard their 'inventions.' Traditional food and drinks are protected under European Union Law.

From the end of World War II, large numbers of population have turned vegetarian. In 2003 it was estimated that 'there are between 3 and 4 million vegetarians in the UK.' It is one of the highest figures noted in this time in the western world. What is more, 'Guinness Survey of pub food done in Jan 1991 showed that 96% of British pubs now cater for vegetarians.' Though it may seem surprising, the major group of vegetarians is formed by young people. It shows that people are now more concerned with what they eat. They tend to eat more fruit, dairy products, less fat and try to avoid red meat. There is also an increase in the production of organic food. In addition, producers are obliged by the British law to enumerate all the ingredients included in a given product.

In England special food is connected with certain festivals. They constitute some kind of symbol peculiar to those feasts. Shrove Tuesday is famous for pancakes; and Good