The 15 most British foods ever

[+ g56whiz]

Ah fish & chips. In my Irish Catholic neighborhood in the days before Vatican II, there was a fish market on the corner of the street where my grammar school stood. ‘Twas the days before McDonalds and fish and chips were our comfort food before BigMacs and Quaterpounders.

 

My family was of English rather than Irish stock so some of these things like bread pudding were common.

[bnm73]

 

 

My sister-in-law's mother was English and made outstanding trifle.

 

Trifle is my go-to "the cake didn't come out of the pan cleanly" dessert.

 

I threw a neighborhood "make your own pizza" party a couple of years ago and made a red-wine chocolate cake for dessert. Sadly, when I turned the pan over, only half of the cake came out.

 

I checked the fridge and had whipping cream. I knew I had homemade jam from the plum and apricot trees in my back yard. I whopped the cream and started making layers of cake, cream, and jam.

 

Some of my neighbors STILL talk about that dessert....which was fixing a mistake.

[Rudynate]

Ah fish & chips. In my Irish Catholic neighborhood in the days before Vatican II, there was a fish market on the corner of the street where my grammar school stood. ‘Twas the days before McDonalds and fish and chips were our comfort food before BigMacs and Quaterpounders.

 

My family was of English rather than Irish stock so some of these things like bread pudding were common.

 

I spent my adolescent years in Rochester - a very Catholic part of the country. Friday night, just about the entire city, whether they were Catholic or not went out for Fish Fry - either battered or breaded haddock, french fries and cole slaw and tartar sauce.

[Rudynate]

Probably sherry, if it was traditional. I find a little Kirsch added to the whipped cream significantly improves a trifle.

 

It tasted boozier than sherry - maybe brandy. But what do I know? I don't drink.

[+ g56whiz]

I spent my adolescent years in Rochester - a very Catholic part of the country. Friday night, just about the entire city, whether they were Catholic or not went out for Fish Fry - either battered or breaded haddock, french fries and cole slaw and tartar sauce.

Only battered in my area and mostly cod. And in lent it was Friday’s AND Wednesday’s. The only exception was the Friday after Thanksgiving. Richard Cardinal Cushing of Boston would always give a dispensation for that one Friday.

 

Decades later I traveled thru England on a tour that was too guided. All meals were plotted in advance. One mid Saturday afternoon whilst trudging on my own around some castle ruin in a small city, I noticed a fish & chips shoppe open. Of course I made a beeline for it and ordered some. Not only was it heavenly, it was exactly as greasy and wonderful as those I got on my way home from grammar school. One of the highlights of that trip.

[mike carey]

My sister-in-law's mother was English and made outstanding trifle. She always served it at Christmas. She made the sponge cake, the custard, the whipped cream and put it all together and let it refrigerate for quite a long time. It had some sort booze in it but I don't remember what.

I'm guessing sherry.

 

Ed: Oops, posted this before seeing @escortrod's entry and your reply on the next page.

[bnm73]

Wait a minute....where's the gooseberry fool?

[Youngmilkman]

The creation story I’m aware of for Chicken Tikka Masala has it originating in Glasgow, Scotland, which has a large Indian community.

 

I’d definitely agree that the Cornish pasty should be included.

Onion bhaji is another one apparently invented in Britain rather than India.

[+ Charlie]

I have never had haggis or laverbread; otherwise, I have had everything on the list at least once, and a few are staples of my diet. Unfortunately, much as I love a scotch egg, it is almost impossible to find in this country.

[+ Avalon]

Onion bhaji is another one apparently invented in Britain rather than India.

 

Maybe it was invented by someone who had served in the Raj?

[Youngmilkman]

Maybe it was invented by someone who had served in the Raj?

Most likely one of the many Indian immigrants.

A bit like how my ex-boyfriend from Malaysia used to tell me how his country's national cuisine was the invention of immigrants from India, Indonesia and China.

[+ g56whiz]

Most likely one of the many Indian immigrants.

A bit like how my ex-boyfriend from Malaysia used to tell me how his country's national cuisine was the invention of immigrants from India, Indonesia and China.

Confirmed by my current partner Chinese also from Malaysia.

[Rudynate]

I have never had haggis or laverbread; otherwise, I have had everything on the list at least once, and a few are staples of my diet. Unfortunately, much as I love a scotch egg, it is almost impossible to find in this country.

 

I have always thought of making scotch eggs, but that's as far as I've gotten. I worked at an old-style French restaurant many years ago (table-side service, flaming desserts etc.), and the scotch egg appetizer was a real crowd-pleaser.

[+ Avalon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_egg

 

Sounds good!

[Gadfly22]

Can't believe eel pie isn't on the list. https://britishfoodhistory.com/2012/01/22/eel-pie-and-mash/

Never had it but its très British. I have had eel in Japan though and its my favorite seafood.

Trifle is also wonderful, one of my favorite desserts.

Black pudding - The name is British but every culture has their own version of blood sausage. Certainly the Italians, Spanish and Portuguese do.

Not a big fan of baked beans for brekkie, though. That's very British. But that aside I'm a big fan of traditional English Breakfast.

And I haste to correct "The Telegraph" but Shepherds pie and cottage pie are not the same thing. The former is made from lamb and the latter from beef, no?

[+ Avalon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_breakfast

[gallahadesquire]

Can't believe eel pie isn't on the list. https://britishfoodhistory.com/2012/01/22/eel-pie-and-mash/

Never had it but its très British. I have had eel in Japan though and its my favorite seafood.

Trifle is also wonderful, one of my favorite desserts.

Black pudding - The name is British but every culture has their own version of blood sausage. Certainly the Italians, Spanish and Portuguese do.

Not a big fan of baked beans for brekkie, though. That's very British. But that aside I'm a big fan of traditional English Breakfast.

And I haste to correct "The Telegraph" but Shepherds pie and cottage pie are not the same thing. The former is made from lamb and the latter from beef, no?

In 1066 and All That, one of the Kings (Henry I?) died of a surfeit of lampreys

[+ Charlie]

The first Thanksgiving that I lived in London, an American friend who was visiting me wanted to take me out for dinner. We ended up at Simpsons-in-the-Strand, where we asked the puzzled waiter for a traditional dinner, expecting turkey. We got roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

[+ g56whiz]

The first Thanksgiving that I lived in London, an American friend who was visiting me wanted to take me out for dinner. We ended up at Simpsons-in-the-Strand, where we asked the puzzled waiter for a traditional dinner, expecting turkey. We got roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

 

You were expecting maybe moo sho pork?

 

Actually I’m about to have the same problem in Kuala Lumpur. Even if I find a suitable turkey I’ve never seen a residential oven including my own that’s big enough. And forget the pearl onions in cream sauce.

[+ Avalon]

You were expecting maybe moo sho pork?

 

Actually I’m about to have the same problem in Kuala Lumpur. Even if I find a suitable turkey I’ve never seen a residential oven including my own that’s big enough. And forget the pearl onions in cream sauce.

 

This group has a Thanksgiving Lunch

 

https://www.americanassociationofmy.com/special-events/

 

https://www.americanassociationofmy.com/