Best of British Food
It has been said that British food is unimaginative and stodgy. If simple dishes, prepared from local, seasonal ingredients and served with sauces that enhance the natural flavours of the food are unimaginative, that's fine. If stodgy refers to thick and starchy puddings intended to fill up hungry children in austere times, that's fine too.
Down the centuries the British have adapted to what life has thrown at them and adopted cooking styles and recipes from the people of many different cultures who have made their home in the United Kingdom. One of the earliest cookbooks was written out on vellum in England in 1390 during the reign of Richard II. Recipes include soups and stews made with wines, herbs and spices, using plenty of vegetables and locally sourced meat and fish. As a great trading nation, even in those far-off days Britain made use of cloves, pepper and ginger brought from the East, as well as home-grown ingredients such as herbs, honey and cream.
During and after World War II, rationing made the British use everything they could grow and to employ every ounce of their imagination to create meals that were both palatable and sustaining. 2010 marks the 70th anniversary of the introduction of food rationing and the Imperial War Museum is staging an exhibition entitled The Ministry of Food which runs right through to the beginning of 2011.
Throughout the year there are a variety of food-related events taking place. This autumn sees British Food Fortnight 2010 from 18 September - 3 October and across the nation there are food festivals for every taste. The Feast of Dorset is in Wimborne, Suffolk has the Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival and across in Wales there is the Mold Food & Drink Festival; Faversham in Kent is the venue for a Cider Festival at Brogdale Farm.
As to British food being unimaginative - there are over 700 British cheeses available and more than 1500 specialist sausage makers currently at work. And the sandwich was invented in Britain, too.
Ask someone from overseas what they think typifies British food and they will probably mention roast beef, a Full English Breakfast and custard. Lovely!
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