British Food

Shaped by the country's temperate climate, British cuisine includes the variety of culinary specialties of its neighboring states, as well as the importing of ingredients and ideas from some Western and Eastern countries. There's nothing new with such culinary description, since I already encountered similar cuisine descriptions from other countries. I also noticed that the British
quickly adopted the Americans' notion for fast foods. However, I believe Britain is still adapting and and absorbing culinary ideas from other nations worldwide.

The English folks are noted for their delicious and delicate Yorkshire pudding, that is usually made from milk, flour, and eggs. An English pudding is like an oven baked batter usually filled with creamy gravy sauce. Unlike other pudding dishes, a Yorkshire Pudding is not regarded as a very popular dessert but as starter meal or part of a major course. However, the unused Yorkshire Pudding can also be served along with ice cream or jam as the meal's dessert.

A mash and pie with liquor parsley is a very common meal in London. Before, an original pie was made out of eels, since they were cheaper than beef products. Fifty years have passed, the eels were replaced with minced beef fillings. Since then, the minced beef became the traditional mash and pie that the Britons are proud of. Of course, the traditional mash and pie is not complete without its all-time favorite sauce called liquor, whicht has a funny green shade, and its surely non-alcoholic.

This modern digital age certainly has much more surprises up its sleeve than what most of us expect it to have. We have even gone from conquering space to tapping the thread of life. Yes, as more and more geneticists are making breakthroughs in genetics, such innovations are either negatively distorting, or positively changing, the natural system of life on this planet. With this, the British government is planning to use specific barcoding techniques on the DNA sequence of genetically-modified organisms, or GMOs.

GM food, or genetically-modified food types, are now a means to produce healthier and bigger livestock and vegetation. But most people just don't want to try their hands out on these. Some say these could cause cancer, or at least some other deadly disease, while others think that these are better than hunger taking its toll on human lives. But the British government has expressed its concern on giving the people the right to choose which food types they would want to eat. They are now planning to use specific genetic technology to integrate a barcoding system on genetically-modified organisms that are used as food.

Barcoding GMOs would eventually lead to a larger scope for consumer choices. This would separate those people who just don't have the knack for tampered food types from those who would evidently eat anything that came out from tin cans or food laboratories. This technique would even create a system which would functionally prevent counterfeiting. But going back to food, these GMOs have been carefully observed and studied to have no long-term, or short-term, effects whatsoever on the human system. Or at least, that's what they want us to believe.

We all have heard that marijuana can be used to treat cancer patients, you know. But I think its use in treating these people is more for psychological wellness than the actual cure. Hey, those dope slackers think this could very well lead to the legalization of the damn substance! What's even more interesting is that there's this certain iced tea with a dose of marijuana available in British food shops! In this modern age of handheld digital devices, people are actually starting to think of tolerating more alternative lifestyles than before. In this modern information age, what next would we expect from these jokers! A heroin cake, perhaps?

I think those damn junkies have thought of mixing marijuana and tea together long before cocaine was marketed on the streets of New York. But the Swiss producers of this iced tea with marijuana is expecting global distribution of their killer product! Under the name C-Ice Swiss Cannabis Ice Tea, this marijuana-induced drink contains 5%, more or less, of cannabis flower syrup, plus a minimal dose of the psychoactive substance found in marijuana, which is THC. If the Swiss distributors would have put in a bit more of this substance, this product of theirs would have been classified under the regulated drugs category. It is now available in British shops, as well as in most countries in Scandinavia.

I watch international cooking programs and every single time, I am always amazed by the mouth-watering presentations of the recipes. But, there is one dish that I find weird. The chef said it is his favorite Scottish dish. It is made of sheep entrails and until now, I cannot imagine myself savoring such dish.

The native dish is called Haggis. Truly, foreigners will find it eerie and become horrified with the facts about its ingredients. To absolutely enjoy the dish, I recommend first time tasters to prepare whisky because it surely will not befriend the taste buds.

As far as I could remember the ingredients for Haggis are the following:

-1 of the following sheep entrails: lung, liver, stomach, and heart
-half pound of suet
-a cup of ground oatmeal
-finely chopped onions
-salt
-pepper
-nutmeg
-a cup of stock

It is important to remember that the sheep entrails are hard to find and illegal to sale for some countries. Anyhow, before cooking, they should be pre-soaked. After boiling it for half an hour, they are chopped or grated. The oatmeal must be toasted with the other ingredients and stuffed inside the stomach. After boiling it for three hours, the dish is ready for serving. It appears like a sausage, but real strange-looking. Also the dish is perfect for preparing delicious gourmet food. However, I just learned that cooking Haggis is one of the best ways to eat sheep.

I have not yet tried the most succulent gourmet recipes of Britain, but there is one peculiar type of pudding I am familiar with. It is safe to say that in my place we do also make puddings, but never in my life will I taste the one that is made with the blood of a pig. Yeah, we eat the meat, the skin, and the entrails, but having the blood included in the dishes is something odd.

The British people call the black pudding, or in some places it is called blood sausage. It is used a meat recipe substitute. When cooked, it is like a black sausage with meat chunks fillings. If you are interested in cooking it, here are the ingredients:

70 ounces of blood
3 chopped onions
1 kilogram of chopped fat (pork)
17 ounces of cream
17 ounces oatmeal
17 ounces barley
meat chunks
salt and pepper to taste
your choice of herbs

The onions must be sauted in the fat. When the fat is nearly dissolved, you can now add the cream and oatmeal. Let them simmer for a while, and then put the other ingredients. The pudding is done after five minutes. For preparation, some use skins (of the intestine) to place the pudding as to gain a sausage shape. The skins must be securely tied before putting them in boiling water and allowed to simmer for ten minutes. When you are done, you may now set aside the pudding and let it cool, then you may cut diagonally or whichever manner in order to make a beautiful presentation.

I have this British friend who moved in to New York to study photography. It's been a while since he first came here. Every time I ask him what he misses a lot about home, he would certainly answer it’s the food, particularly the Sunday Roast. Back in Britain, his family would usually eat the Sunday Roast after they come home from church. This, he said, has been a very long tradition in most British and Irish families.

The Sunday Roast is composed of roasted meat such as pork, beef, lamb, or chicken. The roast is commonly served with accompaniments that depend primarily on the kind of meat. For instance, roast beef would usually go with a Yorkshire pudding and for the relishes they put horseradish or English mustard sauce. Roast pork is usually paired with crackling and sage-onion stuffing. Apple sauce and English mustard serve as the relishes. The roasted lamb goes with onion stuffing, sage and mint sauce, while the roasted chicken goes with pigs in blankets, chipolata sausages, and stuffing. The relishes include cranberry sauce, redcurrant jelly, or bread sauce.

The meal will not be complete without a serving of boiled or roasted vegetables. Aside from being a traditional family meal, the Sunday roast is also served in many pubs in the country. The Sunday roast is also called Sunday lunch or Sunday joint.

Three factors have had a great impact on British cuisine; the country’s temperate climate, its geography, and partly its history. During the time of the British Empire many ingredients from their colonies in North America, China, and India were imported to the island. As such, British cuisine is a fusion of the cuisines that were adapted from these regions.

British cuisine has undergone an evolution through the passing of time. Many aspects of the lifestyle of the Britons had tremendous effects on the way they prepare and eat their meals. Because of the bustling activity in many of the commercial districts in the country, many Britons prefer to have their meals in restaurants or pubs because they usually live very far from their schools or office. Restaurants sprout like mushrooms everywhere due to the increased demand for quality food.

A bunch of British restaurants now serve breakfast. An interesting menu item is the Ulster fry. It is a combination of fried items that are usually eaten during breakfast. It is traditionally served in Ulster, Ireland. The meal consists of bacon, eggs, sausages, soda bread, potato bread, and tomato slices. Common additions may include baked beans, mushrooms and pancakes. The meal is commonly served in most cafes in Ireland and is becoming more and more popular in other parts of the country.

British people do not eat that much. However, that does not necessarily mean that British people do not care for food. To prove my point, they actually have a dish called the Ploughman's Lunch. As the name of the dish suggests, it is eaten during midday. Actually, the said dish is very popular in pubs or diners in Britain. It is believed that the Ploughman's Lunch was first mentioned in the "Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Sott." The books described the dish as a type of sandwich. The dish was next mentioned in either in 1960 or 1970 when the name of the dish was mentioned for a certain cheese handbook.

The usual food components of this dish include a roll of bread, cheese, onion, and pickles. Other ingredients that British people use for the dish are crispy green leafy veggies, celeries, rocket, and spring onions. The mentioned additional ingredients add extra spice and flavor to the meal. The celery, for example, brings crispness. On the other hand, a rocket adds a peppery taste. The same thing can be said of radishes. Meanwhile, green or red apples are perfect compliments to the cheese that you would like to use for your Ploughman's dish.

British Food is a mostly a delicious concoction of healthy food. Cebiche is one of the most popular types of servings that Britain has. And what could be a healthier source of meat than fish? We combine these two in this classic British dish. This is the recipe for Red Snapper Cebiche.











First, you will need:

450g or 1 lb of Red Snapper
the juice of three lemons
the juice of three limes
1 thinly sliced onion
salt and pepper
a pinch of cayenne pepper
1 crushed garlic clove
1 finely chopped chili
2 tablespoons of freshly chopped coriander or cilantro

You need to:

1. Under cold running water, wash the fillets and dry it by patting a paper towel.

2. Make bite size pieces out of the fillets by cutting it. Then place them in a shallow bowl.

3. Mix the other ingredients and make sure that the fish is well-coated.

4. Refrigerate it for 4 to 6 hours, turning once or twice then serve.

See? It's very easy to prepare. It will take you more or less than ten minutes. Enjoy this simple recipe from the Brits.

I love collecting recipes from all over the world and trying them out. Another delicious meal I just discovered was the tasty British food called Lean bacon and Tomato. This popular dish is really delicious and so easy to cook. The ingredients for this British food are:

-One can of tomatoes, chopped
-Salt
-Pepper
-Two cubes of oxo
-Four Lean Bacon rashers
-Two tablespoons cooking oil

When you have gathered all the ingredients, the first thing you need to do is chop to bits the lean bacon rashers. In doing this, you always have to make sure that you have removed all of its excess fat. After chopping it to bits, you should fry the bacon bits in a small amount of oil for a maximum time of four minutes. After that, you can now put it in the drainer to remove oil and fat. When it has already been drained, transfer it to a small saucepan and put the chopped tomatoes. The last ingredient to add is the oxo cubes. You can put these when the tomatoes have started to bubble. Also add a little bit of pepper and a little bit of salt to add flavor. Now, you have one tasty food for dinner.

Although it might not sound appetizing to those with weak gastricular resolve, steak and kidney pie is one of Britian's most famous traditonal dishes. This pastry dish is made with a cooked mixture of chopped beef, beef kidneys and onions and a thick sauce. Sometimes potatoes or hard-boiled eggs are added to the mixture.

The suace is usually made with beef broth flavored with salt, pepper and parsley made thick with flour or cornstarch. Steak and Kidney Pie is also know to the locals as Kate and Sidney Pie or, especially in the Armed Forces, as Baby's Head. Sound's appetizing, dont you think?

The Brits are definitely big eaters and their love for meat is evident in their staple food. What they call bangers and mash, for example, is a high-protein and carbohydrate dish that includes sausages and mashed potato. The sausages used may be of different grades and varieties, from pork to beef.

Bangers and mash is very tasty, I must say, and the side servings of vegetables and gravy make it a complete meal. I do not mind that it is common in European pubs or during winter; the fact that it is easy to prepare makes it all the more satisfying.

London is the world's gourmet capital; from its six thousand fine eating establishments, you're bound for a food trip along London's bustling streets. There are traditional London pubs or Gastropubs, which serves the typical English meal, but of course, they have their own innovations. There are great Alfresco dining and with matching open terraces and gardens, you'll feel the alfresco scene immediately! There are food chains, which serve international gourmet cuisines, there are food markets for the on-the-go people, and there are pre-theater food, serving great dishes with fine entertainment. Of course, the stylish bars are always there to add the bubble on your food escapade!

The British breakfast is famous for being protein-packed to last you the whole day. It usually consists of eggs, bacon, bread, and of course, the black pudding, also, sometimes fried tomatoes are included in the breakfast meal. Black pudding is not actually pudding, it's a type of sausage, also called the blood sausage, cooked with the blood of an animal, usually from cattle or pig, the most meat with a lot of fat. Blood from goat or sheep is not always used since it has less fat. Now, that's some breakfast!