English cuisine

Once thought to be an oxymoron, British cuisine has absorbed influences from former colonies, immigration and proximity to contemporary Europe, particularly France and Italy. Italian-American influence is now ubiquitous and pasta or pizza make a significant contribution to many diets.

These trends are exemplified by the ubiquitous spaghetti bolognese (known colloquially as Spag Bol) which has been a common family meal in Britain for nearly two generations. More recently Chicken tikka masala and lemon chicken, from Indian and Chinese origins respectively, have been modified to suit British tastes.

There has also been a massive boom in restaurant numbers driven by a renewed interest in quality food, possibly due to the availability of cheap foreign travel. Organic produce is increasingly popular following a spate of farming crises, including BSE.

The rise in popularity of celebrity chefs on television has fuelled an increase in the awareness of of good food and "New British" cuisine has shaken off much of the stodgy fish and chips image. The best London restaurants rival those anywhere in the world, in both quality and price and this influence is starting to be felt in the rest of the country.

At home, the British have many original home-made desserts such as rhubarb crumble, bread and butter pudding, trifle and custard. The dishes are simple and traditional, with recipes passed on from generation to generation.

At teatime, the British savour scones with jam, butter or marmalade; they also favour biscuits and sandwiches. A unique sandwich filling is Marmite, a savoury spread with a dark black/brown tar-like texture and bitter taste. A hand-made favourite is butterfly cake. Children learn the methods to bake these sweets during cookery lessons at school.

Somerset Maugham is quoted as saying "To eat well in England, you should have a breakfast three times a day"

British students attending university and living away from home for the first time can often be seen with a copy of a basic cookery book for beginners which includes such 'recipes' as 'boiled egg'.

Regional specialities: