British cuisine

Although British cuisine is not recognized as a worldwide celebrity like French or Italian cuisine, but it obviously belongs to one of the most refined and special ones. Of course everyone has ever heard of English breakfast and afternoon tea which are an essential part of the Englishmen everyday life.

English breakfast can hardly be recognized as dietary, it mostly contains eggs, beans, bacon. The punctual Englishmen usually have breakfast between 7 and 9 am and lunch is typically about 1:30 am. Dinner is the last meal of the day and it takes part between 6:30 and 8:00. Dinner may also be called “tea” in the northern area of ​​the country and being the main meal of the day, it is considered a whole art of its own. It is actually not what all visitors usually imagine: at half past three everyone sedately sips English tea. The menu of the afternoon tea is quite exquisite and various. It may contain smoked salmon with cream cheese, ham and mustard, coronation chicken, cucumbers, apple biscuit scones served with cream tea in a fine porcelain pot.

The afternoon tea is not common for the working class population, since everyone goes to work at this time. This meal is replaced by supper eaten rather at the end of the day than in the afternoon.

Surely no one can imagine British cuisine without roasted beef, noble and famous dish in the English identity. The history of the beef-eating dates back to the times of Queen Elizabeth when it was condemned by the church propagating vegetarian diet, and then glorified in the song “The Roast Beef of Old England”. Anyway it remains a celebrity on the table of all noble and middle class Englishmen. There are thousands of recipes and hundreds of restaurants cooking them for the most hypercritical visitors.

As a result of trading partnership between Britain and India established in the middle of the 17th century the curry dishes have conquered the British cuisine forever. British colonial rulers had to control their affairs in India, that is how Indian curry took root in the British cuisine. The main dish is the chicken Tikka Masala, a very creamy marinated chicken cooked in a variety of recipes: each restaurant you visit will serve you with its own unique curry Tikka Masala dish. Every week the British eat about eighteen tons of Tikka Masala dish every week. It may not only be independent dish, but also a filling for pizza, sandwiches or pies. Today the number of Indian restaurants grows in Great Britain with influx of the Indians and the popularity of curry keeps spreading all over this area.

One more part of the British cuisine is pubs. About 75% of the Englishmen of all ages, occupations and classes visit pubs. The special feature of a pub is a non-waiter system, that is no one will come to serve you if you will sit at a table outside. A traditional pub should have at least two bars: public bar and lounge bar. The public bar is mostly for the male visitors, typically laborers speaking loud and drinking much. The lounge bars are rather for sitting down, talking slowly and having rest after a hard day with a friend. There is also a price difference between them, the lounge bars are a little more expensive.

The modern pubs are now competing with restaurants: it is a place to spend time with a partner, friend, eating, drinking and talking about business. Tea and coffee are also on menu, so children and women are surely welcome. In the pub you will certainly have the opportunity to taste the famous steak, kidney pie, sandwiches, pickled eggs, crisps or Welsh rabbit.

Anyway it is worth going to the UK to experience the variety and splendor of the British cuisine.

“British cuisine” (topic, topic, text)

Traditional English food has been greatly influenced by other national cuisines in recent years. Despite this fact, if you travel to Britain, you can still be served up traditional English dishes in a restaurant or at a hotel.

A typical English breakfast is usually quite big and substantial. It includes pork sausages, bacon and eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms and a toast. Some people enjoy porridge, fruit and yogurt in the morning, followed by a toast and jam, or orange marmalade. A traditional breakfast drink is tea, which British people prefer having with cold milk. Another popular morning drink is orange juice.

For many Englishmen lunch is a fast meal. In big cities there are a lot of sandwich bars where office clerks can choose all sorts of sandwiches with meat, fish, chicken, ham, prawns, eggs, cheese, vegetables and lettuce. English pubs also serve good food for lunch, hot and cold. Quite a lot of workers go to the famous “fish and chips shops” and buy their favorite deep fried cod or haddock with French fries.

A lot of Englishmen drink their 5 o’clock tea. It’s a traditional light meal after work. People enjoy their favorite teas with cookies, cakes, freshly baked sweet buns, scones and other pastries.

British people eat their evening meal at about 7 o'clock, when all members of the family are at home together. As a rule, a typical dinner is meat and vegetables. It can be roast chicken or lamb with potatoes, or steamed vegetables with meat gravy. For dessert, English wives cook various puddings and serve them with ice-cream or jam.

On Sundays British families like to sit together at the table enjoying roast beef, lamb or chicken, served with Yorkshire pudding and dressed with English mustard, apple sauce, cranberry sauce or mint sauce.

English food is simple but very delicious. Today it continues to merge in national cuisines from all over the world.

Translation

Traditional English food has been heavily influenced by other national cuisines in recent years. Despite this fact, if you travel to the UK, you may still be served traditional English food in a restaurant or hotel.

A typical English breakfast is usually quite large and substantial. It includes pork sausages, bacon and eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, mushrooms and toast. Some people like to eat porridge, fruit and yoghurt in the morning, followed by toast with jam or orange marmalade. The traditional breakfast drink is tea, which the British love to drink with cold milk. Another popular morning drink is orange juice.

For many English people, lunch is a quick meal. In big cities there are many sandwich bars where office clerks can choose any kind of sandwich with meat, fish, chicken, ham, shrimp, eggs, cheese, vegetables and lettuce. English pubs also serve good food, hot and cold, for lunch. Quite a few workers go to the famous Fish and Chips cafes and buy their favorite deep-fried cod or haddock and chips.

Many English people drink five o'clock tea. This is a traditional light meal after work. People enjoy their favorite variety of tea with biscuits, cakes, freshly baked sweet buns, scones and other baked goods.

The British have dinner in the evening at about 7 o'clock, when all family members are at home together. Typically, a typical dinner consists of meat and vegetables. It could be roast chicken or lamb with potatoes, or steamed vegetables and meat with gravy. For dessert, English wives prepare various puddings and serve them with ice cream or jam.

On Sundays, British families love to sit down to the table and enjoy roast beef, lamb or chicken, served with Yorkshire pudding and topped with English mustard, applesauce, cranberry sauce or mint sauce.

Volkova Alena. Perm Institute of the Federal Penitentiary Service, Perm, Russia
Essay in English with translation. Nomination Great Britain and its inhabitants

British National Cuisine

National cuisine in Britain has changed remarkably in recent decades. It is caused by the fact that people come there from all over the world and bring with them their culinary secrets, their new recipes, their food and sauces. So in all supermarkets in Great Britain one can find vegetables, fruit and spices from all corners of the world.

Do you know what the British have for breakfast? Every morning they have a light breakfast after a first cup of tea. This light breakfast is prepared very early and is considered to be a separate meal. English light breakfast consists of toasts with marmalade, tea or coffee, plus scrambled eggs with beacon, sausages, porridge or cereals with orange juice.

Next meal is between 12 and 14 o’clock. It’s time for a substantial meal - lunch. At this time they have a cup of tea and some tasty cookies which are sold in on London streets in small kiosks. As a rule lunch consists of sandwiches. That’s why at this time of the day the British go to fast-food restaurants where they have hot-dogs or fish in chips (fish filet in bread crumbles with sauce), and French fries and pickles as a garnish. Between 15.00 and 18.00 they have tea, which is an English tradition. They drink Traditional English tea in offices, at home, in cafe confectioner’s shops, and they always drink it with scones and muffins. Scones are small round biscuits that are usually cut in halves and eaten with butter or cream. Muffins are small cake in paper wrappings.

Dinner in Britain may be taken at 19.00 (then it is called dinner) or at 23.00 (then it is called supper) and the time depends on the plans for the evering, weather people would stay at home after work or go out to relax. For dinner the British prefer to have something like chicken soup with onion, soup with mutton with vegetables or vegetables, soup with meat. For a garnish the British have traditional Yorkshire pudding. All Englishmen consider Yorkshire cuisine the best in the country and are really proud of it.

And what is national cuisine in other countries? Let's compare some! French cuisine is elegant and festive. The Chinese is exotic, the Russian is tasty and healthy, it is easy to cook and you don’t need to have much skills and specific ingredients.

Let’s look info Russian national cuisine. Appetizers look and smell tasty and stimulate appetite for the main course. Many dishes are very spicy, because they add different spices there: horseraddish, garlic, mayonnaise, pepper and so on. In Britain appetizers are called snacks and they presuppose butter and cold water. For dinner or supper in Russia they eat soup as the main course. Soup in Russian tradition is broth with much of meat, vegetables, greenery and spices, which is considered as nonsense by the British. In Britain soup is a smashed vegetable substance or broth with toasts and vegetables, so seeing Russian borsch or schi soups the British can’t help being shocked. Besides, the Russians have cold soups like okroshka or kholodnik.

So, to my mind Russian cuisine is more diverse and simple than the British one.

In Britain, national cuisine has undergone significant changes over the past few decades. Because people from all over the world come there and bring their culinary secrets, new recipes, products and sauces. Therefore, in all UK supermarkets you can find vegetables, fruits and spices from all over the world.

Do you know how and what time the British have breakfast? Every morning, after drinking the first cup of tea, the British organize a “light breakfast”. It is prepared quite early and is considered a separate meal. “Light breakfast” in English is fried slices of bread (toast) with orange jam, tea or coffee, plus scrambled eggs and bacon, sausages, porridge (liquid oatmeal with milk) or cereal from any cereals and orange juice.

The next meal in the UK begins between 12.00 and 14.00 - this is the time for a full breakfast - lunch. It comes with a cup of tea and very tasty cookies, which are sold in London right on the street, in small stalls. Typically, lunch consists of sandwiches. Therefore, it is at this time of day that the British visit fast food establishments, where they devour hot dogs or fish in chips (fish fillets in breadcrumbs, sprinkled with sauce), and as a side dish - fried potatoes and pickled vegetables (pickles).

Between 15.00 and 18.00 there is an indispensable tea party - a purely British custom. Traditional English tea is drunk in offices, at home, in tea shops, and is almost always accompanied by scones and muffins. Scones are some kind of spherical shortcakes that are cut in half and spread with butter or thick cream. And muffins are small cupcakes in corrugated baskets.

Lunch in Britain is called both dinner and supper depending on the time when it occurs: at 19.00 or at 23.00, it depends on the plans for the evening, whether people will stay at home after work or go somewhere to have fun. For lunch, the British prefer to treat themselves to rooster soup with onions, lamb's head soup with vegetables, or vegetable soup with meat. As a side dish, the British eat traditional Yorkshire pudding. All English people consider Yorkshire cuisine to be the best in the country and are proud of it.

What is the national cuisine like in other countries? Let's compare! French cuisine is elegant and festive, Chinese cuisine is exotic, Russian cuisine is tasty and healthy, it is very easy to prepare and does not require much skill or special ingredients.

Let's take a closer look at Russian national food. Appetizers on the Russian table usually look and smell very tasty, and stimulate the appetite for the main course. Many of them are quite spicy, because they use different seasonings and spices: horseradish, garlic, mayonnaise, pepper, etc. In the UK, snacks mean butter and cold water. Russian cuisine offers soup as a main course for lunch or dinner. Russians understand soup as a broth with a lot of meat, vegetables, herbs and seasonings, so, for example, for the British this is nonsense. In Britain, soup is a vegetable puree soup, or broth with croutons and vegetables, and when they see Russian borscht or cabbage soup they cannot contain their surprise. In addition to hot soups, Russian cuisine also includes chilled soups (okroshka, kholodnik).

Thus, Russian cuisine differs in its variety and quick preparation from British national cuisine.

Indian curry. Yes, yes, a recent survey conducted among UK residents showed that curry is the British choice of curry most often.

A powerful stream of emigrants from the countries of South Asia rushed to Great Britain, dragging with them not only numerous members of their families, but also elements of their traditional culture and way of life. In addition to curry, modern Englishmen also do not shy away from snacking on overseas dishes of rice and pasta.

Features of national English cuisine

But what food is considered traditionally English? In principle, English cuisine is based on dishes from beef, lamb, pork, Chicken And fish, with the addition of flour, butter and eggs. As side dishes usually served with main courses potato And vegetables. It cannot be said that traditional English cuisine is particularly sophisticated - as a rule, English dishes are simple and unpretentious. Unlike neighboring France, food in Great Britain is not intended to provide taste and aesthetic pleasure, but rather performs a purely utilitarian function - to satiate the stomach.

In the photo: traditional English sandwiches.

The most typical dishes of British cuisine are:

All kinds of sandwiches(as a rule, these are sandwiches made from two triangular slices of bread with a filling sandwiched between them, generously flavored with mayonnaise);

Famous all over the world " fish and chips» (breaded fish fillet with a side dish of French fries, seasoned with malt vinegar);

Different kinds filled pies, such as Cornish pasty - a layer pie filled with pieces of meat, potatoes and carrots;

Baked in the oven meat(roast dinners);

- Yorkshire pudding;

Among the English desserts we can highlight trifle– layered sponge dough with custard, fruit juice or jelly and whipped cream.

Traditional English dishes

Bubble and squeak

In the photo: English dish Bubble and squeak.

Some traditionally English dishes have rather strange names, for example, " Bubble and squeak", which translated means "gurgling and squeaking." This dish is the quintessence of English frugality: it is prepared from the remains of the traditional Sunday lunch (Sunday roast). For Sunday lunch in English houses, "roast" is traditionally served - a large piece of meat baked in the oven (see below) Lunch is complemented by baked potato slices and boiled vegetables (cabbage, carrots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, green peas), as well as Yorkshire pudding and the traditional thick gravy known as " Gravy". The zealous English do not throw away everything that is left from Sunday lunch, but chop it into small pieces on Monday, pour it with egg and fry it in a frying pan - it is this simple recipe that is used to create the traditional English dish bubble and squeak.

In the photo: traditional English dish Toad in the hole.

Where did such an unusual name come from? There are 2 versions of its appearance: the first says that bubble and squeak owes its name to the inevitable gurgling and squeaking that accompanies the process of frying in a frying pan. But there is another, much more original version: the fact is that the obligatory ingredient of bubble and squeak is cabbage, as a result of which, during the digestion process, the stomach inevitably first gurgles, and then gases are formed, causing sounds similar to a squeak. So, be prepared to “gurgle and squeak” if you decide to try this dish :)

Toad in the hole

What do you think of such an intriguing title as “Toad in the hole”? There is still debate about the origin of this name, but most Anglophiles believe that this dish got its name due to its unusual appearance, reminiscent of a toad sticking its head out of a hole. Similar to bubble and squeak, earlier this dish was made from leftover baked meat, but later it began to be prepared from sausages baked in oil. The same gravy sauce (often with the addition of onions), various vegetables and mashed potatoes are usually served as a side dish for toad in the hole.

Sunday roast

In the photo: traditional English Sunday lunch Sunday roast.

On Sunday afternoon, English families gather for the traditional Sunday Roast. It usually consists of meat (beef, lamb, pork or chicken) baked in the oven for at least two hours, and is accompanied by two types of vegetables and potatoes, as well as Yorkshire pudding (read more about pudding below).

Spicy horseradish is served with beef, sweet apple sauce with pork, and mint sauce with lamb. The meat is topped with brown gravy sauce. Gravy is made from the meat juices from roasted meat, but not always: these days, the British often simplify their lives and prepare gravy from a packaged mixture.

Yorkshire pudding

In the photo: a traditional English dish Yorkshire pudding.

Unlike sweet puddings, which are classified as desserts, Yorkshire pudding is considered a snack or even a main dish. It is made from flour, eggs and milk and is typically a large, flat dough ball baked in the oven and filled with gravy sauce and vegetables.

Although Yorkshire pudding is usually served as a starter, uneaten puddings can be served at the end of the meal with jam or ice cream as a dessert (further proof of the thriftiness of the English).

Pies

In the photo: traditional English dish Shepherd's Pie.

Of the English pies, I would like to especially mention the famous “ Shepherd's Pie"(Shepherds" Pie) and " cottage pie"(Cottage Pie), which are essentially casseroles of meat, vegetables and mashed potatoes, the only difference from each other is that Shepherds" Pie is made from minced lamb, and Cottage Pie is made from beef.

Children's favorite English food

Most of all, English children like to eat fish fingers (small pieces of breaded fish fillets), pizza, French fries and baked beans on toast.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner in the UK

Like most people on the planet, the British eat three times a day:

Breakfast (Breakfast) for the British usually happens from 7 to 9 o'clock in the morning, after which it follows

Dinner (Lunch) – usually from 12 to 1.30 pm and

Dinner (Dinner, or less commonly - Supper) - the main meal. The traditional dinner time is between 6.30 and 8 pm.

However, some English people call the second meal "dinner" rather than "lunch", and dinner - "Tea". Therefore, if an Englishman invites you to “tea”, keep in mind that we are talking about a full dinner, and not at all about tea, as one might think. In the latter case, dinner is usually served between 5.30 and 6.30 pm.

What do the British usually eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

English breakfast

Photo: traditional English breakfast.

Most people assume that a traditional English breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms, baked beans and a cup of tea. However, today the situation has changed radically: a modern Englishman is likely to eat a bowl of cereal or toast for breakfast, washed down with orange juice or a cup of coffee. Cereals are especially loved by English children, who expect the usual cereal bowl for breakfast - a plate of flakes made from corn, wheat or oatmeal with milk.

The British eat “porridge” (porridge), which is well known to our ears from Conan Doyle’s stories, as a rule, only in the cold season.

The traditional English breakfast, consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans and mushrooms, is now rarely prepared by the British, but it is still served in most hotels and guest houses in the UK, meeting the wishes of tourists.

English lunch

When going to school or work, most children and adults in England take a packed lunch with them. The average English lunch consists of a sandwich, a bag of potato chips (crisps), some fruit and a drink. Usually lunch is packed in a plastic container or thermos bag.

In some parts of the UK the sandwich may also be called a "butty" or "sarnie". As a rule, the filling of sandwiches is generously seasoned with mayonnaise. The filling can be canned tuna, ham, chicken, shrimp, pickled cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and other ingredients.

English dinner

A traditional English dinner will include a piece of meat and two types of vegetables, or vegetables and potatoes, topped with brown gravy sauce. However, as noted at the beginning of the article, more and more often the traditional English dinner is giving way to the cuisine of other peoples of the world.

However, the British still eat a lot of vegetables and root vegetables, especially those grown in the UK itself, such as potatoes, carrots, green peas, cabbage and onions.

Takeaways in the UK

In the photo: a traditional English dish of fish and chips to take away.

Take away food has recently become increasingly popular in the UK. Many Indian, Italian, Chinese and Greek restaurants in the UK offer take away ready meals, not to mention McDonald's, Burger King, Subway and other fast food establishments.

You can even take away the traditional English dish of fish and chips. Sometimes, in addition to the obligatory fish and French fries, green pea puree is added to this dish. The fish usually used is fillet of cod, haddock, burbot or flounder. Historically, fish and chips were sprinkled with salt, vinegar and wrapped in newspaper. It was assumed that the person would take pieces from the newspaper packaging directly with his hands. Now, in order not to shock foreigners, fish and chips began to be wrapped in more hygienic paper and supplied with a neat wooden fork.

To understand the peculiarities of English cuisine, it’s enough to remember the good old jokes: “Barrymore, what are we having for breakfast today? - Oatmeal, sir. - And for lunch? - Oatmeal, sir. - What about for dinner? - Cutlets... - Hurray! - From oatmeal, sir...

As for meat, the British prefer chicken, pheasant, and traditional turkey. Fruits and berries play one of the most important roles in the preparation of various desserts. These products can also be tried together with the notorious English pastries. Eggs are the main ingredient of the famous English breakfast.

Rosemary, mint, spices and herbs are also often used in traditional English menus. True, these components are included in dishes only to emphasize their natural taste and aroma.

History and traditions

This cuisine is distinguished by a mouth-watering assortment of dishes that combine almost all the culinary traditions of the world. We know them because today they have already received the status of exquisite English classics.

A traditional English breakfast starts at 7-8 am. The classic set of products was formed a long time ago - this is scrambled eggs with fried bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms and sausages, as well as golden toast with orange jam. Also sometimes this breakfast includes muesli and cereal with milk, smoked herring fried in butter on both sides.

A tea drinking tradition called Five-o-clock Tea is a snack between early breakfast and late lunch. At this time, baked goods are served on the table: cakes, apples baked in dough, saffron buns and countless varieties of cookies, treacle pie, all kinds of muffins, various sandwiches, as well as the famous sandwich. Second breakfast - lunch is usually served on Sundays, and it starts at half past two. The main menu includes roast meat, potatoes and vegetables. A classic English dessert - a pie with lots of spices.

English cuisine, like everything British, is considered quite conservative. This is partly true: the British do not like to experiment with products, like the French or Italians, but the taste of traditional English dishes is known all over the world. Great Britain gave the world community fish and chips, mashed potatoes, small sandwiches, Yorkshire pudding, etc.

The Tin Islands, as Britain has long been called, have always enjoyed simple but wholesome food. Before the import of potatoes from America, there was a lot of fish on the English tables, which is not surprising for a country surrounded by the sea. The Romans introduced the British to fresh vegetables and fruits: apples, asparagus, cucumbers, zucchini, etc. And the Vikings brought rye bread here. Beginning in the 16th century (after the discovery of the New World), more familiar products appeared in Britain: potatoes, tea, tomatoes and seasonings.

The turning point for English cooks was the colonization of India and China, from where a wave of amazing and unfamiliar spices (cinnamon, curry) came, as well as new recipes. This traditional English dish, chicken tikka masala, is based on an Indian recipe. But such borrowings are few and far between, and England can be proud of its ancient culinary history: in the 14th century, Richard II's court chef wrote a cookbook using fresh ingredients in easy-to-follow recipes.

Modern English cuisine

Nowadays in England there are many more different products and spices, but the British trust proven dishes. Breakfast usually includes bacon and eggs, scrambled eggs or oatmeal.

British lunch is light snacks, usually a variety of sandwiches: fish, ham, cheese or chicken. Everything is seasoned with the British favorite mustard and mayonnaise. The British love sauces made with vegetable and meat broths. For dinner in England, they serve vegetable puree soups, with tomato soup being especially popular. Main courses for dinner are beef steaks with fried potatoes or mashed potatoes.

One cannot help but mention the tradition, beloved by millions of Englishmen, of drinking tea at five o’clock, and the most popular desserts for tea are sweet puddings, muffins and pies with fruit filling. Another unshakable tradition is Sunday lunch, where they serve roast turkey, beef or chicken with vegetables, and Yorkshire pudding for dessert.