Introduction to British Cuisine

Whenever people visit the British Isles, they just cannot get over
the wonderful taste of British cuisine. Although it has been the
subject of much ridicule from its European counterparts, British
cuisine has one of the longest histories besides being a great dining
experience. Some of the finest restaurants in the world serve British
cuisine. With the increasing diversity of the population, many new
cultures and influences have penetrated the preparation of British
food in the country.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Supper

You cannot really start your day in Britain without having the
traditional full English breakfast. This staple of British cuisine has
been the standard starting meal for the British throughout their
history. A full English breakfast comprise of bacon, sausages, fried
tomatoes, fried eggs and toast. Some may select scrambled eggs
instead of fried ones and modern versions of the meal do include
mushrooms and baked beans. Another item found on the dish but is
definitely not for the faint hearted is black pudding, a blood sausage
that is made to look like pudding. Some love it, some hate it, it is a
matter of personal choice.

After breakfast is done, we move on to the traditional lunch. Lunch

is somewhat similar to the Sunday dinner in an American home
where it is a big occasion for the whole family. There is often the all-
important roast which is a piece of roast meat from either chicken,
pork, beef or lamb, served with roast potatoes and boiled cabbages.
A favorite accompaniment for the dish is Yorkshire pudding, a kind
of roasted bread made from baked dough. Other veg also
accompany the dish including the British favorite – roast potatoes!

When the clock strikes five, it signals the start of tea-time. Given
the British’s penchant for drinking tea, you can imagine this is a
favorite meal for them. Tea-time usually consists of biscuits and
cakes to go with the tea. There are many traditional biscuits and
cakes that are usually served such as scones, shortbread biscuits
and jam tarts. Traditionally these items are made from scratch but
you can also buy them in bakeries and supermarkets. Be warned
though, you can never beat the taste and flavor or homemade
scones.
Supper is a small meal just before you go to bed. Some people
would just have cocoa and cheese while others might have bread
with ham and a cup of tea. Whatever it is, you just can’t ignore
supper time when you look for influences on British cuisine.

There are a few traditional dishes that have made British cuisine
popular the world over. How many times have you encountered fish
and chips or steak and kidney pie on your travels around the world.
However, you may not know that the traditional fish and chips in
Britain are eaten with salt and vinegar whereas in its overseas
version ketchup and tartar sauce are the usual dips that accompany
the meal.

Other traditional British Dishes

There are many other dishes that make up traditional British

cuisine: Here is a small selection of the best:
– Bangers and Mash – Sausages served with mash potatoes.

– Steak and Kidney Pie – Needs no explanation, the name says it all.

– Chicken Tikka Masala – It might sound Indian but this is a British

dish born and bred.

Food idioms : Examples and Explanations

 Piece of cake – Easy

e.g. ,, The test was a piece of cake.‘‘
 Not my cup of tea - Not to my liking
e.g. ,, Hip hop music isn't exactly my cup of tea. ‘‘
 Like two peas in a pod - Very similar
e.g. ,, It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were
like two peas in a pod.‘‘
 Have bigger fish to fry - Have more important things to do
e.g. ,, I can’t help you with your presentation right now. I have
bigger fish to fry.‘‘
 Can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs -
This expression means that it is impossible to make important
changes without causing some unpleasant effects.
e.g. ,, Some people will lose their jobs after the merger, but
you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs. ‘‘
 (Take It with a) Grain of Salt - Be skeptical of a statement
e.g. ,, I heard that you can get a free movie ticket if you wear
red, but Kevin told me that, so I'm going to take it with a pinch
of salt.‘‘