Whenever someone mentions British food, fish and chips will inevitably come to mind. This quintessential dish is one of the UK’s most famous exports, and rightfully so. There’s nothing more comforting than soft slices of fish encased within crispy batter served together with fluffy chips.
However, British food is much more than just this world-renowned favourite. Whether its a full English breakfast with a plethora of items, the hearty Cornish pasty, or the traditional Sunday roast; British foods typically have a long and storied history. Some are even regional specialties which means that you have to travel to a certain location to try them.
Fish and Chips
This dish is the staple of the Great British summer. (All three days of it.) Whether you’re a lover of our water-based friends or you wrinkle your nose at fish, the English cook it in a way that will make any mouth water: Simply deep-fry the catch of the day in batter and serve with a huge pile of thick-cut chips. It’s then up to you to cover it in salt and vinegar or smother in ketchup and find the nearest beach to eat at.
Try it in: Bournemouth or Brighton – the two original British seaside towns.
Cornish Pasty
A hearty Cornish pasty never fails to satisfy a hungry stomach. Beef, potato, onion, and swede are encased in a thick envelope of shortcrust pastry and then baked. To add variety, try a lamb, spicy, and even vegetarian options. This meal also makes for a hands-on experience: No cutlery is necessary as the pastry pocket holds the hot filling. Just find a local bakery, tuck in, and thank me later. Mmm.
Try it in: Cornwall (OBVS), after a day’s surfing at Polzeath beach.
English Breakfast
The King AND Queen of breakfasts! Of course, depending on where you are in the UK, these can also be Full /Irish/Welsh/Scottish Breakfasts. Throughout Great Britain, you’ll find full English breakfast served in hotel restaurants and any restaurants that serve breakfast. This hearty meal to start the day is a must if you’re going out for a long day of exploring. Typically, a full English breakfast has sausages, eggs (cooked to your request), blood pudding (acquired taste needed here), bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast.
Bacon Sandwich
This is nothing special, especially in how it looks – but it tastes totally great! This first came to my attention watching Coronation Street. People were ordering it in Roy’s Café!
A bacon sarnie is literally a bacon sandwich but is a quick breakfast favourite across the UK. This is made even more special when the buns have just been baked and the bacon has just been cooking (preferably ever so slightly crisp). It’s typically quite cheap as well so it’s a good grab-and-go option if you have a full morning/day of sightseeing ahead.
Lamb, Chicken or Beef? A Sunday roast is so yummy.
There was nothing quite like eating British Sunday roast beef and Yorkshire pudding in a pub. That puffy Yorkshire pudding soaked in brown gravy was the best part of the Sunday meal. The dish also had sides including potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Sunday roast usually refers to roast beef, but some restaurants and pubs use chicken, lamb or pork instead.
Pubs are often a good bet for a roast.
Scotch Egg
A great snack to try, when in England, is a scotch egg. This is a hard-boiled egg that is wrapped in sausage meat, a layer of breadcrumbs and then fried. You’ll find them in almost any English supermarket such as Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury’s etc. Sometimes pubs also sell them and make them hot.
English Tea
If you’re visiting the south of England, aka the country’s sunniest region, it is your duty to tuck into a cream tea. For this world-famous delicacy, a steaming teapot of the brown stuff accompanies two huge scones, each lovingly topped with jam and thick, clotted cream. Make sure your phone is handy: These beautiful creations are as pretty as they are tasty, and your Instagram senses will be tingling. #MustHave.
Try it in: Torquay, Devon – the home of afternoon tea.
Pub food with Colman’s Mustard, HP Brown Sauce, and Sarson’s Malt Vinegar
Unlike North American restaurants where you will find ketchup, salt, and pepper, in a British pub, I noticed they have Colman’s Mustard, HP Brown Sauce, and Sarson’s Malt Vinegar. These condiments have been part of the British food culture for 200 years.
Colman’s Mustard is a 200-year-old establishment which produces the famed mustard used as a condiment on roast, gravy, and sandwiches. HP Brown Sauce has almost 120 years of history; it’s the original brown sauce made from a closely guarded secret recipe. Add a dash to your hot or cold food for more flavor. Sarson’s Malt Vinegar was started in 1794, making it the oldest among these groups of British condiments. Try it on your fish and chips.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Consistently a favourite across the UK (and a personal favourite), Sticky Toffee pudding when done right is one of the most indulgent desserts in the UK. As the name implies, it’s a steamed cake drench in liquid toffee and sometimes served with a side of ice cream or custard. Had some for dessert this past Christmas. Yummy!
