Traditional English Food

Traditional English food is simple and hearty.

ROAST BEEF AND YORKSHIRE PUDDING: A Sunday lunch tradition. We enjoy having it at a local hotel with the locals. The beef is nice and brown on the outside and rarer on the inside. Yorkshire Pudding is made from a batter and is nicely browned also. The meal includes roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables with horseradish and English mustard for added spice.

FISH AND CHIPS: Most often cod or haddock with the occasional skate or plaice are served with chips (French fries). The best is found at seaside resorts. Get a takeaway and enjoy eating it right out of the wrapper with your fingers. Our first fish and chips experience was with the children. Ours was wrapped in newspaper and we sat on the curb to eat it.

SHEPHERD'S PIE: A hearty pub lunch of minced lamb and carrots covered with mashed potato and baked until crisp. Cottage Pie features minced beef instead of lamb.

PLOUGHMAN'S LUNCH: Great with a pint. Basically a large piece of cheese or a variety of cheeses, fresh bread, pickled onion, and salad. Pubs also offer pork pie, ham, or pate.

CORNISH PASTIE: An excellent mixture of meat and vegetables baked in a crust.

SEAFOOD: Dover sole is a traditional (but expensive) favorite. England has many other wonderful seafoods as well.

CHEESE: England has a wide variety excellent cheeses. Most have heard of Blue Stilton, but there is a wide variety of cheeses which are local to the area in which you are located. Market day in the towns and villages is a wonderful time to visit and buy local and regional cheeses as well as other local foods. Cheese if often a dessert in England, but as noted above, it is featured in the Ploughman's Lunch. NOTE: As a self caterer, you will not be competing with the tourists at your local market.

DESSERTS: Sherry Trifle is a familiar holiday dessert. You will find several variations. All are deliciousSpotted Dick: A solid filling Winter dish. It is a steamed log shaped suet pudding with currants and served with treacle (molasses) poured over it. Treacle Pudding is a steamed sponge pudding served with a topping of treacle.

Remember: When in doubt, check with the locals.