British dishes that have gained worldwide recognition

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The UK has a great heritage of achievements – from the creation of Bingo not on Gamstop to famous culinary masterpieces. It has become part of the global gastronomic picture. Numerous British dishes have gained real recognition, winning the hearts of gourmets around the world thanks to their uniqueness and taste. From traditional to modern, these dishes not only represent the cultural diversity of the UK, but have also gained popularity for their unique preparation and inimitable taste.

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The history of British cuisine

It dates back to the Romano-British period, when agriculture and animal husbandry provided a wide range of high-quality products for the local population. Thanks to contacts with the Roman Empire, the British were introduced to new vegetables, fruits, spices and food preservation techniques.

With the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th and 6th centuries, British cuisine changed. The Anglo-Saxons introduced new foods such as eggs, milk, cheese, butter, honey, nuts and beans. They also fell in love with spicy dry seasonings such as pepper, mustard, ginger, garlic and bay leaf. With the Norman Conquest in 1066, British cuisine was influenced by French cuisine, which was more sophisticated and varied. The Normans brought with them new types of meat, such as duck, goose, rabbit, turkey, wild boar, and deer, as well as new spices such as saffron, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, and vanilla.

They also introduced the tradition of eating bread with butter or jam, cheese, fruit and wine for breakfast or lunch. With the development of the British Empire in the 16th-19th centuries, British cuisine was influenced by other cultures, especially Indian, Chinese, Caribbean, African and American.

The British got acquainted with new products such as potatoes, tomatoes, corn, pineapples, bananas, cocoa, tea, coffee, sugar cane, rice, curry, chilli, ginger, coriander, turmeric, cumin, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, saffron, vanilla, and others. They also introduced new cooking methods, such as frying, boiling, baking, stewing, pickling, fermenting, distilling, confectionery, chocolatiering, coffee and tea making.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, British cuisine continued to evolve and adapt to modern trends and needs. The British became more conscious of their health, environment, ethics and cultural diversity. British cuisine has become lighter, fresher, organic, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, halal, kosher and more. The British has not only given a movement to the development of hotel architecture, it’s also continued to discover new cuisines from around the world, such as Italian, Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Moroccan, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Brazilian, Peruvian, Argentine and others.

British cuisine has also become more creative and experimental, using new technologies, ingredients, methods, styles and presentations. British cuisine is part of British culture and identity, reflecting its history, geography, climate, resources, traditions, values, tastes, preferences, habits, characteristics and influences.

British food is diverse, rich, delicious, interesting, innovative and adaptable. British cuisine is the cuisine of the world, combining the old with the new, the local with the global, the simple with the complex, the classic with the modern, the traditional with the exotic, the healthy with the tasty, the rational with the emotional, the practical with the aesthetic, the conservative with the progressive, the individual with the collective.

Dishes you can try in British casinos

English dishes can be simple and hearty, or exotic and delicate, but always tasty and appetising, which can be tasted in all restaurants in England, even in casinos. They include:

Fish and Chips is the unofficial national dish of England, consisting of fish fried in a beer batter and fried potatoes. It is a hearty and tasty meal that can be ordered in many cafes, pubs and restaurants, including casinos. The price per serving can vary from £5 to £15, depending on the level of the establishment and the quality of the fish.
Steak and kidney pudding is a traditional English dish made from chopped beef chops and pieces of sheep or pork kidneys wrapped in kidney lard dough. The dish is steamed for about 4 hours and served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. The price per serving can be from £10 to £20.
Leicestershire pork pie (Melton Mowbray pork pie) is a famous pork pie that comes from the county of Leicestershire, the city of Melton Mowbray. The pie has a special shape and is prepared according to a strictly defined recipe, which is controlled by a special organisation. The pie can be eaten cold or hot, with mustard or sauce. The price for one pie can range from £2 to £5.

The impact of gastronomy on culture

Food festivals and events are an important part of British culture, reflecting their love of food and hospitality. The British are very discerning when it comes to gastronomy and host many festivals that contribute to the development and promotion of their cuisine. These festivals not only allow you to enjoy delicious food and drink, but also provide an opportunity to explore the history, traditions and innovations of British cuisine.For example

The Big Feastival is an annual festival that combines music, food and family fun. It takes place on a farm in Oxfordshire and attracts famous chefs, musicians and stars. The festival offers visitors a variety of dishes from the best restaurants and street vendors, live performances by famous artists and bands, as well as various workshops, games and attractions for children and adults.

Taste of London is the largest gastronomic festival in London, offering visitors the chance to taste dishes from the city’s best restaurants, watch masterclasses from famous chefs and take part in various tastings and competitions. The festival takes place twice a year: in June at Regent’s Park and in November at Tobacco Dock. The festival showcases the latest trends and innovations in gastronomy, and allows you to discover new flavours and products from local and international producers.

The most popular dishes in the UK

There are a number of popular dishes that all Brits enjoy. Here are some of them:

Roast beef Roast beef is one of the oldest and most popular dishes in British cuisine. Its name comes from the English words roast, which means to roast, and beef, which means beef. Roast beef is made from a large piece of meat that is roasted in an oven or over an open fire. The meat should be browned on the outside and pink on the inside to retain its juiciness and flavour. Roast beef is traditionally served with roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding (a pastry made with eggs, milk and flour) and a hot sauce made from the juice released from the meat during roasting. Roast beef is part of the Sunday roast, a traditional British meal eaten on Sunday, a day of rest. Roast beef can also be cut into thin slices and used to make sandwiches, salads or cold cuts.
Fish and chips is a dish consisting of fried fish, usually cod, and potato chips, which are called chips in England and french fries in America. This dish originated in the 19th century in the industrial cities of England, where fish and potatoes were easy and cheap to obtain. Fried fish and chips became a popular food among workers who bought them in special shops called fish and chip shops or chippies. Fish and chips are usually served with vinegar, salt, tartar sauce (a mayonnaise-based sauce with capers, cucumbers, onions and herbs) and peas. This dish is one of the favourite dishes of the British, who eat it not only as fast food, but also as part of a festive menu, for example, on Christmas or New Year’s Eve.
Cornish pasties are crescent-shaped pies filled with meat, potatoes, onions and turnips. This dish originated in Cornwall, a county on the south-west coast of England, where it was developed as a convenient and hearty lunch for workers in the tin mines. Cornish pasties had a thick pastry that served as a handle to hold the pie without getting your hands dirty. The dough also protected the filling from dust and provided warmth. Cornish pasties can be made with various fillings, such as cheese, apples, cherries or chocolate. It is a traditional Cornish dish and a symbol of its culture. In 2011, Cornish pasties were granted protected geographical indication status in the European Union, which means that only pies made in Cornwall to certain standards can bear this name.
Tikka masala is a dish that is a combination of British and Indian cuisine. Tikka masala is chicken that is marinated in special seasonings such as turmeric, chilli, ginger, garlic, coriander and yoghurt and then grilled or oven-fried. Masala is a sauce made from tomatoes, cream, masala (a mixture of spices) and other ingredients. Tikka masala is served with rice, naan bread or roti. It is one of the most popular dishes in Britain, where it is considered a national dish. There are many versions of its origin, but one of them says that tikka masala was invented in the 1970s in Glasgow, Scotland, when a customer of an Indian restaurant asked to add something juicy to his tikka chicken.
The English breakfast is one of the most famous and favourite ways for the British to start the day. It’s a hearty and varied meal that consists of various components such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, biscuits, beans, and fried bread. These foods are fried in a pan or baked in the oven and served hot with tea or coffee. This dish originated in the Victorian era, when wealthy people had the time and resources for a sumptuous breakfast. English breakfast is also called a full breakfast or farmer’s breakfast because it provides a lot of energy and vitamins. The English breakfast can vary from region to region, for example, in Scotland it may include oatmeal, in Wales – pita bread, and in Ireland – soda bread. Thanks to these dishes, British cuisine goes beyond the borders of the country, telling about history, traditions and culinary preferences. Their flavours and uniqueness make them popular with food lovers around the world, and their stories reveal deep ties to the culture and lifestyle of the UK.

Traditional and modern dishes

Traditional dishes

The full breakfast is a true symbol of British cuisine, consisting of eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, toast, tomatoes, mushrooms and tea. This breakfast gives strength and energy for the whole day, and reflects the British love of meat and tea.

There are regional variations of this breakfast, such as Scottish, Welsh, Irish, and vegetarian. Fish and chips is the most popular fast food in the UK, consisting of fish (usually cod or pollock) fried in batter and fried potatoes (called chips). This dish originated in the 19th century in industrial cities where fish and potatoes were cheap and readily available.

Fish and chips are served with vinegar, salt, mustard or tartar sauce. Sunday roast is a traditional dish prepared for Sunday lunch to bring the whole family together. It consists of roasted meat (usually roast beef, lamb, pork or chicken), fried potatoes, vegetables (usually Brussels sprouts, carrots, peas) and Yorkshire pudding (flaky pastry baked in the oven). All this is poured with meat juice or gravy sauce. Sunday roast is a dish that demonstrates British respect for meat and family values.

A meat and potato pie is a delicious and satisfying pie made from minced meat (usually lamb or beef), onions, carrots, peas and mashed potatoes. This dish originated in the 18th century in northern England, where there were many sheep farmers who used leftover meat and potatoes to make the pie. There are different names for this pie, depending on the type of meat: shepherd’s pie (minced lamb), peasant pie (minced beef), cottage pie (any minced meat).

Modern trends

Britain is a multinational country with people of different ethnicities, religions and cultures. This is reflected in their cuisine, which is a real dance of flavours and aromas.

The British love to experiment with new dishes, ingredients and spices that they take from different parts of the world. You can find British versions of dishes such as curry, sushi, paella, tajine, falafel, and many others that may surprise you. Many Brits are concerned about their health and well-being, so they try to introduce a healthy diet, eat more vegetables, fruits, cereals, legumes, seeds and nuts. They also choose organic, local and seasonal foods that are higher in nutrition and lower in harmful substances.

British cuisine also includes many vegetarian and vegan dishes that can be delicious and filling. For example, you can try a vegan pumpkin and spinach pie, a veggie burger with mushrooms and quinoa, or a salad with avocado, pomegranate and cilantro.

Street food is another trend that is gaining popularity in Britain. Street food is fast, tasty and affordable food that can be bought and eaten on the street, in markets, festivals, fairs and other places. Street food reflects the diversity of British cuisine, as you can find dishes from all over the world, such as burritos, dim sum, kebabs, crepes, gyros, waffles, hot dogs, popcorn and much more.

It can also be healthy and vegetarian if you choose fresh and natural products. Molecular gastronomy is the most innovative and experimental trend in British cuisine, using scientific knowledge and technology to create new flavours, textures and shapes of food. Molecular gastronomy uses methods such as spherification, emulsion, helium, liquid nitrogen freezing, vacuum cooking and others.

This trend creates unusual and unexpected combinations, for example, coffee caviar, cheese pudding, iced apple pie, chocolate mousse with popcorn and much more.