The Secret of the British Economy Revealed

Whatever next? Presidents and Prime Ministers taking culinary tests as a prelude to the next G8 summit meeting? 'Don't talk to him, he burnt a tomato.' Or, 'his sticky toffee pudding is not as sticky as he says.' NATO split after Gordon Brown reveals the contents of his refrigerator.

 

 

 

 

Les Rosbifs (this is what the French call the British as we used to eat lots of beef in the 18th century. By way of a mildly inoffensive parallel insult, the British call the French 'frogs' as frogs legs are a popular dish in France.) simmered in silence, probably because - at that time - both the French and British were in Singapore bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The French seem to see the world through food. Charles De Gaulle once said: 'How can you expect to govern a country that has 246 different kinds of cheese.' Perhaps that's why the British economy is so strong, we only have a handful of cheddar cheeses and some soft cream Nottinghamshire stiltons.

Is London the best place in the world to eat?

French nouvelle cuisine deserves its fine reputation but you just know, when you look at how neatly the food is arranged on the plate, that someone's hands have been all over it!

Is English food really that bad? Most of my students think so. They do concede that a full English breakfast is a good way to start the day, but talk about roast dinners and their eyes take on an incredulous look.

Perhaps 10 years ago this was true, but UK restaurants have undergone something of a revolution and the reason is wealth: Britons are better off now than they used to be and consequently spend more on food. Cheap travel has also expanded the British eating perspective. A well known Gourmet magazine cites London as the best place in the world to eat.

The problem, I believe, is many low quality pubs tend to buy processed foods to save money. They then pre-cook meals and then warm it up in a micro wave once an order has been placed, thus rendering the food soggy and barely palatable.

A classic roast dinner http://www.videojug.com/tag/roast-recipes is actually quite simple and consists of meat - lamb/beef/pork or chicken; Yorkshire Pudding; potatoes and assorted roasted vegetables. The potatoes should have crisp, outer shell. Any herbs should be placed under the meat to infuse the flavour.

Covent Garden Restaurant that has been serving roast dinners since 1798

So if you want to sample a quality British roast dinner then be prepared to go up market. Simpsons on the strand www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk and steadfastly English since the early 19th Century, serve a succulent roast carved straight from the trolley. They also run master carving classes. Everyone is talking about the Roast Restaurant they have well-sourced seasonal products and tend to purchase from lesser known suppliers throughout the UK. Situated above Borough Market, call ahead and book a window seat.

There is a story that Charles Dickens (much loved English novelist of the Victorian era), as a hungry young boy, would often stand outside Rules Restaurant www.rules.co.uk in Covent Garden and sniff the tempting aromas wafting up from the kitchen. When he began to make money from his writing, he started to dine at Rules donating playbills and memorabilia from theatre productions he wrote and performed in (they have a Charles Dickens room for private hire). Rules is London's oldest restaurant, circ. 1798, and has served - in addition to various Kings, Queens, Politicians and writers, many actors and actresses including Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Clarke Gable.

The food is superb, particularly the roast dinners that arrive with well-proportioned Yorkshire Puddings. The meat has a rich texture and is procured from Rule's very own Estate.

Much less expensive is the Eagle Public House in Farrington (139 Farrington Road, EC1R 3AL). This is a spacious gastropub with a reputation for quality food. The open kitchen allows you to see what's going on while the food portions are generous.

For a taste of country life in North London then the Albion Public with its open hearth fire and garden, is the place to diary date for your next Sunday meal.

There is a famous joke that ex-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was out dining with her Cabinet of ministers:

WAITRESS: 'Would you like to order Ma'am'?

THATCHER: 'Steak, please.'

WAITRESS: 'How would you like it?'

THATCHER: 'Raw.'

WAITRESS: 'And what about the vegetables?'

THATCHER: 'Oh, they'll have the same as me '

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