Yes, a could of years ago to visit my cousin who goes to Imperial and do a bit of a tour of Europe- I wasn’t impressed with the food (although black pudding wasn’t bad).
We had some great meals in London, but none of it was exactly British. Lot’s of “british inspired” cuisine that relied heavily on French techniques or was basically knock off Indian
At least the Americans have BBQ.
Practically no-one in Britain eats black pudding. Or French food. I’ve never understood how the French got such a reputation for being great at food when so few people actually seem to enjoy it. Maybe that’s my British perspective talking, but I don’t imagine many people jonesing for a nice French meal in the same way they might a Mexican or Indian.
The food itself is honestly quite mediocre (too heavy, but that’s my opinion) ; however, their techniques are basically gold standard. Also the cheese is amazing
I don’t really understand the purpose of all that technique if it doesn’t lead to delicious food though. I’d rather go for simple but tasty Italian or the like any day.
I mean you could apply the techniques to more delicious flavour combinations and bet better food. I mean, the stuff they put out on Great British Menu looks good and most of those chefs are using French technique
Also, I’ve tried some recipes from Michel Roux Jr. (with some modifications for conveinence and to cut out some fat) and they turned out pretty good despite being French
Italian would be great if I could eat wheat and dairy without blowing up a toilet. The cheese is really good though, but not as good as French IMO
Agreed, I used to watch it regularly in the earlier series. Its food that’s good to look at and fun to think about, I just don’t find it any more enjoyable to eat than more basic foods that are much cheaper. I remember walking out of a £120 per person tasting menu one time and seeing seeing some people walk out of the generic collection of Mexican and Italian and burger joints and wondering which of us had really enjoyed their meal more.
oh, restaurants are a total rip off. I’m not exactly a pro, but I’ve found that a lot of the stuff I make at home isn’t that much worse than what I’d get at a restaurant and for 1/5 th (or less) of the price. My problem is that I suck at presentation
Now I only go to restaurants where I KNOW I cannot make something comparable, for example, good sushi
You pay for the experience. And because you can.
I get as much joy now out of a simple pasta dish done well as I do out of the high end, expensive stuff I used to eat. I spent years “developing my pallette” or whatever, so I could only enjoy the finest food. Then i realised what a silly idea it was to limit the joy I can get from food from only the most expensive and difficult to obtain stuff when i could also enjoy cheaper, easier to find stuff.
agreed. I really like cooking so part of the experience for me IS making it
And knowing other people enjoy it. I hear sometimes about chefs that go home after a day at work and eat beans on toast or something because the fun for them was knowing other people enjoyed their food.
Its like an international version of telling your wife “Yeah honey! Thats great!” because you know how hard she worked on it and you don’t want to fight.
Actually I have no idea about this stuff. My pallet is crude and my experience very narrow.
We Brits love any excuse to rile the french up. Even failing to capitalise french feels like one little victory towards being able to send in the gunboats
Thats where putting malted vinegar and butter on the French fries comes from, isn’t it?
Like slapping a union jack right across their asses.
That was my grandmas thing, but she was Irish.
We wouldn’t do that to French fries, just chips. Totally different and not at all ripped off. Chips are like French fries but bigger.
I’ve never heard of anyone putting butter on them though. Salt and vinegar (usually malt) is the typical MO
Aren’t those Belgian?
Not if you call them pommefrites.
Honestly IMO, loaded potato skins with bacon and sour cream are superior to pommefrites, French fries and chips imo
If I’m going to kill my stomach, it might as well be with bacon and cheese
While I know you’re intellectually right, there’s something magical about a bag of steaming hot chip shop chips in a bag that I can’t put into words. Nostalgia is a big thing.
I’ve made many a bubble and squeak, solid food that is!
Yes @anna_5588 mocks British food but true Brit food I reckon you’d actually really enjoy, proper roast dinner (the leftovers of which form the bubble and squeak - which is why @dagill2 has never eaten it - no leftovers, my Mrs occasionally demands I double everything intentionally so that we get B&S next day), cottage/shepherds pie, I’m sure you’d also be into some of the weird stuff that gets pickled - eels, eggs etc, and not to forget pork scratchings - all seem right up your alley a lot of salt, lots of meat, (gravy, but not sure if you’re a fan) lots of fat, great food.
This used to be my favorite snack in school. 