Monday, August 13, 2012

I know what I like, and I don't like change

Adam Garratt of The British Menu has been kind enough to offer me a guest post. He is an excellent blogger and an even better cook, his culinary blog has all the best cuisines of British origin and adaptation. Do check the blog out for delicious as well as easy to make recipes.



I know what I like, and I don't like change


That phrase used to be synonymous with British people, other countries used to look at us and thought we just ate fish and chips and drank far too much tea, despite this being un true I can see why they would think it. For those that know me and my blog will understand my love for British food, we have some of the best food in the world, with traditional dishes and of course food we have inherited from other countries, such as India.

Britain is a great absorber of other food cultures and that's a good thing, it got really going with the Romans, they gave us the parsnip, peas, pasta and all sorts of other delights. India has given us a spice explosion over the past 30-40 years, but it hasn't been plain sailing I can tell you. I remember as a child being forced to eat left over Christmas turkey that was mixed with cheap curry powder and raisins, this somehow passed as a curry in many British households, and for me at least it took a number of years to realise that actually this is not a curry, it's an abomination.

I live in a city with a vast Indian culture, with a vibrant community all sharing their food knowledge and recipes handed down from generation to generation. Don't get me wrong I have tasted some awful Indian food just as much as I have tasted some awful British food, I once had a lamb biryani that was so tough and chewy you could of made a handbag out of it.

I have had some heated debates with some people about me featuring Pizza on the site, saying it's not British, well no it isn't a traditional dish but it has become part of our food culture, I grew up with it and so did millions of others. The same goes for curry, our palates have become attuned to the subtle and complex spices of Indian cuisine. You know it is said that Tikka masala was created in Britain in the 70's, when a waiter served up a traditional chicken tikka and the customer asked where the gravy was, needless to say the chef had to think on his feet and made a sauce from a tin of tomato soup! Of course this could be un true but it's an amazing story none the less.

I love my country's food, and I wouldn't trade it for all the tea in china, I adore our beef, I love our Jersey royal potatoes and the Jersey cows that produce the best cream, we have cheeses that could beat France into submission and puddings that just make me smile. But one thing is for sure is curry is here to stay as well, and thankfully our nation has welcomed it with open arms along with spaghetti bolognese, pizza, and Chinese food.

So getting back to that old classic saying, I would re phrase it as 'I know what I like, but I also like change'

Thank you for reading, My blog is www.thebritishmenu.com

2 comments:

  1. great post,, hate how people stereotype things

    http://styledestino.blogspot.com/

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