Did you click into this article because the title seemed counterintuitive? Have you succumbed to the myth of a Britian of bland foods and poor cooking? Allow me to correct this grievous misconception. I assure you—from breakfast to dinner there are plenty of tasty British flavors to try. There are so many, in fact, that I’ve constricted myself to outlining a single day of delicious British dishes.
Full English Breakfast
It is a day well begun if it includes this masterpiece of eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, black pudding, and fried bread. With no way a scrap goes uneaten, there is a reason they call it a “full” breakfast. While the exact components of a full breakfast fluctuate, an authentic one is locally sourced in Britain. This is especially important for the bacon and sausage. The bacon used is the leaner back bacon while sausages vary more, but are most commonly pork sausages.
Given the name, it fits nicely to have English Breakfast tea with this morning meal, but coffee and other black teas also round out the experience well.
Fish and Chips
This dish centers around chicken—just kidding. As the title suggests, you’ll be getting battered fish and chips. Simple and perhaps the dish most associated with Britain. However, it’s what you decide to dip your fried fish in that really makes this dish worth the while—the tangy condiments of vinegar and creamy tartar sauce. You may even be treated to a side of mushy peas.
Fish and chips is a common dish on many menus in England, especially in pubs, but it’s also easy to find shops dedicated especially to fish and chips. Not all fish shops are equal, however, and it’s best to look for a place that cooks the fish to order.
Cream Tea
This is often eaten in the afternoon, after lunch but before dinner. However, with how tasty it is, why would we confine it to a single time of day? The canvas of this dish is a scone, often with raisins but plain scones can be found, on which is layered clotted cream and jam. In what order? This is disputed, along with the origin of this tradition, between two counties: Cornwall and Devon. Cornwall says jam first, Devon says cream, so why not buy two scones and try it both ways?
And, of course, this could not be complete without the second half of the name—tea. Most commonly, a black tea with milk and sugar.
Shepherds Pie
This dish is made with minced lamb (beef could also be used, but then you’d be eating “cottage” pie) mixed together with vegetables, likely peas and carrots, and coated with mashed potatoes before it is baked to that perfect crisp.
Shepherd’s pie isn’t as prevalent as fish and chips, but it still makes its appearances at various pubs and restaurants and is worth the try when it does.
Sunday Roast
Does it happen to be Sunday? Then maybe you’ll want to schedule that Shepherd’s Pie for tomorrow—Sunday has its own special dish. The Sunday roast plates gravy-coated roasted meat, often beef, potatoes and other vegetables, and the fluffy breadiness of Yorkshire pudding.
Surprise, surprise, another saunter into a pub is where you can likely find this dish.
Banoffee Pie
You have to have dessert, right? As full as you are from a day of licking plates, you’ll have room for this one. The pie’s name tells you the brilliant combination going on here—bananas and toffee. Topped off with whipped cream and with a base of buttery biscuit, there is no better way to end your day of delicious British foods.
