# How old is the stereotype that British food is not a very distinguished cuisine? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 13, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983 "2014-04-13T02:08:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/21 "2014-04-13T03:47:12Z")
Isn’t black pudding optional anyway? (I’ll take mine with, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/22 "2014-04-13T03:55:30Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Nothing here sounds remotely edible. Putting meat in a pie is like stuffing a turkey with fruitcake. You don’t actually know what most of that is, do you? ---
**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/23 "2014-04-13T03:55:55Z")
Don’t forget [Brown Windsor Soup](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Windsor_soup)! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/24 "2014-04-13T04:17:35Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > You don’t actually know what most of that is, do you? “Treacle” rhymes with “testicle.” ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/25 "2014-04-13T05:02:48Z")
And Spotted Dick rhymes with dick! Seriously, I hat rhyming foods. ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/26 "2014-04-13T05:09:13Z")
> [@dofe](#): > > I think this is it. BBC had a lighthearted documentary series called Supersizers in which the two hosts lived and ate as people did during different historic British periods. I may be remembering this wrong, but I think they mentioned that the British reputation for bland food was a result of the post-WWII rationing and general austerity. Butter, sugar, cheese, and meat were rationed until the mid-1950s. One very good television series. But I recall many of the episodes focussing on earlier time had menus which were fairly dodgy in a boiled offal-heavy type of way. NB The [Restoration episode](http://www.genevievevalentine.com/2013/04/the-supersizers-restoration/) in which each of the seven courses was pretty much offal and claret with a claret chaser was an absolute gem. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/27 "2014-04-13T05:23:16Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > My guess would be since the invention of corned beef and cabbage or hummus. > > Whoever thought cooked cabbage or chewed lamb is a food should be shot. Do you think that hummus is chewed lamb? ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/28 "2014-04-13T05:23:38Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > 😕 > Hummus is Greek, I believe, certainly not a traditional British dish. I do not think corned beef is originally or very distinctively British either. Apart from the canned stuff (which is really quite different), I never ate or, AFAIK, saw, corned beef until I moved to America. I believe corned beef and cabbage is supposed to be an irish dish. And it’s not even that! CB@C is as american as spaghetti and meatballs. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/29 "2014-04-13T05:25:06Z")
I think it’s the naming that gets them in trouble: Spotted dick, toad in the hole, blood and kidney pie, bangers and mash … it sounds like English foods were named by 12-year-old boys having a gross-out contest. And then there’s the Scots with: haggis. It actually sounds worse than it is. And it’s AWFUL. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/30 "2014-04-13T05:25:19Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Do you think that hummus is chewed lamb? Don’t care enough to look it up, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/31 "2014-04-13T05:55:26Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I think it’s the naming that gets them in trouble: Spotted dick, toad in the hole, blood and kidney pie, **bangers and mash** … Heh. Reminds me of the British-owned and -operated Dr. BJ’s Budget Bangers (NSFW and yes it’s a real place): > **[sukhumvit-entertainment.com](http://sukhumvit-entertainment.com/?p=8183)** > > This domain may be for sale! ---
**Author:** ![dofe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@dofe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dofe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/32 "2014-04-13T06:23:06Z")
> [@bathsheba](#): > > One very good television series. But I recall many of the episodes focussing on earlier time had menus which were fairly dodgy in a boiled offal-heavy type of way. > > NB The [Restoration episode](http://www.genevievevalentine.com/2013/04/the-supersizers-restoration/) in which each of the seven courses was pretty much offal and claret with a claret chaser was an absolute gem. That was an excellent episode, and one of my favorite of the series. Now that you mention it, a lot of the food throughout the early periods was indeed offal-heavy and boiled. That was certainly true of the Elizabethan episode. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/33 "2014-04-13T06:27:13Z")
Whenever it was it no longer applies. I’m from the UK and have travelled all over the world for business and pleasure. I’m a lover of wide and varied food types ( with no particular favourite ) and can say with absolute certainty that UK food is up there with the very best in terms of variety and quality, and believe me I’m very critical of poor quality food. Most of the comments here seem to be based on the strange names for UK foods or a very narrow outlook, god forbid you actually taste something before judgement. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/34 "2014-04-13T06:48:49Z")
I have never ever heard that Scottish food is specifically bad in the sea of British food. Yes, I have heard “eww haggis is stomach!” before, but that’s it, and I think most people outside of Britain would be hard pressed to name anything else. I’ve never had it, but I say bring it on! I can’t think of much else besides neeps and tatties, Scotch, and Irn Bru. Whatever else you eat Burns Night. I can’t think of any Welsh food. Some stereotype involving sheep, coal, and/or bestiality? I saw Heinz brand spotted dick and I think treacle in the Raley’s ethnic section today. Not sure how I feel about canned dick; I was tempted but in a hurry. Next time. I need some more Branston pickle. England host a restaurant that [is often considered one of the best in the world](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fat_Duck). Of course lots of stereotypically Indian/South Asian food is more British in origin. Hummus is bland and almost awful though, sorry Middle East. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/35 "2014-04-13T08:25:05Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Nothing here sounds remotely edible. Putting meat in a pie is like stuffing a turkey with fruitcake. This is one of the most baffling blind spots that afflicts Americans. The savory pie should be a staple of American fast food just as it is in Australia. It is perfect for eating on the run, full of fat, carbohydrates and meat. It comes in an endless variety of forms. And it is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/36 "2014-04-13T08:33:17Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > The savory pie should be a staple of American fast food just as it is in Australia. It is, not sure why that was said. Chicken pot pie, among other related meat pies. I understand it’s an obscure food, only carried by _every “crap on the walls” restaurant ever_. Although I never ate it growing up, mincemeat (pie) was also a thing that pinged my radar, although it doesn’t contain meat normally (but can). ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/37 "2014-04-13T08:46:08Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > This is one of the most baffling blind spots that afflicts Americans. The savory pie should be a staple of American fast food just as it is in Australia. It is perfect for eating on the run, full of fat, carbohydrates and meat. It comes in an endless variety of forms. And it is delicious. They do sell meat pies in America, but they’re generally not considered fast food. You usually buy them frozen at the supermarket and heat them in the oven when you don’t feel like cooking. The most common one is chicken pot pie (which isn’t even made with “real” chicken anymore). I love meat pies, especially steak and kidney. I’ve had them in Canada and Britain, and there was an Australian pie company operating in Moscow around 20 years ago. They used to sell both apple and meat pies in pubs and from little carts on the street. I don’t understand why British food has a bad rep. Beef, lamb, seafood, fresh herbs and veg—what’s not to like? Even haggis is delicious—it tastes like spicy liverwurst! Black pudding with bacon, mmmmmmmmmmmm! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/38 "2014-04-13T08:53:42Z")
As for Welsh food… [http://www.recipesfromwales.com/](http://www.recipesfromwales.com/) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/39 "2014-04-13T09:38:21Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > This is one of the most baffling blind spots that afflicts Americans. The savory pie should be a staple of American fast food just as it is in Australia. It is perfect for eating on the run, full of fat, carbohydrates and meat. It comes in an endless variety of forms. And it is delicious. As said above, it’s not really fast food, as our savory pies (pot pies) are more stew-y affairs that require knife-and-fork, but there are other similar type of “meat pie” foods found in the US that are slightly different in form, like, say, the Hot Pocket, the Latin American empenadas, pasties (via Cornwall, of course, but popular in the upper Midwest), the Natchitoches Meat Pies of Louisiana, etc. I think meat pies in general would do well enough that an enterprising young entrepreneur would do well for his/herself setting up shop in a hip neighborhood. I would take whatever **Superhal** says with a grain of sal t–I’m not convinced it’s entirely sincere (I can’t honestly believe someone associates hummus with the British or thinks it’s made of lamb.) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2014, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/40 "2014-04-13T09:56:55Z")
The British/Aussie meat pies are quite a cut above the American pot pie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983.md?page=3)