# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/141 "2014-04-28T02:19:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Actually, apart from chicken pot pie, which is not eaten on the run, the savory pie with which we’re most familiar is the [Jamaican patty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_patty). > > Unless you count Hot Pockets. Is it a Gulf Coast thing (and Jamaica, obviously)? I have never ever heard of this. I have at least heard of Cornish pastys, which are Finnishisized in Michigan’s UP, but haven’t actually had one. Also empanadas, which I guess are kind of a general term. Sometimes Mexican places have them, but not the most common. Getting way out there from the “pie” definition are pupusas, which are wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/142 "2014-04-28T02:32:13Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Is it a Gulf Coast thing (and Jamaica, obviously)? I have never ever heard of this. Perhaps it is. You can always find them in Tampa at the kind of gas station/convenience store that also sells fried chicken and things. ---
**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 28, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/143 "2014-04-28T02:59:44Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :eek: Why doesn’t **Britain** have an obesity epidemic?! I thought it did. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/144 "2014-04-28T03:38:47Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I thought it did. Depends on how [Scotland votes](http://www.wcrf-uk.org/about_us/media/press_release.php?recid=201) (jk the rest of GB isn’t far behind). ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/145 "2014-04-28T10:42:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, maybe it’s best to get your day’s eating all out of the way first thing . . . That is the best thing about a full English breakfast, especially for the traveler. After that, you’re good until tea-time. ---
**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 28, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/146 "2014-04-28T12:06:51Z")
> [@Miss\_Mapp](#): > > That is the best thing about a full English breakfast, especially for the traveler. After that, you’re good until tea-time. Well, they were intended for the working classes, weren’t they, when a man would go out all day and actually burn up all those calories riveting ships together or whatever? As far as I could see when I was in GB, most people nowadays eat a fairly light breakfast (e.g., corn flakes, toast, tea) that better suits their sedentary jobs. I used to love having full British breakfasts several times a month, but since I hit 50, I can barely eat two meals a day (and sometimes get by on nothing but juice and black coffee). If I do a proper fry-up these days, I slice the sausages, black pudding rounds, and bacon rashers into quarters and consume them over two or three days, cooking a single egg to go with them every time. As for Jamaican patties, I had never heard of them until I ended up living in Canada. Toronto, at least, has a very diverse ethnic mix, and JPs are just some of the culinary delights on offer there. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/147 "2014-04-28T12:25:52Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Well, they were intended for the working classes, weren’t they, when a man would go out all day and actually burn up all those calories riveting ships together or whatever? As far as I could see when I was in GB, most people nowadays eat a fairly light breakfast (e.g., corn flakes, toast, tea) that better suits their sedentary jobs. Well, quite, my breakfast today was a banana and an espresso. We don’t eat a full english anymore often than I imagine Americans tuck into a huge pile of pancakes, maple syrup and bacon. It’s mostly for hangover days, holidays and the odd stay in a hotel. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/148 "2014-04-28T12:27:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [A full English breakfast with fried egg, sausage, white and black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, toast, and half a tomato.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_breakfast#Full_English_breakfast) > > Does anyone actually go to work in Britain, or do you just eat breakfast and sleep it off?! Nah. A fry-up is pretty much what you do to cure a hangover, preferably eaten in a greasy caff. Cue jokes about it being a daily thing then … ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/149 "2014-04-28T12:30:42Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > :eek: Why doesn’t **Britain** have an obesity epidemic?! Just reading that list made my arteries harden! Because they don’t serve American portions 😛 (Aaieee! No throwing hard pointy things!) ---
**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 28, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/150 "2014-04-28T14:28:59Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I imagine Americans tuck into a huge pile of pancakes, maple syrup and bacon. Oh, God, yes! Especially if the pancakes are made with buttermilk and blueberries and drenched in butter, and served with bacon **and** sausage links on the side! One serving like that, and I’m set for the next 24 hours at least! :o ---
**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 28, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/151 "2014-04-28T15:55:00Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Actually, apart from chicken pot pie, which is not eaten on the run, the savory pie with which we’re most familiar is the [Jamaican patty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_patty). > > Unless you count Hot Pockets. I don’t know if we’re FAMILIAR with Jamaican patties. I found them by happenstance years ago in a hole in the wall place in downtown Atlanta, and luuuurved them. But I moved on, got another job, and have not seen or heard of them since reading your post. And no one I know personally has heard of them. In Atlanta I would say that “obscure” just isn’t the word for Jamaican patties. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/152 "2014-04-28T16:19:52Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > I don’t know if we’re FAMILIAR with Jamaican patties. I found them by happenstance years ago in a hole in the wall place in downtown Atlanta, and luuuurved them. But I moved on, got another job, and have not seen or heard of them since reading your post. And no one I know personally has heard of them. In Atlanta I would say that “obscure” just isn’t the word for Jamaican patties. It seems that around here (the Albany, NY area) every single pizza joint sells some sort of meat patty. And I know I’ve seen the Jamaican ones in the frozen section of normal grocery stores. I’m watching the latest season of UK MasterChef and there’s the oddest combination of cooking from the contestants. Some are doing ethnic (mostly Indian and South Asian) food. Some seem to go more haute cuisine and there’s a lot of what appears to be classic British cooking as well. What I can’t figure out with this season is where all the venison is coming from. The only time I ever eat venison (not being a hunter) is when someone has shot a deer and then shares. Obviously there must be some sort of difference with retailing it between the US and the UK. There are just some weird ingredients and dishes in that show from an American perspective. ---
**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 28, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/153 "2014-04-28T18:18:09Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Obviously there must be some sort of difference with retailing it between the US and the UK. There are just some weird ingredients and dishes in that show from an American perspective. Sounds like the next big foodie trend, hot on the heels of bacon in everything, spaghetti sauce with vodka, and red velvet cake. You can get venison at some open-air markets and upscale butcher stores. I don’t think it’s any rarer than, say, buffalo steaks or tasso ham. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/154 "2014-04-28T19:21:13Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > The only time I ever eat venison (not being a hunter) is when someone has shot a deer and then shares. Hipster restaurants love it. > [@terentii](#): > > You can get venison at some open-air markets and upscale butcher stores. I don’t think it’s any rarer than, say, buffalo steaks or tasso ham. Buffalo (bison) is common. Walmart has it. Many places have bison hamburger, and many have steaks. The cuts are not nearly as wide a variety as beef though. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen venison in a regular supermarket. But places that serve it also are more likely to serve bison. ---
**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 28, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/155 "2014-04-28T20:14:01Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I’m watching the latest season of UK MasterChef and there’s the oddest combination of cooking from the contestants. Some are doing ethnic (mostly Indian and South Asian) food. Some seem to go more haute cuisine and there’s a lot of what appears to be classic British cooking as well. What I can’t figure out with this season is where all the venison is coming from. The only time I ever eat venison (not being a hunter) is when someone has shot a deer and then shares. Obviously there must be some sort of difference with retailing it between the US and the UK. There are just some weird ingredients and dishes in that show from an American perspective. Venison is fairly common in supermarkets in the UK. Talking about weird ingredients and dishes in the current UK Masterchef, have you seen the episode with a guy called Carl in it yet? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/156 "2014-04-28T23:44:13Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Well, quite, my breakfast today was a banana and an espresso. > > We don’t eat a full english anymore often than I imagine Americans tuck into a huge pile of pancakes, maple syrup and bacon. It’s mostly for hangover days, holidays and the odd stay in a hotel. In HS I went to Australia & New Zealand with a youth group one summer and did a short homestay in each county. Kiwi Host-Mom made these huge English breakfasts and like an everyday thing (I could tell it wasn’t by the looks on Host-Dad and Host-Bro’s faces). Afterward Host-Bro said the last time she did that was at Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/157 "2014-04-28T23:58:32Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Buffalo (bison) is common. Walmart has it. Many places have bison hamburger, and many have steaks. The cuts are not nearly as wide a variety as beef though. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen venison in a regular supermarket. But places that serve it also are more likely to serve bison. [But what about goose?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=356653) (Do Brits eat **that?** It certainly ought to be greasy enough for them.) ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/158 "2014-04-29T00:40:29Z")
If I remember my **The Supersizers…** correctly goose was a traditional English Christmas dish (& something the rich would’ve eaten year round), but it was displaced by turkey in the 20th century. Meanwhile the Royal Family used to have _swan_ for Christmas dinner; all swans in the UK being the property of the reigning monarch. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/159 "2014-04-29T00:43:24Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Venison is fairly common in supermarkets in the UK. > > Talking about weird ingredients and dishes in the current UK Masterchef, have you seen the episode with a guy called Carl in it yet? 😃 I’m not sure. I’m about a week behind. Is that the guy who did something weird with like lamb and banana? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983/160 "2014-04-29T00:58:39Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [But what about goose?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=356653) > > (Do Brits eat **that?** It certainly ought to be greasy enough for them.) I saw some in the freezer section of a not very fancy grocery store (\< Safeway or Publix). I think it might’ve been seasonal (Christmas/New Year). Other stuff in that section include duck, Cornish game hen, and livers/kidneys/gizzards/whatever. And of course, [boiled goose](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yvEYKRF5IA) is among the least-cool foods, ever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-is-the-stereotype-that-british-food-is-not-a-very-distinguished-cuisine/685983.md?page=9)