An interesting article came up on NPR a few days ago about how the show Downton Abbey has shown a completely different side of British food culture than what normally comes to mind when someone says “English food”. The shows first few seasons are centered in England before, during, and immediately after WWI (so far) and dining is an incredibly complex event with an entire kitchen staff working to feed the rich family they’re working to support. While the show itself appeals to most people for different reasons, the food is definitely one that catches my attention most.
That’s hard to reconcile with the reputation that dogged British cuisine throughout much of the 20th century as boring, tasteless fare.
So what changed? The short answer: World War I.
The article goes on to state that because so many in the service industry went off to war and didn’t return as well as the fact that so many items were rationed and thus generally unavailable.
But the real question about the change is why the English put up with food that was considered to be so terrible for so long. Do you think that American’s, due to their general insistence on eating poorly made foods in restaurants which cater to bland and boring tastes, will go through a similar dark period in the future? Have you thought about trying to make an entire meal in the Edwardian English style for a special occasion or even just a random weekend? Do you watch Downton Abbey and if so what is your favorite thing about it? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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February 29th, 2012 at 7:42 am
“what normally comes to mind when someone says “English food”. What some people here assume about English food is just an assumption. I lived there for three years and found wonderful food everywhere. From simple country Pub fare to fine dining in London, I loved it all. A friend and I met two young ladies while hitch-hiking up to Blackpool and they invited us to their parents home for the upcoming New Years holiday one year. They lived in the very scenic rolling hills around Huddersfield in Yorkshire. Their father was a butcher and their brother was apprenticing in that trade with his father. A very average family. We had fabulous roast goose, wonderful roasted Brussel Sprouts, sides dishes of all sorts and the real Yorkshire pudding, in the heart of Yorkshire. They used their finest china, a fancy silver service, the father and brother sang, we had cocktails before, wine with and tea after the feast. In any of the larger pubs in any city you could get wonderful meals or just snacks like a cheese and tomato sandwich which was always on a fresh chewy bun. Every B & B had wonderful breakfasts that always had bacon and eggs, ripe tomatoes halved and fried (delicious) and your choice of toast varieties or muffins; jams or jellies and coffee or tea. Most also usually offered a small glass of fresh juice. The best part of living in England, foodwise, was the Fish & Chips. The fish was always same day fresh and the battered spicy sausages were something I still dream about.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:59 am
I’ve worked in the UK, spent lots of time in the Midlands, Potteries.. was warned by colleagues in London that the food in the north would be “interesting” and gross. “Look out of the black pudding”. I only saw blood pudding in the store and looked like sausage. Never tried it
It was awesome. Great Indian food in the UK. Realy nice local eateries all over the place. Places that served locallly grown produce and locally raised meats. Honestly, I hate very well there. Fish and chops of course were great but I passed on the mushy peas on top.
London has some of the best places to eat in the world.
The only meal I wasn’t so on in the UK was breakfast. And then only the beans. Not really up for baked beans for breakfast, one of the English “cooked breakfast” staples
February 29th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Marty,
Your comment has me drooling this morning. Holy crap does that sound good. I think roasted brussel sprouts are one of the more underrated vegetables around. Love to make them with some nice smoked pancetta along side a nice protein. Yum.
Your comment about cheese and tomato sandwiches reminded me of a dinner I had a few weeks ago at Amsterdam in downtown St. Paul (was once Fhima’s and Pop!!)
They serve small sandwiches called Broodjes, which are basically slider sized white chewy buns and you have a choice of about 20 different things to put in the middle. While the hamburger was pretty average, the BACON sandwich (no lettuce, no tomato) was amazing. I also loved the Dutch cheese sandwich, which was a firm cheese that was melty in the middle and the roasted tomato was pretty excellent as well.
They also have sardine, fried eggplant and even octopus as options so it is a pretty eclectic offering. I was not expecting such a fun meal when going to a place that caters to people who like live music.
It gets the lefty Seal of Approval.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:17 am
I can’t comment on British food, as I’ve never been there, but for the longest time I thought this show was called “Downtown Abbey.”
February 29th, 2012 at 11:29 am
I have never seen the show, although its getting a great deal of publicity. Hope to check it out at some point.
Sorry, not much to add on British food.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:47 am
I lived in England for awhile. Unfortunately I was vegetarian at the time, and I don’t like Indian food, so I missed a lot! However, on return trips to London I have ate A LOT and enjoyed every minute.
It is worth noting that most restaurants, even 11 years ago when I lived there, had really good vegetarian options. Even McDonald’s had Veggie Burgers! : )
February 29th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
The real question here is what is Bates’s game?
February 29th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
English food: i havent been there in years, from what i have heard the food in london has changed alot… lots of financial sector money has made sure of that. But like others,some good indian food… but indian food there is alot like Chinese food is here.. a restaurant would have 2 menus… one for English, one for indians…
Downton: I have watched both seasons… not sure why i got hooked, but i am a sucker for historical fiction , and i do like the pre WWI and WWI time period… as a history major , its an important period in world history.
the kitchen work is interesting in the series, i didnt see much of the food, but the formal service seemingly on a daily basis is interesting… one wonders if that was really the drill… certainly that disappeared in the 1930′s and WWII. I think i saw an article on the series this year with some interesting number of people involved in the “service” of these lordly mansions and to the upper class before the war, and after the war which was a drastic decrease …, the war wreaked havoc on british population, not to mention rationing… and the economic changes of the 1920′s changed things as well…
enough of that. the writer and creator is Julian Fellowes, who also wrote the screenplay for Gosford Park, the Altman movie. having seen both seasons i think the first season was better. I think it got to be a bit soap opera like in a big way in the 2nd season.
the most interesting characters are the servants… although Maggie Smith’s dowager grandmama is excellent.
JTL: Bates, i would like to think he did it, but his character is so damned proper that its hard to imagine. what is the connection between OBrien and Thomas? its too bad poor Mr Pamook left us so soon. He had potential …lol
February 29th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
British food? What kind of person do you think I am? The Brits can keep their fish & chips, I’ll keep my 2-pound burger with a side of freedom fries!
February 29th, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Seriously though, I’ve never been to England but would like to go. My mom lived in Leeds for a year with a foreign exchange program. She took my dad there for their 15th anniversary. My favorite cuisine story is from when they had bread with marmalade, which he’d never had. My mom warned him to spread it very thin because it’s pretty bitter. My dad is known for his heaping scoops of jelly and didn’t heed my mom’s advice. I would pay money to see the look on his face after he took a huge bite full of bitter marmalade.