Food Trends

» cordcoyle - i agree

I am just back from Northern Ireland, and last summer I was in London, and still I find by the end of my trips I am dying to get back to Toronto and some great food. It is interesting how on the one hand there are so many talented british chefs yet on the whole the concept of good food does not seem to be spilling over into casual local restaurants. While in London, my favorite food was at PRET A MANGER!! It was always fresh, great variety of sandwiches and salads, and consistently good. The only great things I had at the local pubs were cider and crisps!

-- posted by cordcoyle

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» cordcoyle - two glimmers of hope

Forgot to mention, two glimmers of hope when in N.Ireland this time - an asian resturant called Fat Buddha - did have excellent pad thai here, and also an Indian restaurant called Spice in Lisburn. Aside from that, the usual - starchy, fried, not so much taste.

-- posted by cordcoyle

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» Mary Luz Mejia - i agree

In response to i agree posted by cordcoyle:

A colleague that works with me right now who used to live in London agrees that Prete a Manger was her favourite. Wish I had given that a try.

We went to a packed place our first night there (not with tourists I might add), ordered 2 100% beef burgers, some chips and a water each and it was nothing to write home about- except for the bill. That insignificant meal cost us $55 CDN! Yeesh! Hope they turn things around some day....

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» Scousegit - British food

Interesting! I, too, have been disappointed at fish 'n' chips in pubs on both sides of the pond. I think the main reasons are that: 1) as with all pub food, it tends to be frozen; 2) it takes an industrial fryer, like you find in a chippy, to do the job properly by heating the chips for the shortest possible time, before they can get soggy or brown, rather than golden.

The problem with Britain is that we began working in factories before anyone else, which meant we almost forgot our traditional cooking in the centuries of gobbling down whatever we could before the factory hooter sounded.

When visiting my land of birth, I usually go Indian, like everyone else. Indeed, it was the Indians and the Chinese who created restaurant culture in Britain, and relatively recently. I doubt my family ate out more than twice a year when I was growing up, except for snacks and take-aways.

Then foreign travel got us a taste for French, Spanish, Italian and Greek food, which all made their way on to our high streets. For that reason, restaurants offering decently prepared traditional British food never really got off the ground.

I also take the point about prices, but in defence of British food, I would respectfully point out to Canadians that at least it exists, and we've come up with a lot more than just gravy and chips with grated cheese on top!

Of course, I admit I would much rather eat in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, Argentina or Peru, but would settle for roast beef or Dover sole over poutine any time!

-- posted by Scousegit

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» Mary Luz Mejia - British food

In response to British food posted by Scousegit:

All good points- but perhaps you haven't had a good plate of poutine? (I recommend Martin Picard's tribute to the Quebecois classic with a slab of foie gras as your artery clogger of choice)... Dover Sole and roast beef sound lovely- too bad we couldn't find any good examples of it while in London. Guess we'll have to try harder next time and I might even hit you up for some tried and true suggestions! :-)

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» Scousegit - British food

In response to British food posted by cookbook:

Oh, I'm not knocking poutine -- in fact, I had a deluxe version on my birthday in Montreal -- I just don't think it says much for the originality or variety of Canadian cuisine.

Getting back to Britain, I really don't know of anywhere that serves genuine traditional fare. I suppose too many of us were traumatised by school dinners to seek anything vaguely similar when we go out.

That said, Keith Floyd (one of my favourite TV chefs) has made an excellent contribution with his recipe book "Floyd on Britain and Ireland", a dog-eared, second-hand and stained version of which sits in my kitchen. It really is mouth-watering!

-- posted by Scousegit

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» Scousegit - i agree

In response to i agree posted by cordcoyle:

I have already made known my points on the shortcomings of food in Britain, the land of my birth.

However, if you are gastronomically traumatised on your next trip, may I suggest you hop on a budget flight to mainland Europe if you want truly great food?

For I respectfully submit you won't find great food in Toronto which truly compares with what is on offer in France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, etc.

Here, all I have found is hybrid stuff, and that is inevitable given the logistical difficulties entailed in replicating at a distance a varied, complex and original cuisine which has taken centuries to evolve. You can get a few honest attempts to approximate to the old country, but on College or Dundas, say, I only get overpriced imitations which fall short and make me even more homesick for the fare I used to get in Lisbon.

That said, what I do appreciate about T.O. is that I can buy ingredients here with which to make a fair few reasonably authentic and yummy Portuguese and Mexican dishes, which I doubt I could back in La Perfide Albion.

-- posted by Scousegit

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» Scousegit - British food

In response to British food posted by Scousegit:

Aha! A friend recommends Porters English Restaurant in Covent Garden, London's theatre district: http://www.porters.uk.com/

The menu looks brilliant, particularly the venison, beef and redcurrant pie.

A famous Brit resto I've never been to but whose cookbook I've used for decades is this one: http://www.hungrymonk.co.uk/

-- posted by Scousegit

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