London Street Food

London Street Food


London Street Food is an integral part of British English cuisine, otherwise known in England as 'Pub Grub'. Food in London is mostly simple, uncomplicated dishes, with an emphasis on ingredients sourced locally from British farmers, matched with simple sauces to enhance overall flavour. The cuisine of England has come a long way, from a stodgy, tasteless past. Today, British English cuisine is among the most influential worldwide, and has even adapted dishes from its former colonies, such as India, to create many hybrid dishes which are distinctly English.

Food in London can be found along the streets in kiosks or small cafes, in mid-range restaurants and fine-dining establishments. Pubs are popular eating places, and commonly serve beer or wine to accompany food. Common ingredients used in London include potatoes, beef, pork, chicken, bread (white, brown, rye), cheese (cheddar, cottage, stilton), vinegar, mustard, tomato ketchup, fish (haddock, cod, plaice, skate, mackerel, herring, salmon, trout), sausages, onions, gherkins, lettuce, tomatoes, peas, mushrooms, jam (blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, orange marmalade), grapes, rhubarb, sugar, apples, and more.

While snacking isn't too common in London, having High Tea is still considered a very British activity to partake in on the weekends, as is the traditional Sunday Roast. Desserts are also common, and are often served hot / warm in London, with most locals referring to them as 'Puddings'. Thursdays in England tend to be termed 'Curry Day', with pubs around London offering discounts on Indian / Curry dishes.


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Also known as Sausages And Mash, Bangers And Mash is a traditional British English dish of smooth mashed potates, onions, peas, onion / meat gravy, and sausages. The sausages used in Bangers And Mash are often locally made in England, and the more common varieties consumed in London include beef sausages, pork sausages, Cumberland sausages or Lincolnshire sausages. Chicken sausages and lamb sausages are never used in Bangers And Mash.

Bangers And Mash

Bangers And Mash

Bangers And Mash

The people of England are proud of their locally produced beef, and Beef Steak Sirloin is a favoured cut of beef steak on many London menus. Beef Steak Sirloin is rarely eaten alone, it is served as part of a main dish, usually with mashed potatoes or English Chips, and vegetables or salad.

Beef Steak Sirloin

Beer Fosters is an Australian brand that is popular throughout London. The Beer Wychwood Hobgoblin English India Pale Ale (IPA) is an award-winning brown beer, brewed by the Wychwood Brewery in Witney, Oxfordshire, England. It has a brown ruby colour, with aromas of orange, milk chocolate, toffee, and honey. The body is smooth, hoppy, and resinous, with tastes of black raisins, butterscotch caramel, dates, and grapefruit. Has a floral zesty sour chocolatey bitter earthy sweet flavour, with a fruity finish. Beer Wychwood Hobgoblin English India Pale Ale (IPA) is a popular beer in London, England, especially around Halloween, due to its name.

Beer Fosters

Beer Wychwood Hobgoblin English India Pale Ale (IPA)

Beer Wychwood Hobgoblin English India Pale Ale (IPA)

Beer Wychwood Hobgoblin English India Pale Ale (IPA)

Bread And Butter is a traditional and much loved staple in England and London, eaten at almost every meal. The type of bread served varies greatly, though the British English prefer locally produced breads such as Cottage Loaf, Bread Roll, Sourdough, Rye, Bannock, Crumpet, Scone, White, Brown or Wheat.

Bread And Butter

Bread And Butter

Voted by the British as their favourite cake, Carrot Cake is a cake which contains carrots mixed into the cake batter consisting of all purpose flour, eggs, sugar, nutmeg, all spice / English pepper and raisins. Carrot Cake is often topped with cream cheese icing or vanilla icing. It can be served as a cake, cupcake, muffin or loaf.

Carrot Cake

English Cheese is one of the most popular varieties of Cheese worldwide. Some of the more common English Cheese include Cheddar, Cottage, Stilton, Blue, Wensleydale, Derby, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester, Brie and Stinking Bishop.

Cheese Cheddar

Cheese Cottage

Chips, sometimes called English Chips, are thick-cut strips of potatoes that are deep fried, and served to accompany a dish.

Chips

The classic Fish And Chips is 1 of 3 British national dishes, widely sold across London, England. It consists of a fresh fillet of boneless white fish, coated in a batter (made from water, all-purpose flour, baking soda, white vinegar, and sometimes beer or stout) then deep-fried till crisp and golden. The choice of white fish can differ widely, though common varieties include cod, haddock, pollock, hake, or halibut; most of which have a lean flaky moist texture with gentle sweet savoury flavour. Typically seasoned with salt and malt vinegar, for added sour salty kick. Served with thick cut English potato chips which carry starchy salty savoury flavour, gooey mushy peas which carry vegetal grassy earthy sweet flavour, thick tomato ketchup with vegetal sour sweet flavour, and creamy tartar sauce with milky sweet savour flavour.

Fish And Chips

Fish And Chips

The classic Full English Breakfast is a substantial meal, typically eaten in the mornings especially on weekends, and is served by some establishments as an All-Day Breakfast. Also known as a Fry-Up due to its greasy nature, a plate will consist of several ingredients.

This includes crisp toasted buttered bread (white, rye, sourdough, brioche, or multi-grain) with smoky bready sweet sour earthy buttery flavour; soft baked beans in tomato sauce with vegetal earthy sweet flavour; 2 fried eggs with eggy savoury sweet flavour (or substituted with scrambled eggs, poached eggs, or sunny-side up eggs); crisp potato hashbrown with starchy salty sweet savoury flavour; snappy pork sausage with smoky meaty herbal savoury salty flavour (such as cumberland or lincolnshire); juicy grilled tomato with vegetal sweet flavour; chewy grilled mushroom (button, portobello, or crimini) with vegetal earthy salty flavour; and crispy pork back bacon with smoky meaty salty savoury flavour.

Full English Breakfast

Full English Breakfast

The practice of making Gingerbread Man dates back to the 16th Century in England. Gingerbread Man is a biscuit or cookie made from all purpose flour, butter, eggs, sugar, water, ginger, all spice / English pepper, syrup and milk. The mixture is then shaped into a humanoid form, and is usually decored with facial features and clothing. Gingerbread Man is especially common around festive seasons such as Christmas, Halloween or Easter.

Gingerbread Man

Locally produced British Jams are made from common fruits grown in England, such as Blackcurrant, Strawberry or Orange. Jam Blackcurrant, Strawberry, Orange Marmalade are popular bread spreads in London.

Jam Blackcurrant, Strawberry, Orange Marmalade

British Milk is fresh and usually pasteurised, thin but with milky sweet flavour. It's rich in calcium, vitamin B2, B5, and B12!

Milk

Traditional English Mustard is classified as a Hot Mustard, with a strong, sharp taste, bright yellow colour, and slight burning taste sensation.

Mustard

Freshly squeezed Orange Juice is a popular breakfast drink in London, made with oranges grown locally by farmers in England.

Orange Juice

Named after British stateman John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, the Sandwich is a versatile meal in which 2 or more slices of bread are used to enclose other ingredients, typically meat, vegetables, eggs, or seafood. The story goes that the Earl of Sandwich, during long gambling sessions, would ask his valet to bring him salted beef between 2 slices of bread, as this allowed him to continue playing cards while eating, without needing utensils or getting his cards dirty. His friends soon caught on, and began ordering "the same as Sandwich". Today, the modern English definition of a Sandwich is "any form of bread with a filling, generally assembled cold", which excludes hot dogs and burgers due to their hot fillings.

There are many different varieties of Sandwich in England, some of the more commonly consumed Sandwich in London include ingredients such as beef, chicken, ham, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, cheese, peanut butter, jam, onions, gherkins, mayonnaise, mustard, butter or bacon.

Sandwich

Sandwich

Sandwich

Sandwich

Seasonal Berry Fruit Salad is made with locally grown fruits including Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry, Raspberry. These fruits are usually from sustainable farms.

Seasonal Berry Fruit Salad Strawberry, Blueberry, Blackberry, Raspberry

The Cottage Pie is a well-loved British English pub classic offered by many pubs in London, England. Also known as Shepherd's Pie, it features a base of slow-cooked tender minced beef or minced lamb, juicy peas, pliant caramelised white onions, and soft diced carrots, in a rich beef gravy. Topped with smooth creamy mashed potatoes, often baked till the surface browns up. This carries robust starchy sweet vegetal grassy meaty salty savoury peppery spice flavour. Optionally, cheddar cheese is incorporated. It can be served on its own, or with a side of vegetables, such as fresh juicy boiled peas with vegetal grassy sweet flavour, crunchy broccoli with vegetal sweet flavour, or crunchy roasted hispi cabbage with smoky vegetal salty sweet flavour. In London, a vegetarian version made with chickpeas or lentils or tofu is known as a Shepherdless pie.

Cottage Pie

Cottage Pie

Shortbread is a type of hard biscuit, made from plain white flour, white sugar, and a lot of butter. Shortbread gained its name due to its crumbly texture and high fat content. Shortbread is typically made into several shapes, usually either a circle, triangle, or finger. During festive seasons, Shortbread is made into shapes representing the particular festive season.

Shortbread

Shortbread Fingers

Shortbread Scottie Dogs Scottish Terrier

Dessert Tarts, like Caramel Tart and Lemon Tart, are common pastries served as a dessert, or during high tea.

Tart Caramel

Tart Lemon

Considered the number 1 drink in England and London, Tea is not only a drink, but a part of the cultural landscape of the United Kingdom. Classic blends of English Tea include English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Prince Of Wales. Today, there are many varieties and blends of Tea, though the most common is Black Tea.

Tea

Tomato Ketchup is a popular table condiment in England, and is served alongside many dishes in London. Tomato Ketchup is a relatively recent invention, adapted by the Colonial British sometime in the late 17th century.

Tomato Ketchup

Treacle Sponge Pudding is a traditional British dessert, consisting of a sponge cake made from all purpose flour, eggs, butter, sugar and water. Treacle Sponge Pudding is served topped with golden syrup / light treacle, and hot custard.

Treacle Sponge Pudding

Treacle Sponge Pudding

The Victoria Sponge Cake is a light fluffy moist 3-layer sponge cake, made with wheat flour, chicken egg whites, caster sugar, baking powder, and butter. The layers are spread with cream and either strawberry jam or raspberry jam, while the top is dusted with powdered sugar. This carries buttery fruity sour sweet flavour, and is usually eaten for high tea or dessert.

Victoria Sponge Cake

A traditional and popular dessert in England, Bread And Butter Pudding consists of layers of buttered white bread and raisins, covered with milk, sugar and eggs then baked. It is usually served with hot custard, whipped cream or ice cream. Modern versions of Bread And Butter Pudding in London may also include strawberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, orange, raspberry or apple.

Bread And Butter Pudding

Bread And Butter Pudding

Bread And Butter Pudding

Typically eaten during High Tea, a Scone is a simple bread made from wheat, barley or oatmeal, along with sugar and baking powder. Scone may frequently have raisins or cheese within. Scone are served along with a fruit jam and clotted cream or butter.

Scone

Scone

Scone

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