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The French hold on proudly to their cuisine with both hands, fresh croissant crumbs under their fingernails from the mornings’ breakfast.  Asian nations have developed their cuisines into worldwide institutions, spreading the delights of flaming woks and eating with chopsticks to all corners of the globe.  And the Italians… well they just know their food is good.   But what about us Brits?  Do we feel that same surge of hauteur for our bacon and eggs?  Does a glimmer of patriotism flash across our eyes as we imagine a cheddar topped shepherd’s pie, or Lancashire Hotpot ready to be enjoyed after the day’s work?  We certainly don’t seem to have been able to turn the taste buds of anyone over the water to our cuisine as a question put to any European will plainly reveal, with the inevitable accusations of blandness and reciting of food horror stories on exchange visits.  But it seems that the English tradition of willpower and battling against all odds applies equally to our food, and in the face of almost insurmountable ridicule British cuisine is slowly but surely winning over the stern palate of the masses, rediscovering its rich heritage, smashing the stereotypes, and making a decidedly dogged come-back.

In an article for the BBC food website, renowned food critique Caroline Stacey comments upon the revival of interest being enjoyed by English restaurants throughout the country, citing the wanton desire of consumers to eat fresh locally produced ingredients as a pivotal factor.  Over the last few years the British Isles has seen an unprecedented shift in consumer attitudes to the food we eat, away from the mass produced morsels that we have become so accustomed to devouring from our supermarket shelves to fresh, healthy food with the number of producers making locally grown English food on the increase and local farm shops enjoying continued growth.  No doubt fuelled by the increasing popularity of British chefs such as Gordon Ramsey, Rick Stein, Hugh Fernley Whittingstall, Jamie Oliver and the like, who have succeeded in their own distinctive ways to turn a decidedly ambivalent public back onto the simple joy of eating, people are again embracing regionally grown crops and livestock and this seems to be changing the way that the nation is thinking about what we eat into… dare we say, a perspective more resembling that of our European neighbours.  Restaurants have been quick to recognise the trend and are increasingly offering good quality, locally sourced English dishes, rediscovering a rich heritage of recipes that span back centuries and would satisfy even the most discernible palate.

There is no doubt that our cuisine, as with our rolling green countryside, possesses a palpable charm that is uniquely British, and it has never been easier to sample a piece of that magic that resides deep within the medieval stories and sweeping meadows of this great land (getting a little too British for you? Never).  What self respecting subject of the queen could turn down the delights of high tea with freshly cut cucumber sandwiches and piping hot scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam?  If you wish to be party to a tad of this fare then some would say that there’s no better place than Betty's Tea Rooms in the 2000 year old medieval walled city of York who are renowned for their commitment to fresh, proper ingredients and serve their creations in two delightful tearooms in the centre of the city as well as other unique locations throughout Yorkshire.  If it’s a more hearty meal you're after then the King Charles 2nd Restaurant in the equally historic city of Worcester will provide your taste buds with a plethora of richness in the form of succulent Beef Wellington (made with delicious pate), traditional Rack of Lamb and a myriad of other tasty regional dishes all served in the magical atmosphere of the historic King Charles House on New Street where King Charles 2nd escaped from the Roundheads after the Battle of Worcester.  If on the other hand you are in the lands of the South West and fancy a stroll down to the docks to view the beauty of the S.S Great Britain then don’t forget to refresh your senses at the Hope & Anchor just a stone’s throw from the riverbank.  This beautiful little public house has a picture-book English garden at the back and serves quality British dishes at great prices complementing them beautifully with locally brewed beers and ciders.  Please feel free to view the Visit Cards of the restaurants above, here at Kitchens24 in the ‘Companies’ section, where you will find full menus, opening times and locations, and if you can't get out and sample some quality home cooking in your area then why not check out some of the great British recipes that have been added by our users (see the 'Recipes' section), and create your own home-cooked masterpieces.  British cuisine is indisputably back on the menu and with so much quality to enjoy and so many chefs turning their creativity back to the revival of traditional British recipes, a food revolution is well and truly rumbling in the belly of Britain.