British Cuisine
Some time ago Somerset Maugham said that to eat well in England, you should have breakfast three times a day.' To be perfectly honest, most British food was considered by many people as terrible. It included overcooked vegetables, boring sandwiches and greasy sausages. It was definitely not an enjoyable experience. However, these are now only stereotypes. Things have changed a lot and food has become very important in British culture. Not only TV cooks are more famous than writers, but also their recipes and books are well-known across the Europe. The New British cuisine' is changing the fish and chips' image and has become multicultural. There are about 80 different international cuisines and British restaurants may compete with those anywhere in the world in terms of price and quality.
In the majority of European countries it is normal to have a long break in eating in the midday. This is not really widespread habit in Britain. British people eat out rather regularly. They have three main meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, the three are often accompanied by four additional meals- elevenses, brunch, tea-time and high tea.
Breakfast is usually eaten between seven and nine. Most people believe that the ordinary English breakfast comprises of eggs, bacon, sausages, fried bread, mushrooms and baked beans all washed down with a cup of coffee.' Nonetheless, the British are more likely to eat toasts with butter and jam or Marmite (a dark brown spread made from yeast)', fruit juices, cereals, some type of fruit -especially melons and grapefruits, porridge and a cup of coffee. In some homes and workplaces this meal is followed by something called elevenses.' It is some kind of tea break at about eleven in the morning.' It consists of a cup of tea or coffee and some cookies. If the breakfast and lunch are linked together the meal is called brunch. It is usually eaten in the late morning. Another mealtime is lunch. It is eaten...
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