h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hmm. We have a fair number of signature dishes, but we're probably best at puddings really (we used to be famous all over Europe for those!).

How could I not mention good old Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding? That's as traditional as it comes.

Then there's the Lancashire Hot Pot - lamb and vegetables casseroled with a topping of sliced potatoes.

Steak and Kidney Pudding! Suet Crust Pastry, Beefsteak and Ox Kidney (I prefer Pig's Kidney to Ox, though). The pudding is steamed as well - not baked.

Boiled Beef and Carrots - so good they wrote a song about it - it's actually a casserole, baked in stock. It should be made with Brisket (the cut of beef they make pastrami out of) which is good and cheap.

Oh - and don't forget the Fish and Chips! And I'm rather partial to a , though they're really bad for you so I don't indulge very often. There's probably a load more that I've not mentioned, can you think of any Kess?

How about that for traditional? Mind you, with Britain being a multicultural nation nowadays, many of our signature dishes are changing - would you believe that the nation's favourite dishes are Indian in origin? That's right - Curries!

So much so in fact, that we now have a British signature Indian Dish - the Chicken Tikka Masala! It was invented here, and the average Indian on the streets of Mumbai would have no idea what it was (and probably wouldn't care either - why should they?).

We're pretty lucky really, as we have a huge range of international cuisines to choose from here - Indian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Greek, Italian etc. etc. The choice is huge - and I think that's great. (boy - this is *such* a useful smiley!)

Roast Beef
---that's common here, too.
Yorkshire Pudding?
---i've heard of it, but i can't picture it right now.

Lancashire Hot Pot -
---sounds tasty if you like lamb. too bad, i don't

Steak and Kidney Pudding! Suet Crust Pastry, Beefsteak and Ox Kidney (I prefer Pig's Kidney to Ox, though
---OH! THAT IS SO GROSS!!! KIDNEYS??? YOU EAT KIDNEYS?!?!?!
PeteY's scared!

my faves are deep dish pizza [chicago style]
http://www.giordanos.com/
YUM!

also, http://www.culvers.com/ burgers!

There's nothing wrong with Offal (Kidney/Liver and stuff)! It's full of nutrients and low in fat as well. Mind you, we're getting more squeamish nowadays, and it's not available as much as it used to be.

Not that I'd be willing to try Tripe and Onions (maybe you don't want to know...). It just looks too pale and flabby for my taste. I think there was some on the table in a restaurant we ate in in Chongqing whilst I was in China, but it was doused in Chilli Oil, so I didn't know what it actually tasted like.

The other thing in Offal's favour is that it's cheap, and quite strongly flavoured, so a little goes a long way. Added to its nutritional value, it's actually darned good stuff if you're on a low income (and you're willing to eat it!. That's why I got a taste for some of it - my childhood was a a combination of low income, mother with time to cook the meals we ate, and a good local butcher rather than some poorly stocked supermarket that only sells oven chips and frozen beefburgers.

Yorkshire pudding, on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to do with offal whatsoever. It's basically a flour, egg and water pancake batter, which you bake in a little bit of hot fat in the oven whilst you're cooking your roast beef.

Traditionally, it used to be poured into the roasting tin under the joint (which was on a trivet) to cook in the beef dripping whilst the juices dripped on it. It then used to be served with onion gravy as a starter, so that the diners would need less meat from the joint - and that would make it last another day or two. Thrift, you see. Plus it's totally delicious.

These days you usually see them done in patty tins so that you get individual puddings. They're lovely too - but they're not quite the same. You can also get them shaped like big dishes (round and flat with raised edges) and fill them with stew/roast dinner/whatever which you eat, and then eat the plate as well. I had a Christmas Dinner like that once - and it was actually surprisingly good!

I must admit that my enjoyment of pizza (deep pan or traditional) is rather hampered by the fact that I cannot bear cheese in any shape form or variety. Fortunately, most Pizza places will do you one without the cheese, though there's none of that stringy gooiness that seems to be a vital part of the experience.

Alas, the one thing you really don't want to eat in the UK is a Burger. I haven't worked out the appeal of a lukewarm patty of mushed beef in a limp, flabby bun , and so I tend to avoid them.

I'm told that American ones are vastly superior - and they probably are (I hope they are! They can't be as bad as UK ones!). I'll have to go there and find out one day.

What doesn't help is that we've basically got a choice between McDonalds and Burger King - and nothing else.

What's a 'butterburger'? I am intrigued!

As a vegie I have to say that there isn't much traditional vegitarian food but vegtable hot-pot is nice... If I were you (which I'm not!) I would and away from burgers in England! Stuff with chips like, um, well anything really is nice but in this weather I like hot hienz tomato soup (best in the world that) with leftovers in, or if you have no leftovers, sweetcorn is tasty!

Kess

I have to admit that there really isn't much traditional stuff for Veggies - as we weren't into Vegetarianism really until Victorian times, and even then it was considered a health fad for the rich.

We used to be a bit like Germany in that respect. If you wanted meat-free then the only option was often the pudding - and if it had suet in it (as a lot of our puddings do) then you were well stuck. I haven't been back to Germany for a few years, so I don't know if they're more accommodating to Veggies.

Summer Pudding is something worth having, though. When there's a lot of suitable fruit about, my mum makes several and freezes them. Given that it used to be served only to people who'd been ill - I can't help but think that it would be quite an incentive not to get better.

For those not in the know, Summer Pudding consists of slices of bread which line a pudding basin - you then fill it with a compote of summer fruits (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, red currants etc. etc. anything like that) which have been cooked just a little bit in syrup so that their juices start to run. Then you cover the fruit with a bit more bread, put a weight on top and press it so that the juices soak into the bread. When you turn it out of the basin, have some more fruit juices ready to pour over it and it's ready! Light, fruity and good for you - and nice to eat as well! I'd use the 'drool' smiley again, but I think I've used it a bit much recently.

Heinz tomato soup is good, and think of all that lycopene! Mind you, I made a tomato and pepper soup with a red pepper, tinned chopped tomatoes, garlic, chilli and basil on Tuesday (and no oil!). It was meant to be a pasta sauce, but there was so much of it that I had the rest of it on the side as a soup. Lovely.

I love my veggies - preferably stir fried or steamed with some ginger, chilli and garlic somewhere in the equation. I'm not a vegetarian myself, but there's something immensely satisfying about cooking yourself a great steaming dish of vegetables and beans (with a bit of spaghetti on the side so you drip sauce all down your front). With the range of herbs and spices on offer, you can't possibly get bored with it.

Given that fruit is more expensive (in price and calories!) I much prefer my fresh Vegetables - except brussels sprouts .

Mmmmmm... Summer pudding...! whats wrong with brussel sprouts? properly cooked they're wonderful!

Kess

I just find them too strongly flavoured. I used to eat them when I was a kid - but I didn't enjoy them then and I ended up eating them because I thought I had to.

Needless to say, I didn't have to - and I stopped eating them when I was about 14 or so. I tried some again over Christmas - just in case I'd regained a taste for them - but, alas, I had not.

It's a pity really - as I'm fond of most vegetables. But not sprouts.

Never mind - there's always broccoli!

Mmmmmmmm broccoli.....

Kess

If we're really lucky, mum does too much cauliflower, broccoli and carrots on a Sunday, so we have a 'bubble and squeak' sort of thingy with them and some mashed potatoes on the Monday night.

What's your opinion of Quorn? I quite like it myself - and it's the ideal protein source for the slimmer as it's so low in fat and calories!