London Food Heroes
Chelsea Buns, Chelsea: The Chelsea bun – “the best of all buns” according to Jane Grigson , is a rare instance of a traditional foodstuff being clearly associated with just one source, in this case the Bun House in Chelsea. This establishment, in the Pimlico Road near Sloane Square, gained fame in... More
Fish and Chips, Fitzrovia: Fish and chips is arguably our national dish, though with rivals these days including Chicken Tikka, Sweet and Sour Pork, and even falafel gaining ground. This diversity reflects the influence of many cultures on our cuisine, so perhaps fish and chips as an example of the meeting of two immigrant cultures still trumps its rivals – helped by mushy p... More
Fullers ESB, Chiswick: Contrary to the claims of some beer drinkers in the North you can get a decent pint in London ; these days the options are many in fact, with various newer micro-breweries with tempting ranges. But of course as London’s ale enthusiasts have long known, Fuller, Smith and Turne... More
Gin and Tonic: The gin and tonic is a most magical elixir. Though it might fall short in being able to raise the dead it would certainly afford them a degree of comfort. Gin’s medicinal thrall dates back to the days of William Of Orange , when British citizens may well have needed a stiff ... More
Gordons Special Dry London Gin: There can be few more identifiably English drinks than Gordon’s Special Dry London Gin, the number one selling gin in the world. Strangely it was, however, developed by a Scot, Alexander Gordon, albeit his distillery was in London’s London , with Brick Lane the centre of excellence. Jellied eels should be bought from a stall on the street, or a pie and mash shop, rather than cooked at home or heaven forefend adap... More
London Particular: Pea soups and pease pudding have long been staples of the British kitchen, filling and cheap, with dried peas keeping well over the winter well before the days of frozen foods. A London Particular is a particularly thick pea soup named after the dreadful fogs that enveloped London from the start of the Shoreditch , in 1722, Porter was for a time – the beginning of the industrial revolution – the dominant style of ale in England, and one which was expo... More
R. White’s Lemonade, Camberwell: Few food and drink brands last 150 years or more, but R. White’s Lemonade belongs proudly in that elite club. The drink, made then as now with real lemons, was first concocted in the home of Robert and Mary White in the London district of Camberwell. Its subsequent history encapsulates the food and drink industry in this country: from home manufa... More
Reform Cutlets, St James's: How British are Cutlets Reform? In one way they are supremely so, created for the upper elements of Liberal society at London 's Reform Club in Pall Mall, and becoming a classic of solid yet elegant British cuisine. But they were created by Frenchman Alexis Soyer, appointed h... More
Steak and Kidney Pudding: Can there be any more British dish than steak and kidney pudding? And is there a more endangered one in the whole of our national culinary art? Surprisingly the pudding has according to the wonderful Jane Grigson a relatively short history. She places its invention somewh... More
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