Tuesday, April 19, 2005

News Flash - English Food the Best in the World!

I have to interrupt India Curry & Spice Week for a second for a serious announcement. Amy emailed me yesterday to let me know that Heston Blumenthal's English Fat Duck restaurant was voted the best in the world, knocking The French Laundry off its perch. Read the full story here.


You may have noticed my little one-person blogging crusade to try and let the world know that English food isn't all bad. Now I have been vindicated. (Even if the awards were hosted by a British magazine, pah, so what, no one complained when Thomas Keller won). I visited England recently and did some pretty good dining out. I bought back some English fare to share with quite a few of my San Francisco blogging friends. Check out one new blogger who really embraced their gift, Alice. She created a fabulous feast using the Jules & Sharpie hot apple and sage jelly I gave her. Wow!


Fred sometimes remarks to me that he doesn't like the comments people leave on blogs. He finds them too sweet, too insipid, too adoring. I have to disagree with him, of course. But maybe, today, as I gloat, just a little, over the new world restaurant order, I will attract some more abusive responses that will be to his liking. Bring it on...



posted in and and
News Flash - English Food the Best in the World!

6:58 AM  

9 Comments:

  • At 19/4/05 08:21, Blogger Rachael Narins said…

    In the spirit of the moment, and being a french fry addict, I will point out that British Chips are usually soggy. So there. ;-)

    Have a super great day, kiss-kiss, your dedicated reader,
    Rachael
    (wink again)

     

  • At 19/4/05 09:59, Blogger Alice said…

    Wow, Sam, I was so surprised to see my name during my daily reading of Becks & Posh! Thanks for the compliments! The jam was super tasty. Growing up in Japan, I never heard negative comments on English food. Mint jam, rhubarb jam, and various meat pies were all quite respected.

     

  • At 19/4/05 10:15, Blogger Alice said…

    "Molecular gastronomy"... Very intersting concept, although I must agree - I also have a VERY scientific approach of constantly trying to balance the two 'umami' amino acids... I never thought to call it molecular gastronomy though.

     

  • At 19/4/05 14:12, Blogger Owen said…

    British food! well, really! Next you'll be saying that the food where I came from is the best in the world or something. Oh, wait...

    ...I've always thought that good British food was truly great. unfortunately, Brits really like to run the gamut. Bad British food is absolutely among the worst there is.

    As for molecular gastronomy - there is a guy in Chicago who prints food on rice paper using edible inks he makes himself and wants to try cooking from the inside out using an industrial laser - now that's just wierd

     

  • At 19/4/05 17:15, Blogger Niki said…

    I have to agree with Fred; sometimes it feels like the whole blogging community has moved to California and taking happy pills. But, I'm a little afraid to leave a not-entirely-effusive or slightly critical comment in case I'm shunned by the foodblogging community. It can be so difficult to express your real intent in a short written comment, that little emoticons get overused in the fear people will get offended!
    That said - I'm really thrilled the Fat Duck won, and I've been an enthusiastic supporter of English food back from my Enid Blyton reading days, to my first UK cooking shows with Keith Floyd, to the 2 Fat Ladies and now to the explosion of talent in all food fields over there. I can't wait to go back, and perhaps live there for a year or two.

     

  • At 19/4/05 17:25, Blogger Niki said…

    Oh Rachael - I LOOOOOOVE soggy chips! Love them! They're wonderful doused in vinegar and lots of crunchy salt. I much prefer them to skinny, crispy little french fries any day and am thrilled when we go to a fish & chop takeaway that has soggy chips. Everyone else complains and vows never to return, apart from me who's feverishly devising ways to get back there.

     

  • At 19/4/05 20:03, Blogger Sam said…

    Rachael- english chips are the best. I am with Niki on that one. They actually (shck horreur) contain real potato. Put a fried egg or 2 on top. Let the yolk flood out over them, wait for the yellow to par-congeal on the chips. That's actually what heaven looks like from one angle.
    (You've got something in your eye)

    Molly - I can't tell if you are tying to be extra abusive or extra nice?

    Alice - I am intrigued by umami. You'll have to teach me. Do you think Marmite is umami?

    Owen - I am trying to get Fred to take me to Chicago for my birthday. I would like him to spend $100s on buying me a meal composed of prawn vapour which i spray into my mouth, just for the taste.

    Niki
    You should meet Fred, I think you too would get on fine. I'd like to tell you, you suck, but you love my chips, so how can I?!

    Molly - I thought you'd actually OD'd on humour pills. How else do you explain dropping a whole homemade tarte tatin in your very fourth blog ever? It's what made me love you... but maybe I should hate you instead from now on?...

     

  • At 21/4/05 11:41, Blogger Rachael Narins said…

    Fine, fine, we will agree to disagree about the chips...but I have another...

    BREAKFAST IN A CAN.

    Need I say more?

    With kisses doused with California sunshine and sticky syrup...
    Rachael

     

  • At 21/4/05 12:10, Blogger Sam said…

    It's not like they are going to serve breakfast in a can at any restaurant.

    C'mon - every country has its version of bad food that can be bought in a can at a supermarket and then its just up to the individual.

     

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