At least in England

[Spartacus]

Hmm, I thought that was Greece? - stand up Sparticus!

Hey, I'll have you know I'm from Thrace!

[WageSlave]

What's great about England...

-As we look down now, on this glorious July afternoon ... what a splendid slight it is, Peter.

-It's an absolute picture, isn't it? The sun beating down ...

-Beautiful day ...

-The crowds ... not a seat to be had anywhere ...

-Packed house ...

-Absolutely packed ... and the grass looking so lovely ...

-Green as anything.

-Green as you like. Absolutely as green as could be ...

-Grass has never looked greener ... The groundsman Arthur ...

-Alan.

-Is it? Alan Dixon. Alan Dixon has done a marvellous job ...

-Marvellous job, he really has. What a scene.

-Marvellous scene ...

-Oh I say there's a bus.

-Yes, look there's a beautiful old English ... what is that? Number 29?

-It's a 29 bus, yes.

-A beautiful English 29 bus, yes, what a marvellous scene. Grass, sun, bus, marvellous.

-Yes, that bus making its way now along the Garboldisham road.

-Garboldisham, beautiful village that is ...

-Absolutely delightful village ...

-Garboldisham. What a lovely name.

-Lovely name. Lovely English name.

-Hello, there are some people getting off the bus ...

-Look out ...

-They're off the enjoy their good old English strawberries and cream ...

-Oh, English, yes, watch out for those German strawberries ...

-Not the same ...

-Not the same thing at all ... English strawberries and cream ... 29 bus going down the Garboldisham road ...

-Grass ...

-Cream ...

-Garboldisham ...

-Crowds ...

-The South Downs ...

-Malvern hills rolling like a ...

-Motor cars ... leather gloves ...

-A quarter pound of Mrs Faversham's extra strong peppermints ...

-Ovaltine ...

-Wellington boots ...

-Cream ...

-Heaps of cream ... cream and lawnmowers ...

-Summer holidays in Cromer ...

-Vaulting over a stile in a country lane ...

-Catching sticklebacks in an old tin can ...

-"Honestly nanny, I never touched then ..."

-Piano lessons with Mrs Duckworth ...

-Father's hands on the steering wheel ...

-Sit up straight!

-Going faster and faster ...

-Locked in the cupboard for being rude to Mrs Howlett ...

-Take the Wolseley for a run ...

-England ... Elgar ... Malvern Hills.

-Bath Olivers. Play the game ... elbows off the table.

-Who's a brave soldier then? Nanny's hands all steamy and starched.

-England! England and cream ...

-Custard cream ...

-Strawberries and cream ...

-Strawberries and English cream ...

-Take the B road to Petersfield. England.

-Creamy England!

-England!

-Cream!

-The roast cream of old England.

-Oh.

-Oh I say.

[The Lone Gunman]

Is that ironic? There is so much irony in that, that is even difficult to understand if that's irony or not.

Hei, England is a great country but to claim that it has great food....

However, must admit that it's one of the northern european states where the food is getting better simply because british people recognise traditional food is bad, and instead of sticking with only their tradition they are very open to other types of food. And Jamie Oliver is great too.

It is not ironic.
I am a great believer in traditional English fare. I also like the fact that the UK has imported so many other foods.
I will defend the humble cornish pasty and cumberland sausage against any other food, simple peasant food like Lancashire hot pot is as good as anything you will find elsewhere. Give me Stilton and strong Lancashire cheese anyday instead of that soft muck from France.
I have travelled all over Europe and do not see that English food is any less valid than anywhere else.
Other Europeans want to compare Duck a l'orange against fish and chips which is not realy doing like for like.

[Lucifer Box]

Other Europeans want to compare Duck a l'orange against fish and chips which is not realy doing like for like.

Fear not, Gunman, duck a l'orange is Harvester food for plebs these days. I would hold a really good quality fish and chips, lovely fresh fish with a light crispy beer batter, with double cooked thick cut chips, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, above a greasy microwaved duck with sickly sweet sauce any day.

Went to Simpsons a few weeks ago and had a superb jugged hare. Real British cooking is still alive and well.

[Francko]

It is not ironic.
I am a great believer in traditional English fare. I also like the fact that the UK has imported so many other foods.
I will defend the humble cornish pasty and cumberland sausage against any other food, simple peasant food like Lancashire hot pot is as good as anything you will find elsewhere. Give me Stilton and strong Lancashire cheese anyday instead of that soft muck from France.
I have travelled all over Europe and do not see that English food is any less valid than anywhere else.
Other Europeans want to compare Duck a l'orange against fish and chips which is not realy doing like for like.

Some british food is great and some is bad. In general you must admit that people's attitude is very poor towards spending money for food. Economy food in supermarket is so bad that I couldn't even eat it. I dare to say that for cheese France has a wider choice unfortunately and so for sausages/ham in the rest of Europe. Not to denigrate the british one but this tradition is not maintaned properly by a lack of food culture of the majority of people. Most of the english people I know wouldn't spend 20 pounds for a meal but they are quite happy to spend it on pints. This lack of interest had certainly an impact on the quality of food. Now, let's give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. The "what we have is better no matter what" slogan can only make things worse rather than improving them.

[wendigo100]

Hei, England is a great country but to claim that it has great food....

Compared to German food it is.

[Lucifer Box]

Some british food is great and some is bad. In general you must admit that people's attitude is very poor towards spending money for food. Economy food in supermarket is so bad that I couldn't even eat it. I dare to say that for cheese France has a wider choice unfortunately and so for sausages/ham in the rest of Europe. Not to denigrate the british one but this tradition is not maintaned properly by a lack of food culture of the majority of people. Most of the english people I know wouldn't spend 20 pounds for a meal but they are quite happy to spend it on pints. This lack of interest had certainly an impact on the quality of food. Now, let's give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. The "what we have is better no matter what" slogan can only make things worse rather than improving them.

Spot on, Franco. People fall prey to supermarket marketing. Time and time again it has been shown that the "supermarkets are cheaper" mentality is a myth. Buying fresh, local, tasty food is more of an option now than it has been for years and is frequently cheaper.

[Francko]

Compared to German food it is.

It's ok in Bavaria.

[The Lone Gunman]

No Franko you are wrong. There is not a greater variety of cheese in France, it is all the same stuff with a different name to it, there are about 4 realy.
I am not denigrating any other countries food, I am just saying thet England has some fine food of its own.
I am sick to death of hearing people tell me how bad English food is, particularly when those people have never actualy tried it.

You do have a point, we dont have a tradition of huge varities of hams and salamis, then again there is realy only Parma ham that is of any great consequence and most salamis are the same Europe wide though I will recognise Chorizo as different.
Many English families live off convenience foods, but I was brought up on proper home cooked food and find it just as cheap and sometimes more convenient to cook.

I want to scotch the myth that all English food is bad. There are any number of places where you can try traditional foods which are as good as any traditional foods in other countries.

[The Lone Gunman]

It's ok in Bavaria.

The problem Frank is that it is all the same across Germany.
Go into any establishment and you will be offeres schnitzel, Haxn, any number of braten. No variety apart from maybe 1 house speciality.