28th July, 2018
Here is our guide to British regional food. Whether you are cycling or walking in Britain this summer, you should definitely give some of these a try. Complete your picnic with a nice flask of tea, or a bottle of English sparkling wine...
Savoury
Scotch Eggs – A delicious savoury Scottish invention, the ‘Scotch Egg’ consists of a hardboiled egg encased in sausage meat and breadcrumbs. Today, they are a national favourite and can be found in pretty much every grocery shop – they also come in all sorts of varieties and sizes. If you want to try a more traditional one, we recommend seeking out a local farmshop.
Ploughman’s – this traditional English lunch is simple but satisfying. As the name suggests, this is the typical country man’s meal, and has been for centuries. The ploughman’s is usually made up of celery, tomatoes and pickled onions, alongside fresh bread and butter. There is often a cold meat, hardboiled egg and local cheeses. As a platter of local prides, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with a Ploughman’s.
Regional Cheeses – Of course, if you are travelling in the UK, it would be remiss to not try some of our wonderful cheese. Cheddar is a must, but you should also try Red Leicester, crumbly Wensleydale, and smoked Lancashire. If you like blue cheese, then you must try the famous Stinking Bishop. Cornish Yarg and Shropshire Blue are also very good!
Sweet
Welsh Cakes – known as Bakestones within Wales, Welsh Cakes are yummy little snacks made with cinnamon and nutmeg, and with raisins or sultanas. Though rare, they are sometimes served with butter or jam.
Eccles Cakes – these are the northern English equivalent of Welsh Cakes and are similarly packed with fruit. Unlike the Welsh Cakes, they are lighter, often with flakier pastry, and are decorated with sugar.
Bakewell Tart – invented in Derbyshire, the Bakewell Tart is made with a shortcrust pastry base, layers of jam and frangipane, topped with icing and almonds. The Bakewell Tart is the height of indulgence and is a beloved favourite around England. You can buy a big one to share, or little ones for afternoon tea. While readily available in supermarkets, you are better off visiting a good baker’s.
Scones – debate is rife across the UK as to the origins of the Scone. The scone has been claimed by practically every region down to Cornwall, with each having their own twist. It is most likely, however, that the Scone originated in Scotland, and was named after ‘Scone’, the area where monarchs were traditionally crowned. While technically Scottish, the Scone is the ultimate English afternoon tea treat, and is must when visiting the UK. If you don’t believe the controversy over scone, check out this Independent article about the Cornwall versus Devon argument, which had to be settled by the Queen!