Food in the UK

Wednesday, 6th of April 2016

Everybody knows that the United Kingdom is not particulary known for its food, sure you have good restaurants, a lot of cafés, delicious pastries and a huge amount of tea everywhere, but still there is something lacking. The most well known dish has to be the famous fish and chips, the one everyone that comes to London wants to try but eventually they all come to the same conclusion: is not worth it. I donˋt want to offend anyone, I am sure the english are quite proud of this dish but I must admit that I havenˋt met anyone so far that likes it, including myself.

As a portuguese girl I have always been accustomed to good food and although I have been described as a picky eater before, I donˋt find it very difficult to choose a dish or to enjoy a nice meal whether is at a restaurant or even at home back in Lisbon.

However, here is a completely different story. When we are in a new city, we take a little time to get used to a new culture and that includes the food. I have come to realize that here in London there are a lot of ethnic restaurants, it goes all the way from chinese and thai food (there is actually a Chinatown in the Soho area, near Trafalgar Square) to greek, persian or even vietnamese restaurants spread all over the city. Nonetheless, it is possible to see most british people buying their lunch or dinner at convenience stores or even at service stations, since they all offer "meal deals". As is public knowledge, everything in London is quite expensive, mostly if you decide to compare it to the portuguese way of living, so most citizens instead of spending 20£ at a restaurant, they prefer to buy one of those "meal deals" for 3£, and that can be a sandwich, wraps and even pasta that perfectly makes a quick but substancial meal. The problem with is that you are relying simply on the price, and despite of saving money, it can´t really be said they are a pleasure to eat or even good for a healthy diet.

Since I have been staying at a hotel awaiting my contract for the new apartment, I had to rely way too much on these type of meals, which made me feel quite weak and indisposed. It is known to my friends and family how much I don´t like cooking but I would rather have to cook every single day and do the dishes a million times than to continue putting my body through this. Until then I guess I will continue drinking tea.

From a girl desperate for a pastel de nata,

Mariana Fidalgo