I've heard it nearon impossible to cook French cuisine in England, all to do with the appliances. And don't get me started on zero French restaurants, as the only takeaway or restaurants in France serve French food. Apparently they don't have Mexican, Spanish or anything else. On a less sarcastic note, I think you may be more correct with a wider culture issue, but not just food...
The perception of food being poor in Britain annoys me tbh. If you can't find any high quality, good food here, then you really aren't looking terribly hard. (That would be my response and generally is to anyone that moans!) In 1974 they may have had a point. Not now.
It's not that you can't find high quality food in Britain, you can. But people tend not to look too hard in the UK. In Europe, especially southern Europe, preparing food at home is very important, and that drives up quality, and in the right way too. Not shape or colour or lack of blemishes, but flavour. The British are undoubtedly different in culture and attitude to southern Europe, and that has a knock-on effect in many areas. I guess I'm agreeing with Chilco's point and yours.
True but an increasing number of people in Mallorca are eating junk. Now that we are entering summer, time to really enjoy lots of salads. I shall post my potato salad recipe on the off-topic thread and know it will win first prize in the potato salad section
Citeh have won more games than us but havent won anything yet. How much have they spent to be four places above us. Claude has had a bucketful of problems, so for me hes done as well as he could.
You're in a relatively small island, with a huge temporary influx of other cultures. It's bound to have a knock-on effect. In deepest darkest southern France, or Italy, Sicily, I bet the values hold up much better. I shall await your potato salad recipe. I think it's time some Jersey Royals and mayonnaise met up with some tuna, red peppers, baby plum tomatoes, green and black olives, and some shredded lettuce, on my plate. Oh dear, getting hungry because I've started talking about food in some detail.
This was about 20 years ago, which in rural Somerset was probably the equivalent of 1974 in Brighton! Things have definitely picked up and there are some very good pub/restaurants in the neighbourhood which cost an arm and a leg, plus some other pubs etc. doing good basic grub. Generally though, the standard of the ingredients, cooking, flavour, and satisfaction from the takeaways and sit-down establishments around is still dire compared to practically everywhere I've been in France.
I've had some *terrible* meals in Paris at extraordinary prices! Weirdly enough I've found the quality of food in bog-standard cafes across France to be poorer than nowadays in the U.K. It's a weird one, and a bit of a bugbear of mine!
Like all things the French prefer the French the British Prefer the British.............I have had some atrocious meals in France. Also some of the so called best restaurants that have large appeal to the Parisians at atrocious prices the food has been really dismal. Sadly I have had some here in the UK too the food sometimes I wouldn't give to my dog. I guess it is all a matter of taste not to mention propaganda. I can understand if Puels wife is finding it difficult to settle. It is not easy moving from one country to another especially if they do not talk the language. Not to mention the cultural difference.......
If the Puels were signed up with French owned utility company EDF, she would be able to cook all her Gallic favourites, without fail. Fact. E.ON or Npower for German food and if you want Spanish, then it has to be ScottishPower. She's probably on British Gas or SSE, which is where she is going wrong if she wants to dish up Cordon Bleu. She's probably a dab hand at doing a full English though.
I was speaking to a French friend on the phone as I was scrolling through this. I read it to him and he said: "Ah cultural differences? You mean we have culture and you don't" He got it both barrels. Any country that fails to rise above the music of Johnny Halliday can't lecture us on culture! But it is true that moving from France to Britain, especially if you don't speak English very well (and God, you'd need to speak well to understand 'Ampshire). After all, you don't stumble across too many French speakers here, whereas a lot of Fench people have enough English for an English speaker to get by in France. I know people who have lived decades in France and still speak dreadful Franglais.
When I were at school (yes I know it is was not were) French was the foreign language that was seen as the top one to acquire. Maybe so you could understand both languages at the Olympics, World Cups and Eurovision (do they still speak in French at these events as well as English.) Seems from my Son's school at least that German has overtaken French as the language they try and encourage you to take. Obvious reasons I suppose as in business) however seeing as "English is losing it's importance" I suppose that German will become the dominant language in Europe? Never really got on with French quisine. Not my palette. I tend to prefer Thai and other oriental fusions. The kids favourite is Sushi especially making our own and rolling it.
I agree Laces, great quality food available in Britain today, especially meats, good restaurants also. I've also had some shocking food in many parts of France (although Paris has been the venue for the majority of poor and overpriced meals) and wouldn't say French restaurant quality over there is better on the whole.
Britain is a great place to eat. Lived in London for many years, and the choice is endless. T. Wells getting better too! I personally find the standard really good in general. Love food!
