Endangered Food....

According to an article I read the other day, there is such thing as 'endangered food'. Apparently these are the dishes that are most at risk of dying out, and unfortunately for me some of my favourites are on the list.

• Spotted Dick
• Beef Wellington
• Jam roly-poly
• Steak and Kidney Pie
• Coronation Chicken
• Sherry Trifle
• Bread and Butter Pudding
• Toad in the hole
• Fish Pie
• Lancashire Hotpot

So please help me prevent the extinction of a few of the best loved meals in the country. They all have their merits, especially Spotted Dick. Who ever invented it must have had a few to drink beforehand, and I love them for it.

Quintessentially English....

When foreigners talk about English food, the word bland often comes to mind.

I'll admit it, our food tends to be a tad dull. But I wouldn't change our cuisine for the world.

So to celebrate St. George's Day, let us enjoy all that comes with being English. Here are my top 10 quintessentially English dishes....

1. Melton Mowbray Pork Pie - its made from six simple ingredients (pork, salt, pepper, flour, water and most importantly lard). You can't beat the basics can you!

2. Fish and Chips - probably the most most popular English dish, and the original British fast food. 

3. Black Pudding - the fact that it's made of pigs blood may put some people off. In my opinion no fry-up is complete without it. 

4. Kippers - delicious but smelly.

5. Parkin - dark treacle and ginger cake, which is usually associated with Bonfire Night. 

6. Cornish Pasty - Greggs do a good pasty.

7. Potted Shrimps - oooooooo I do love a bit of seafood. It's the perfect starter.

8. Grouse - game bird (no, not a girl who's up for it) usually served with rowan jelly.

9. Treacle Sponge Pudding - accompanied by custard.

10. Cheddar Cheese - there's nothing more English than a ploughman's lunch. 

If there any other dishes that come to mind, please don't hesitate to tell me.

Leave comments.

BBQ....

Being able to put together a good barbecue, seems to be the definition of a real man. Unfortunately, I'm not blessed with these skills, which I suppose goes to prove that I am nothing but a mere boy. 

But I would just like to thank all the 'real' men out there, who provide us weaklings with all the grilled meat we could dream of.

So because the summer is drawing ever near, I am appealing to all those real men, for some tips on how to put together a proper barbecue, so that I can finally be recognised for the man I am and released my inner caveman.

Me make fire, me cook meat. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Chocolate.....

It's Easter. Which means its chocolate time.

I do like chocolate, but offer me a pork pie, and I'd take the savoury option any day.

North/South Divide......

Image via Wikipedia

As I have already mentioned during another post, I am a huge fan of chip shop dining, which probably goes half way to explaining my level of fitness.

After writing the post, a few of Tipple & Takeaway readers left comments, some of which concerned ordering habits at chips shops. Looking through them I wondered...... "Does what people order depend on where they come from?".

As most people know, thanks to Peter Kay, people up north, such as myself, have quite an obsession with gravy. He's absolutely spot on, and this is echoed resoundingly by bascially every northerner I've ever met.

Another dish which seems to be quintessentialy northern are puddings (here is a recipe if you fancy a bit of culture). Which if you don't know is basically suet pastry with pie filling inside it. Dabs (which is simply a slice of potato battered) also seem to be an unknown any further south than Manchester.

I'm curious...... what do you order at the chippy?

Please comment.

Wine Part 2.....

Previously, I have written about wine. Since then, I have had people asking where they should look for a good, cheap bottle of wine.

I've got news for you all. Boxes of wine are the future. Bottles are just saaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! If you are really after good value for money, and you don't mind sacrificing taste and the sense of decency that comes with buying bottled wine, a box of the red, white or pink stuff should be right up your alley.

You can find these boxes at most off-licenses and supermarkets, They can cost as little as £5, but if you're feeling flush and fancy something with a bit more consistency, then you can pay up to £15.

There you go there's a bit wisedom. Now go out, buy wine, and be jolly!

Soup....

I am bloody sick of soup.

The last few weeks have seen me with little or no money, which is probably down to a combination of student life and weekends trips to Amsterdam (it was completely worth it though). So for the last couple of weeks I've been living off the charity of my parents(soup, beans and cous cous and some beautiful black pudding), my housemates (providing me with the odd pint) and one of my very sympathetic course mates (leftovers).

Fortunately, I am back in the prosperity of my home town, Blackburn, which means proper food. By which I mean bacon butties, milk, cheese, hot pot, shepards pie, gravy etc. etc. Jesus Christ, its no wonder I'm in the shape I'm in.

So until my return to the desperate life of the poverty striken student, there will be no more soup. Not unless its a starter to a steak as big as my hand.