OFF THE MENU

IS so-called British food that bad? I ask this question because I was reading in one of Spain's top newspapers that many of the character flaws of the British “can be blamed on its poor cuisine.” Outrageous. Everytime a Majorcan returns from Britain the general consensus of opinion appears to be “great place but a shame about the food.” Well, I wish to disagree. I believe that British food is better than average but the trouble is that traditional dishes need far more promotion abroad. British roast meats are second to none; I am sure that plenty of fellow Europeans would rather like Shepherd's pie, good old bangers and mash or even such regional foods as Lancashire hot-pot or Cornish pasties. British cheese is not bad either. So while everyone in Europe knows about paella, pasta and French cuisine, British cooking is off the menu. Perhaps, Delia Smith could extend her talents and produce cookery programmes abroad. Britain should work long and hard to try and rid itself of its image of a culinary wasteland. While traditional British food still has a long way to go it shouldn't be described as “revolting and poor...” The time has come for the great British menu to hit Europe and end all this unfounded criticism.