Eating Around London

This study abroad journey is the first time I have spent a significant amount of time in another country, and even before leaving, I was worried about the food. What if all the food tastes bad, and I hate it? What if I can’t find my familiar comfort foods? How will I handle it? These are real concerns, and to be honest, when I first arrived, food was a stressful endeavor.

I am a self-proclaimed foodie. I love to cook and eat good food. For my own enjoyment, and to save money where I can, I make most of my meals myself at my flat. This means I do my own food shopping. Going to a British grocery store was bewildering at first. I didn’t know which store to choose, so I just went with the largest one. ASDA is a supermarket chain owned by Walmart, and it’s about 15 minutes by bus from my flat. I see many familiar brands, but they are always slightly different than what I’m used to. The chip flavors are different; Brits have cheese and onion, paprika, and prawn (shrimp) cocktail. Some of these new foods have been really fun to try.

It might be all in my head, but food feels healthier here. It’s usually made with far fewer preservatives (which makes it go bad faster), and many of the dyes, GMOs, and additives I am used to are actually banned here. The UK counterpart of some familiar products (such as Coca Cola) have different ingredients, using cane sugar instead of artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup.

It’s not just a stereotype; the English love tea! But it’s not served in china cups. And they love coffee just as much. Since moving here, I have become a proud tea drinker and have it almost every day.

Even though cooking at home is fun, dining out in London is a truly wonderful experience. I have not had a bad dish yet. Even the cheaper chain restaurants serve delicious food (the photo above is fish and chips at All Bar One, a popular chain). Some of my favorite places to eat are the many outdoor markets in London. Borough Market, Camden Market, and Portabello Market are just a few around the city. They all have AMAZING street food. I wish I could post pictures of everything I have eaten, but there would be way too many. You will have to take my word for it.

Another way to experience food in London is at a pub. The pub concept is something between a bar and a restaurant that we simply do not have in the states. They normally serve drinks along with traditional English food and delicious fried food. It can be a bit confusing at first because, although it looks like a restaurant, you actually have to go up to the bar to order. Traditional British dishes include savory pies (steak and kidney, shepherd’s pie, etc.), bangers and mash, and, of course, fish and chips. There is also the full English breakfast, which includes beans, and the Sunday roast dinner. Despite all of these dishes being heavy on the meat, London is an incredibly vegetarian and vegan-friendly city. I usually avoid meat, and I can find something easily on every menu. I don’t feel like I’m missing out one bit. Allergens are also very clearly labeled, which makes it easy for my friends who need to avoid certain things.

London is also filled with food from other countries. Although fish and chips is the most famous, it can be argued that the national dish of England is chicken tikka masala. Indian food is extremely popular, as well as food from other Asian countries. Some of the best restaurants in London are in Chinatown.

When meeting someone from another culture, one of the easiest things to talk about is food. There are always so many interesting differences! Despite this, food seems to only bring us together instead of driving us apart. Being in such an unfamiliar culinary environment was scary at first, but it got easier when I started viewing it as a new learning experience that I got to immerse myself in. British food gets a bad rap, but I think it is the best part of being here.