September 22, 2004

Yes, the Brits eat vegies too

When I was back in Oz last week I managed to catch up with some former colleagues over a pleasant lunch.

One former colleague, let's call her J, told me that her 20-something daughter was venturing to London in the very near future on a two-year working holiday visa.

J: "I'm really worried about what she's going to eat."

Me: "What do you mean?"

J: "Well, you know what the British diet is like. All that cholesterol. All those eggs, all those chips - that's all they eat."

Me (thinking, J's really been watching too many episodes of EastEnders): "Really?"

J: "Don't they?"

Me: "Um, no."

J: "Well, I still don't know what she's going to eat. She won't be able to get any fresh fruit and vegetables."

Me (picking myself up from the floor): "J!!!"

J: "What?"

Me: "Of course she's going to get fresh fruit and vegies. Everything you get in Australia is available there - and then some."

J: "Really?"

Me: "Yes, ever heard of the European Union? We get all their fresh produce as well as produce grown in the UK. And then there's stuff from the Caribbean and Africa and sometimes we even get apples and kiwi fruit from New Zealand."

J (dumbfounded): "Oh."

Me: "You know, J, the only thing I'd be worried about is not what she's going to eat, but how she's going to AFFORD it."


Afterwards I began to wonder what kind of image J had of London and the UK. Did she think she was sending her daughter to a pre-war Britain, where food rationing was still in operation, where people still thought bread and dripping was a real treat?

Has she not heard of Jamie Oliver? Nigella Lawson? Marks & Spencer's incredible range of pre-packaged foodstuffs? WONDERFUL British supermarkets in general? Curry houses?

I can only shake my head and wonder . . .

Posted by kimbofo at September 22, 2004 09:24 PM
Comments

I lived three months in London when I worked as an intern at Lloyds. I loved all the ethnic food and eateries being available from the Commonwealth countries and I died for the pastries. British food is much better than its reputation. The same here in California. I love the diverse ethnic food available here and I am constantly on a mission to prove to my visitors from Germany that my new home is more than Bush and burgers.

Posted by: Silvia at September 25, 2004 01:16 AM

haha very true about affording it ! I live in London, and though the food is good (plenty of excellent resteraunts and healthy eating), the price is just as high level !

Posted by: Elvorith at September 26, 2004 02:12 PM

They don't call this place "rip off Britain" for nothing. Having said that I will say that in th UK we eat fruit and veg as much as anyone else. I eat out quite a bit these days. However, you can't beat a Great British Breakfast. Especially after getting up stupidly early to watch the Aus or Japanese Grand Prix live. Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Beans, Fried Bread, Mushrooms and maybe a tomato too - yummy.

We Brits are the same shape as you Aussies. My Dad looks just like Alf from Home and Away, and I look just like a surfer... who's had one or two British Breakfasts :-)

Posted by: Simon Jones at October 10, 2004 05:56 AM