1. English Nicoise Salad
Salade Nicoise has a gentle and graceful variation (Image source: Collected)
Salade Nicoise originally comes from the South of France, but when it comes to England, this dish has a gentle and graceful variation, very suitable for British culinary style. In the golden summer weather, wooden tables are placed under the blooming wisteria trellis, a light lunch with Salade Nicoise becomes a picturesque moment.
This British summer dish is prepared with exquisite attention to detail: premium fresh or tinned tuna, medium-boiled potatoes, green beans, soft-boiled eggs, juicy tomatoes, sweet red onions and plump black olives. The British twist lies in the choice of native lettuce, light mustard and cider vinegar for the dressing, giving it a light, low-fat but filling flavour.
The flavors of the English Salade Nicoise are light and airy, like a summer breeze blowing through a field of barley. Each bite is a symphony: the richness of the potatoes, the sweetness of the tuna, the slight sourness of the sauce and the crispness of the greens. In the garden, at dusk, the English often enjoy this dish with toast and a glass of cold white wine. It is not just a meal but also a summer ritual, where the taste buds and the soul are soothed.
2. Ploughman's Lunch
Summer food in England cannot be without Ploughman's Lunch (Photo source: Collected)
A summer dish in England cannot be without Ploughman's Lunch, a simple meal that encapsulates the spirit of the countryside. Appearing since the 19th century, this dish was originally a lunch for farmers plowing the fields on the green lands of England. Until now, it is still popular in traditional pubs, picnics, or right in the garden during the summer.
Ploughman's Lunch typically consists of slices of premium British cheese such as Cheddar or Stilton, crispy, fragrant toasted bread, sweet and mild pickles, pickled onions, rich golden butter and sometimes cold cuts. The highlight of this dish is Branston Pickle - a sweet and salty vegetable jam, creating a unique balance of flavors.
In the summer, enjoying Ploughman's Lunch is a rustic feeling, close to nature. People put everything on a wooden cutting board, share together on the green grass, with a cool glass of beer or apple cider. Every ingredient in this British summer dish is fresh, reflecting the local flavor, as if bringing diners back to the peaceful countryside, where time slows down to listen to the birds singing and the scent of fresh grass.
3. Eton Mess
Eton Mess is a classic yet spontaneous dessert (Image source: Collected)
No British summer dish evokes more smiles than the Eton Mess – a classic dessert with a twist. Invented at the prestigious Eton College, the dish is said to have been a “sweet accident” when a pavlova crumbled during a cricket match, forcing the chef to quickly transform it into a delicious concoction.
Eton Mess is a mix of crisp meringue, light whipped cream and red British strawberries, all mixed together so deliberately it seems accidental. Come summer, British strawberries are at their sweetest, their bright red blooms blooming on the table.
Enjoying Eton Mess is like tasting summer in a small spoon: the fresh sweet and sour taste of strawberries, the smooth creaminess, and the crunchy, melting meringue. This British summer treat appears not only at elegant garden parties but also at roadside cafes, where Brits spend lazy afternoons in the warm sunshine. It is a simple joy, a crisp laugh when ice cream sticks to children's noses, and a simple romance that England has for summer.
4. Coronation Chicken Salad
Coronation Chicken Salad was created on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation (Photo source: Collected)
Among the British summer dishes, Coronation Chicken Salad has a royal story. Created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the dish reflects a harmonious blend of British tradition and colonial Indian flavors.
Tender boiled chicken is shredded and mixed with mayonnaise, light curry powder, chopped dried apricots or raisins, toasted almonds and a little coriander. When transformed into a salad, the British add fresh greens, sliced cucumber and sometimes even a crisp green apple. The light creaminess of the dressing, the sweetness of the dried fruit, the mild spiciness of the curry, all combine to create a sophisticated yet familiar dish.
At garden tea parties or riverside picnics, Coronation Chicken Salad is served with wholemeal bread, tortilla rolls or raw vegetables. This British summer dish is both formal – reminiscent of royal rituals – and rustic, becoming a familiar part of family meals. It tells the story of openness, accepting foreign influences while remaining true to the British spirit – refined, elegant and rich.
5. Pimm's Cup and English Garden Party
Pimm's Cup has become a part of summer cuisine (Photo source: Collected)
You can’t talk about British summer food without mentioning the signature drink that goes with it – the Pimm’s Cup. Although technically a cocktail, the Pimm’s Cup has become a staple of summer cuisine, a staple at garden parties, Wimbledon tennis tournaments and riverside picnics.
Pimm's No.1 is a light gin liqueur mixed with lemonade, sliced cucumber, fresh mint, orange, strawberries and sometimes apples and pomegranates. This drink is not only beautiful with its bright orange-red color, but also cool and pure like a breeze blowing through the meadow.
Pimm's Cups are often accompanied by plates of cold cuts, British cheeses, savoury tarts and fresh salads. British summer food is all about food and atmosphere. When the sun shines through the trees, the garden table is set with a checkered tablecloth, and the sparkling Pimm's Cups are an invitation to slow down, tell stories and laugh.
Pimm's Cup is not just a drink, but a symbol of the British summer - where formality and comfort meet, where diners feel the elegance, politeness but also the approachability of British culture.
British summer food is not ostentatious but quietly captivating, inviting diners to step into a world where all the senses are awakened. When sitting in a rose garden, or in the middle of a large London park, enjoying British summer food is touching the breath of this country - a wonderful combination of tradition and modernity, of ceremony and freedom, of simplicity and luxury. And that is also the reason why British summer always has a special place in the hearts of dreamy travelers.
Source : https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-an-mua-he-o-anh-v17450.aspx
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