Aaah English cuisine, a cuisine that doesn't have the best of reputations, often reduced to tasteless dishes and greasy fried food. And it wasn't Jacques Chirac who thought otherwise; the then President of the Republic came close to a diplomatic incident at a Franco-British summit when he declared to Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister at the time,"Ah, English cuisine! At first, you think it's crap, and in the end, you wish it wasn't". Flowery!
Fortunately, English cuisine is far better than people give it credit for! Influenced by its colonial history, England 's gastronomy has been infused with flavors from all over the world, and Indian, Chinese, Caribbean and African dishes can easily be found in the country's major cities. London is even home to very specific districts, such as Chinatown, Brick Lane, known for its Indian cuisine, and Brixton, in the south of the capital, influenced by Afro-Caribbean culture.
But the English also have their own traditional specialties, such as sunday roast, shepherd's pie, fish and chips, Yorkshire pudding, scones with jam and crème fraiche to accompany afternoon tea, and of course the hearty English breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausages, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and beans in tomato sauce.
And let's not forget the array of pies and tarts, from savory versions with meat and onions to sweet versions with red fruit or apples. A regressive, comforting cuisine that can be found in Paris's English restaurants and in the capital's British pubs , some of which have evolved into gastropubs, a term coined in the 90s in England to describe pubs that focus on quality cuisine.
Are you tempted? Here are the best addresses for English restaurants in Paris, where you can enjoy real British cuisine!
L'Entente, the excellent English brasserie a stone's throw from the Opéra Garnier
The avant-garde L'Entente has been a fixture at the Opéra Garnier for many years. Under the aegis of Oliver Woodhead, the English restaurant pays tribute to the greatest British specialties. [Read more]
Lordy's Paris Club, the English restaurant at the Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel hotel
Lunch goes English at Lordy's Paris Club, the Anglo-Saxon restaurant of the Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel hotel! [Read more]
Very French Beans, coffee shop, grocery store and English restaurant in Les Batignolles
Part coffee shop, part grocery store and part English restaurant, Very French Beans is a true British deli that brings pies, sausage rolls and cookies to Batignolles. [Read more]
Public House, the magnificent English brasserie from British chef Calum Franklin
English chef Calum Franklin has set up shop in Paris at the grandiose Public House brasserie, a stone's throw from the Opéra. [Read more]
The Blossom Arms, Alexandre Chapier's English seafood pub
Chef Alexandre Chapier has opened The Blossom Arms, a British pub where English cuisine is meticulously prepared and Guinness flows freely. [Read more]
Rose Bakery at the Maison de Balzac, the café-tea room and terrace in a bucolic garden
A confidential coffee shop tucked away in the hidden, leafy garden of the Maison de Balzac, here's something to tempt us. With its all-organic, homemade menu, luminous setting overlooking a relaxing garden and Eiffel Tower view, it's hard not to be seduced. [Read more]
Treize au jardin's british, colorful and well-balanced brunch recipes
Fresh, seasoned produce, cooked with love: if you had to sum up brunch at Treize au Jardin, the tearoom set up opposite the Jardin du Luxembourg, that's surely what you'd say. [Read more]
The Sir Winston and its chic English pub atmosphere
The Sir Winston has undergone a facelift to become a spicy restaurant, somewhere between an English pub and Indian cuisine made in London. [Read more]
And also: Project Sausage, BAKE, Norma Bakery
What's for St. Patrick's Day? Traditional Irish specialities
On March 17, it's time once again to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in the streets, pubs and restaurants of Paris. But just how well do you know the star dishes of Irish cuisine? Here's a quick rundown of traditional Irish specialities to whet your appetite! [Read more]
What's for St. Patrick's Day? Traditional Irish specialities
