Page 184 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

182  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

The Flavours of England’s South Coast

A food revolution has occurred in England in recent years,
with a growing emphasis on locally grown produce. In the
South, farmers’ markets are thriving and hundreds of artisan
growers specialize in all kinds of produce. The region’s rich soil
produces outstanding meat and dairy products as well as
vegetables, fruit and cereals. With miles of coastline, fish and
seafood always feature strongly. Although the cooked breakfast
and other traditional English dishes are still popular in southern
England, an exciting range of cuisine is now on offer. The Dorset Naga chilli pepper

pigs, and pork from Hampshire cheese­makers. Devon and
and Wiltshire is renowned Cornwall are also well known
throughout the UK. Rural areas for clotted cream, which is the
produce fresh game (more basis of their famous cream
plentiful in the autumn and teas when combined with
winter months). scones and jam.
Dairy cattle fare best in the
southwest, the warmest part
of the country. Somerset, Dorset, Fish and Seafood
Devon and Cornwall all produce Kent is famous for Whitstable
excellent cheeses, many hand­ oysters and Dover sole, which
made by pioneering artisan is also found off the coasts of
Stack of cheddar cheese roundels on display Oysters Prawns Lobster Mackerel Sea bass
at the Bath & West Show, Somerset
Mussels
Meat and Dairy
The moorlands of the southwest
and the marshes of Kent and
East Sussex provide excellent
grazing for sheep. Lamb from
the South Downs, Exmoor and
Dartmoor, and Salt Marsh lamb
from Romney, are all of superb
quality and full of flavour. The
lush countryside and rolling
hills of the South are also ideal
for grazing cows and keeping Selection of fresh fish and seafood typically found in southern English cuisine

South Coast Dishes and Specialities
The surge in popularity of tapas, curry, Asian street food and other
world cuisines has sidelined traditional English dishes, but not entirely
eclipsed them. Menus across southern England still feature classics such
as fish and chips, shepherd’s pie (minced lamb topped with mashed
potatoes) and fish pie. As the area is famous for growing fruit, puddings
made with apples or summer berries are popular; these include apple
crumble, summer pudding (soft fruits encased in bread) and Eton
mess (meringue, strawberries and cream). Fruit is also used in savoury
dishes, such as Cornish mackerel with gooseberries. A “full English
breakfast” is a fry­up of sausages, eggs, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms
and bread, sometimes with black pudding.
Baked beans and fried potatoes may be
included. Typical lunchtime snacks include
a “ploughman’s lunch” of cheese and pickles Stargazy pie is a pastry­based
with a “doorstop” of bread or, one­time favourite Cornish dish with pilchards. The
of tin miners, a Cornish pasty (seasoned meat unique feature is the protruding
Traditional Cornish pasty and vegetables in a thick pastry case). fish heads gazing skyward.

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