 Britain is currently witnessing a resurgence of interest in the pleasures of food. The British dining culture is buoyant! "Everyday dining" is fast becoming part of the social fabric of British life. An increasing number of us, nowadays are "eating out" regularly, during the week, at lunch times, business lunches, breakfasts. We're seizing every opportunity we can to tantalise our taste buds and lighten the tedium of everyday life.
The point is that, like our European friends, we no longer view dining in restaurants as an indulgence or merely something to savour on rare occasions. Far from it! We, Brits, have finally woken up to the possibilities of weaving a little culinary diversion into our busy lives, on a regular basis. And, this enlightened attitude has well and truly permeated the heart of London's restaurant scene. Restaurateurs are responding to this growing demand by offering flexible menus and fine fodder that can be turned round, in a matter of minutes. The vast majority of modern restaurants are eschewing formality in favour of flexibility, in the knowledge that the modern dining experience need not be a protracted or complicated affair. Even fine dining, nowadays, can be fitted in to our busy, modern lifestyles, on the spur of the moment.
Why then, has it taken the British public so long to discover the delights of everyday dining? Why have we been so reluctant to adopt the mindset that food is not just there for sustenance, but also for pleasure, an opportunity to socialise - an end in itself?
The transformation has been gradual and in many respects is all down to changing expectations. Unlike most other Western nations, the British populace has clung stubbornly to the notion that eating out is an extravagance or, at best, something to be endured on high days and holidays. In recent decades, however, we've had our eyes opened by the delights of cuisines from around the world. Modern European, Mediterranean, Chinese, Indian, you name it, we like it and ….we're certainly returning for second helpings.
The modern British diner is indeed a cosmopolitan creature with eclectic taste buds. Happy to experiment, with different nationality's cuisines, today's diners are also proud to eat British - traditional British or modern British, it makes no difference. The popularity of British cooking is evident in the growing number of restaurants, across London, all offering innovative, quality British fare. Moreover, standards are, generally, remarkably high from "lite-bite" grazing to full-blown, traditional British three-course meals. Try, for example, Quality Chop House, 94 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3EA, Rhodes In The Square, Dolphin Square, Chichester Street, London SW1V 3LX or Rules, 35 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2, for inspirational British cooking, where the emphasis is firmly on recreating classic regional dishes using fresh seasonal ingredients.
Significantly, however, it is not just the availability of quality cooking and improved standards of service that has brought British diners out in droves. We have abandoned our kitchens for another good reason. The bottom line is that our change of heart has a lot to do with plain, good value for money. The competition among today's catering trade is so fierce that we simply can't afford not to head for our nearest eaterie, where, often, we can eat better and more cheaply than we can at home. If it's a toss-up between labouring in the kitchen, after a hard day's work or relaxing in a pleasant environment with an apéritif in hand, well, clearly there's no contest. And that, it would appear is the overriding opinion of that new breed of British foodies - the "everyday diners".
Admittedly, it has taken the British public a long time to overcome the notion that "eating out" is an unnecessary indulgence. Today we see it for what it is - an essential (and pleasurable) component of modern-day living.
The British dining culture has taken roots. It is here to stay.
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