There are several Indianrestaurants in London, ranging from quick Indian takeaways to fine dine restaurants. But why did the common currycapture this nation's attention so strongly? We can thank Indian cuisine's enticing aromas, vibrant appearance, and distinctive nature for its long
popularity in Britain. Indian cuisine is a cuisine like no other, soit's little wonder just one bite is enough to get you captivated. The answer may lie in a long history of ties with the subcontinent.
Birth of the first ‘official’British curry
With the development of theprinting press came the first cookbooks that were sold in stores as well as the first ‘official’ British curry. In her 1747 book The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Simple, Hannah Glasse included a whole section on pilafs and curries.
Although they already adored spices, the British used them cautiously because
they thought they were a bit too exotic. The curries Hannah describes were
relatively mild for contemporary tastes, relying sparingly on salt and pepper,
lemons, coriander, and a few herbs in place of customary curry spices to give the
food flavour.
Fortunately, the 1800switnessed the emergence of a far more experimental mentality, which is possibly why the foundation was set for the first Indian restaurant in London toappear just a little into the century. We now witness the introduction of spicy cumin, ginger, caraway, fenugreek, and turmeric to the hungry British taste. The typical Briton, though, was still braising meat delicately rather than using ghee or fat, showing that they had not yet totally embraced the classic Indian curry. However, homemade curries were definitely on the menu!
Indian Restaurants in London
Has the UK always been so fondof its spicy food?
If you've ever waited in lineto order an Indian takeout, you might have wistfully wondered when themouthwatering, spicy meal you just ordered first made its way to British soil. You'd be excused if you picked the 1960s or 1970s, when London's Bangladeshi community first started to explode. You would have to start thinking much, much sooner. In actuality, in 1810, the first Indian restaurant with originsin London debuted! But long before that, the British have been fascinated by the mouthwatering spices from the East.
We can see just how long theBritish have been in love with the depth superb condiments can provide to a dish by the fact that, as early as the 11th century, crusaders returning from battle brought delicious Indian flavours back with them. Of course, these flavours were only available to the very wealthy at the time because of the difficult trade routes that served as the only sources for this spicy gold.
Aren't you quite pleased that times have changed?
India's spirit is gracefullyembraced by London
It would take Bangladeshisailors who settled in London in the early 20th century to bring back Indianrestaurants, and it is they who are toblame for the British love of all things curry. Due to their lack of employment as the docks closed during the century and their longing for a genuine taste of home, a career in restaurants was a natural choice for them.
The Shafi, which debuted in1920, had a much greater impact than Salut e Hind, which opened in 1911. The
Veeraswamy in Piccadilly, which opened in 1926, made it fashionable for
everyone to satiate a need for spices, and the 1970s would see the curry house
develop into a true British institution. Initially, these restaurants primarily
catered to the Bangladeshi immigrants.
Post-war Britain jumped on this delicious, intriguing, and aromatic dish
created by its newest residents, completely delighted to make it an essential
component of the nation's staple diet. Tired of the harsh rations of World War
II. Since then, we haven't turned back. In 2001, Chicken Tikka Masala was named Britain's National Dish, and Birmingham,rather than India, gave birth to Balti-style Indian cooking.
Another reason for more Indianrestaurant in London is that thethird of these restaurants’ customers are wealthy NRIs (Non Resident Indians),
who are concentrated in London. In India, where there are ever more high-end
restaurants catering to wealthy Indians and visitors, this exchange between the
two nations also results in interesting developments.
