We're asking for your views on the Best of British in Chiswick

According to a recent report entitled ‘How Britain Eats’, the nation’s favourite cuisine when dining out is now British. Allegra Strategies, who conducted the research, believe the result may be attributed to the rise of quality simple, robust British dishes now served at many pubs, the popularity of ‘home-cooked’ comfort food resulting from economic instability and the growing interest in local produce.

Often vilified as "unimaginative and heavy", British cuisine has traditionally been limited in its international recognition to the full breakfast and the Christmas dinner. Food rationing policies, put in place by the British government during wartime, are said to have been the stimulus for British cuisine's poor international reputation.

Although the British now consume more garlic per capita than the French, Charlotte’s Bistro owner Alex Wrethman believes restaurants are “losing the necessity to be associated with French cuisine as a sign of quality.”

Trading for less than a year in Chiswick, Charlotte’s Bistro has just been award a Bib Gourmand from Michelin Guide 2011.

“British restaurants and British menus are coming to the forefront of the industry,” said Alex a fact echoed by the organizers of London 2012 who say that ‘wherever possible’ they want the food served during the Games to athletes and visitors to be British. All dairy products, beef, lamb and poultry must be British or of equivalent British standard and traditional British cheese such as cheddar must be British.

We're looking for 'The Best of British Food and Drink' in Chiswick and are asking you what, where or who personifies this the most. Please email editor@chiswickw4.com with your views.

February 19, 2011