Let me start with England:
Sunday Roast:
Sunday roast is usually on a Sunday because its towards the end of the week and usually associated with 'family day'. There is some history associated with this also which you can read about if you are interested.
The roast is usually a meat consisting of chicken, roast beef, pork or lamb (roast chicken is most common) and it can be stuffed with various things such as onion or sage stuffing. It is usually served with roast potatoes (potatoes from the oven). Boiled vegetables. Also Yorkshire puddings. Its hard to describe Yorkshire puddings except to say they are made of flour and milk and you put them in the oven and they rise up, and they taste delicious. All of this is covered with a gravy - which is usually meat based.
This sounds very similar to the dinners that the Americans have on Thanksgiving and Christmas which is usually a turkey dinner. Of course Yorkshire puddings are eliminated, and so is the gravy. But they are both quite similar.
Afternoon Tea
If you watch Eastenders or any other English show, you would see that a cup of tea can solve any problem, whether it is a broken heart, a fire in the Vic or just a bit of bad news. English people use tea as a way to socialize and it is a very important activity to them. Historically - people would drop everything for their 'afternoon tea' but of course this can't be done as easily now. As an accompaniment to the tea, scones are served, biscuits (cookies) or some other rich sweet dessert item
Americans have a similar tradition but not with tea. They catch up over a cup of coffee. Although its not merely coffee anymore, it is espresso, cappuccino, frapaccino. And they use it as a socialization tool too - 'lets grab a cup of coffee.' Most of the American movies have a line in it with something to that effect. Coffee doesn't have the implication of fixing all the world problems but it is an important social tool as in England.
Chips etc
England is famous for its fish n chips. The fish and the chips are both fried in hot oil and usually sprinkled with vinegar, salt n pepper. They are usually served in a paper draped around the boiling hot food. It is made fresh while you are waiting. Sometimes it can be served with mushy peas....!
Not sure that America has an equivalent to fish n chips. But they are famous for their burgers and fries. Look at the 'chips' in the picture. Big and thick. This is different from the fries that the Americans are known for. You can find a fast food featuring burger and chips almost every single corner in America, McDonalds, Burger King, 5 guys, Chick fil a, Popeyes etc....
Steak and kidney pies
Pies are also a hit in the Uk. As well fish n chips which are an easy take-away food, you can also stop and pick up a pie. Usually a tiny one-person portion of it though. The portion sizes in the UK are much smaller than they are in the US. Steak n kidney pie usually served with mash and gravy.
Another kind of pie is Shepherd's pie which is basically minced meat with mashed potatoes on top and then put in the oven.
Bangers n mash
Sausages are big in the UK. When you put them with mashed potatoes, they are known as bangers n mash. Sausages can also make up a dish called 'toad in the hole' which consists of a batter similar to Yorkshire puddings and onions. I've never really tried this but I have heard of it.
Spotted Dick
Spotted dick is a steamed pudding served with custard. The pudding usually consists of fruit like items and the 'spotted' refers to the spots of fruit. Custard is a thick yellow sauce which is sweet and delicious. In England rather than serve pies, such as apple pie with ice cream, they tend to serve pies with custards instead.
There may be more common foods to the UK that I have left out, like baked beans but these are the most common that came to mind.
Stay tuned for foods from America..... coming to you soon from English Yankee.
you are so right about the tea...solves absolutely everything!
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