What is the most popular food in Britain?

Britain's most popular 'fast food' has got to be fish and chips. Fish and chip shops first made an appearance at the end of the 19th century and since then have been a firm favourite up and down the country. The dish is simplicity itself: fish (usually cod, haddock or plaice) is dipped in a batter made from flour, eggs and water and then deep fried in hot fat. Chips are made from thick batons of potato and deep fried.

Fish and chips are served over the counter wrapped in paper, and traditionalists prefer to eat them straight out of the paper because they taste better that way!

The best-known British dish eaten at home has been roast beef, traditionally eaten on Sunday. The dish used to be so popular in England that the French still refer to the British as 'Les rosbifs'! Roast beef is served with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy ­ (a sauce made from meat juices and stock, thickened with flour). Yorkshire pudding - batter baked in hot fat in the oven - is a favourite accompaniment to roast beef.