English Grub

I've often encountered the assumption that English food is awful.
Here's the World's Best Restaurants:

1 The Fat Duck Bray, Berkshire

2 El Bulli Montjoi, Spain 

3 The French Laundry Yountville, California 

4 Tetsuya's Sydney 

5 Gordon Ramsay London 

6 Pierre Gagnaire Paris 

7 Per Se New York 

8 Tom Aikens London 

9 Jean Georges New York 

10 St John London

Yes - 4 out of the top 10 are English. Here's some vintage Tyler Cowen:

London is now a more interesting dining spot than Paris. The core problems involve an overregulated French labor market and excessively high French taxes.

Protectionism will wither and die that which it professes to save. Who would predict that sardine sorbet or smokey bacon and egg ice cream (full menus here) would land such a title? Freedom to create, tinker and prosper.

Also, well done to Gordon Ramsey. In an article in the Observer some time ago I remember him being interviewed with his son in a greasy spoon. He expressed a real animosity for conceited high-brow folk that take their children to top notch restaurants. In a classic response to the idiocy behind "Super Size Me" he said that a high quality meal is far too rich for regular consumption. Here's the proof. Balance, is the necessity.