England: Gwendolyn (Gwenna) Mlsna (Food in London)

Food in London

Before arriving in London, I was unaware of how diverse the culinary options were. I had the preconceived notion that I would only be eating tasteless gray British food. This was an ignorant and ill-informed idea because London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with a huge international and multicultural presence. Since living here I have learned about how London’s culinary scene has been influenced by factors such as its proximity to the ocean, immigration, and climate. Various ethnic communities are concentrated in different places throughout London. For example where I live there is a large Middle Eastern and South Asian presence, which has resulted in a concentration of Indian and Persian restaurants and corner shops on my street. Another place I frequent is Leicester Square, an area I know as Chinatown. There are an abundance of Chinese restaurants, souvenir shops, grocery stores, food stalls, and bakeries. The great thing about these different areas is that they provide a glimpse into authentic cultural and culinary practices, allowing me to learn about different parts of the world through everyday experiences.

London’s diversity has been a pleasant surprise and has enabled me to experience incredible food from cultures I had never encountered before. I have had the opportunity to try genuinely pleasant British food, making me rethink some of my prior judgments. I enjoyed fish and chips at The King’s Head Pub, served with vinegar, salt, lemon wedges, minted peas, and tartar sauce. The British obsession with fish and chips makes sense when you realize how abundant seafood is. I’ve also had a steak and ale pie which included savory stewed beef in a salty sauce topped with a fluffy flakey puff pastry.

One of my favorites is bastani sonnati, a type of persian ice cream made with rosewater, saffron, vanilla, and pistachios. Other noteworthy firsts include but are not limited to: haggis, scotch eggs, halva, chicken shawarma, and vindaloo.

Along with trying new foods, I have had the opportunity to cook with ingredients and spices that weren’t accessible back at home. I’ve tried my hand at making chicken wraps with a Lebanese 7 spice blend, and I also made rice bowls with a delicious marinated feta cheese from
Borough market.

As a foodie, London’s rich and wonderful culinary scene has been both an educational adventure and an inspiration for my own cooking endeavors. I am looking forward to new firsts this semester as well as diving deeper into the cuisines I’ve already discovered.

Gwendolyn (Gwenna) Mlsna    

Major (or intended major): Psychology and Spanish

Hometown: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin