Cultural Crossover: Infusing European Flavours into Traditional English Cuisine

1. Begin With Aperitivo

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Nodding to Italian tradition, before you dive into a beautiful traditional English starter or more modern small plate, why not embrace the Italian art of ‘aperitvo’? An aperol or campari spritz, or another beverage of choice, with small plates like nuts, cured meats and taralli can be the perfect way to whet the appetite, in anticipation of a deliciously traditional menu. 

Come the end of a working day, restaurants and bars all over Italy will host friends and families, beginning to wind down for the night. We have a favourite few local restaurants in Monti that serve perfect negronis and more to embrace this tradition. Whether dining in Tuscany or in a London apartment, having aperitivo is a lovely tradition that can add an element of global flavour and sophistication to all types of evening menus.

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2. Use Fresh Local Produce

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One of the ways to embody a global approach to food is to echo how other countries create such unique dishes. Filling your basket with fresh, local ingredients of the region will make every dish wonderfully authentic and by cooking with the seasons, flavours will be more fresh and you will be supporting more sustainable practices too.

To effortlessly elevate every plate, accentuate cooking with fresh herbs like tarragon, thyme, marjoram and more that typically puctuate European menus. Be sure to use flavoursome olive oil too - our VillaValeria lifestyle products in the making offer more inspiration.

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3. Adorn With Global Wine Flavours

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A beautifully paired wine can make a meal memorable and allow flavours to come into their own. Many wonderful restaurants will offer wine pairing, working closely with sommeliers to enhance their own, carefully curated menus.

To add uniqueness to traditional English cuisine, consider how you can emulate the vibrancy of flavours from different countries by choosing wines from the specific regions that you love. Decanter recommends a Chardonnay with a roast chicken, a popular traditional English dish, especially if prepared with ‘a medley of herbs, as well as perhaps some garlic, lemon and butter or olive oil’.

For heartier meat dishes, a Malbec is a go-to, while a lighter Pinot Noir, that originates in France, can complement beautifully cooked steak too. For those that like a little fizz, a Spanish sparkling wine like a cava can make the perfect accompaniment to a fish-based dish. Draw inspiration from some our favourite Barcelona restaurants. 

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4. Enhance The Cheese Board

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Whether you want to be taken back to your favourite Parisian brasserie, to a beach-side restaurant on the Côte d'Azur or to the hearty cuisine of the French Alps, we needn’t explain the importance of cheese on a French menu. With different local cheeses produced across the regions, there is something for every palate and much to inspire an English feast too.

Nowadays, you will often find a gorgeous cheesboard, highly likely to have been adopted by French tradition, on the after dinner section of a modern English menu. So if you seek to enhance a more traditional British meal with worldly flavours, consider simply adding a blue-veined roquefort, a simple but delightful camembert, or a Tomme de Provence for a little tang. To make a full meal experience, take cues from a provencal picnic with baguettes, saucisson sec and more ‘charcuterie’.

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‍There is no better way to find cooking inspiration that will add zest to your home menu than through travel to unique places that value traditional, authentic cuisine. August homes will give you access to gorgeous locales that never cease to impress Homeowners and our team. To find out more about how you co-owenrship in Europe can open up your culinary senses, start a conversation with our expert Advisory Team and take one step closer to your August journey today.