The Eagle, whose owners coined the term gastropub to describe their establishment.
A gastropub (or "gastro pub") is a British term for a public house which specializes in high-quality food a step above the more basic "pub grub." The name is a combination of pub and gastronomy and was coined in 1991 when David Eyre and Mike Belben opened a pub called The Eagle in Clerkenwell, London.[1][2]
The concept "helped create a truly British culinary scene" and "arose from a conscious effort to promote great food in well-loved places."[2] Gastropubs have been described as the Anglo-equivalent of the French brasserie or the Japanese izakaya [3]
Menu examples
In September 2004, Marks & Spencer began using the term to market a range of ready meals[4], citing an "ever-growing trend" towards "combining regional cooking with quality local ingredients" with a "shift from formal bistro and restaurant eating to more informal local pub dining." The products announced under the name were "adaptations of confirmed British favourites":[4]
- Cottage Pie with Cheesy Mash, Salmon Kiev with Prawns, Lemon and Herbs;
- Roast Chicken with Apple Wedges and Cider and Calvados sauce;
- Smoked Haddock, Asparagus and Prosciutto Risotto;
- Crispy Wrapped Prawns with Chilli Dipping Sauce; and
- Wine and Orange Braised Lamb with Rosemary and Thyme Rice.
"British favourites" does not mean "of British origin"; in 2007, a magazine for chefs and food professionals described the menu this way:[2]
- Because they are pubs first and foremost, British gastropubs are unfettered by culinary categories and cheerfully serve whatever they desire—British, French, Italian, Thai, Indian, even American cuisine.
See also
References
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