Submitted by: Dan Williams
In Great Britain we seem to have a well established list of traditional meals, such as the breakfast (fully cooked of course in the Great British tradition), the Sunday lunch and now the Great British take away. What better way to complement an evening of relaxing and socialising, than by picking up a ready-to-eat meal from your local high street?
While the traditional cooked breakfast will include items from set of well defined options and Sunday lunch comes in a limited number of varieties, the take away meal typically offers a wide choice of alternatives, many of which are not based on local British fayre. In fact when it comes to take away or home delivery food, continental and international seem to be more accurate descriptions of the menu choices. Indian, Chinese, Italian, Turkish and American are some of the main offerings that are commonly found on the streets of British towns and cities, but of course lets not forget the classic fish and chip supper.
The origins of the good old fish and chip shop have been traced back almost 150 years to when the first shop was opened in London. It is said that the expansion of the trawler fishing fleet and the availability of low cost supplies of cod and haddock spawned this new style of food. Fish and chip shops quickly spread to be a common sight on every high street, particularly in the working class areas of central and northern England where the local chippy became an institution. Chips, fries or frites, as they are known in other countries, are a favourite take away food worldwide, with various regions having their own particular styles, thin and crispy in the US, larger and softer in the UK, even served with mayonnaise in places like Belgium.
Many of the more exotic meal options have also been stalwarts of the take away scene for several years now. The Turkish Doner Kebab is a frequent favourite and the local kebab take away is often the one to be found open until well into the early hours of the morning to cater for late night revellers. Another well established option is the Chinese takeaway, a food style that lends itself perfectly to take away outlets as it can be cooked quickly to order, ensuring fresh food on demand for customers. A more recent trend in the UK has been the rapid expansion of the take away pizza business, with some big US brands quickly establishing large chains of outlets all over the country. Pizza is another food variety that ticks all the boxes when it comes to take away suitability. Pizzas are satisfying and filling, can be made in endless variations, together with vegetarian options, and lend themselves to being cooked freshly to order.
With more and more outlets are offering both collection and delivery services, potential customers are not just people walking past the door, but anyone within range of the outlets delivery area. In fact take away food delivery is a part of the market that is growing rapidly, particularly with TV advertising providing an immediate and direct channel straight to a waiting audience of potential customers. Other recent developments are the online services many take away outlets provide. In addition to calling by telephone, orders can be placed via internet sites, text messages, Facebook pages and even iPhone applications. And with the next generation of TVs being designed with built-in internet access, the future for take away food delivery companies looks very promising.
When its late in the evening and I am hungry and in need of a quick meal, any one of these food styles will provide an affordable and tasty solution to my problem. And its not just about the occasional late night hunger solution, with many people including a take away option as a regular part of their weekly meal plan. For some, including me, Friday nights would simply not be complete without a few hours on the sofa, a good DVD and a take away pizza.
About the Author: Dan is a consumer writer covering home-related subjects such as food, family and holidays. His own fast-paced lifestyle means he eats out a lot in fast-food restaurants or take-away locations. Dans says “Whenever
I am hungry
a quick pizza is just the job”. Read more of Dan’s food and home articles.
Source:
isnare.com
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