The wholehearted and nourishing food consumed by English people, especially the many meat dishes, strengthens their blood. Despite the land providing large quantities of bread and fruit, this forms just a small part of the English diet, whereas meat, which is prepared in various ways and is of a particularly high quality in this country, especially beef, veal and sheep meat, plays a much larger role.
The English roast beef is rather popular, and while Germans often enjoy their roasts juiceless and dry, English people know how to use the fragrant meat juice that often, for the most part — entirely red, oozes out from a medium rare piece of meat, prepared according to their taste. There are some well-known houses in England called “Beef-Steak-Houses”. At any time of day, from early morning until late evening, they offer meat grilled on a barbecue to your liking, and the meat in these places is always exceptional.
The customer chooses a piece of veal, lamb or beef to his or her liking and determines the size of the portion weighed in one pound increments or chooses a larger quantity of meat, after which he or she may spend the waiting time by flipping through the newspapers. A good steak goes well with a wide selection of beers[1] and wines.
The English people make a habit of eating a late lunch, especially merchants, who gather at the market only around 12.00 p.m. and rarely have a meal before 3.00 p.m. However, to facilitate their business transactions, the English people spend more time at their tables, and good wine provides the opportunities for favourite toasts. All of them take turns toasting and drinking to each other's health.
In case of a prolonged dinner, women leave men to their devices and enjoy a cup of tea, while the men empty their bottles.
January in Creative Museum Planner 2018 Designed by H2E.
Fragment from Nikolaus von Himsel (1729–1764) three volume travel diary (manuscript), Latvian Academic Library, Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts
[1] “Besides the regular beer (ordinäre Bier or Small Bier), there is also porter and stout (Strong Bier) especially loved by the working-class people because it serves as a nice escape from their hard everyday work; there is also fine beer (das feiner Bier); and also boston and cider (a beverage made of apples and honey), and punch made of rum and arrack are considered common beverages in Engl[and].” – Author's marginal note.