April 23 was St George’s Day in England, but why a man who was born in Turkey in the third century and was then executed in Palestine for being a Christian, should eventually become the English patron saint is a mystery to me. In pictures, he’s always depicted on horseback slaying a dragon, though I am not so sure there were too many of those about – even then!
George’s emblem, a red cross on a white background, was adopted by King Richard the Lionheart on his crusades to the Holy Land, but he was obviously well enough established for William Shakespeare to write his stirring line “Cry God for Harry, England and St George!” (Henry V, Act III).
Actually, Shakespeare himself has a better claim to April 23, as not only was he born on that day, he died on the same date, too. It also happens to be the Queen’s actual birthday, although she has an ‘official’ one in June as well.
Nowadays, St George makes about as much impression on the English population as a damp squib, and the day is hardly noticed at all. I never remember him either until it’s too late – hence the fact that we are now in May and I’m writing about a date in April!
However, I did notice that bars around Malta were encouraging their customers to celebrate St George’s Day – probably in the hope of selling more British beer!
Britannia may no longer rule the waves, and being rude about English food may be a popular pastime among some countries, but we’ve learned to ‘take it on the chin’. We know that London has a positive galaxy of Michelin-starred restaurants and England generally has some of the finest home-grown chefs – and some of the finest home-grown ingredients, too.
Because British pubs have had to rethink their strategy due to the harsh drink/driving laws, some really good food is now to be found throughout the country in what have become known as gastropubs.
One of England’s nicer rituals, adopted by smart hotels around the world, is proper afternoon tea, devised by the Duchess of Bedford to fill the gap between ‘luncheon’ and dinner.
Years ago, few ordinary people had dinner parties, but nearly everyone would invite friends or relatives to tea, usually on a Sunday afternoon. Sandwiches, cakes and scones were the usual fare, served on the hostess’s best china and accompanied by pots of tea.
Sandwiches were usually filled with egg and cress, cheese and pickle, ham or (God forbid) fish paste, and one of my first attempts at baking for company was making fairy cakes for tea when I was about six or seven.
Scones were my mother’s forte and she could make a batch of the lightest, puffiest scones in minutes. Served with clotted cream and strawberry jam, they were irresistible. Small jars of both English clotted cream and double cream, by the way, can be found in the dairy section of most large supermarkets.
Afternoon tea is not really a macho meal, but it’s a nice way to entertain a few friends, so get out the best tea service, make a selection of sandwiches, scones, little cakes and brownies and toast the Duchess with a nice cup of Earl Grey tea for thinking of such a good idea.