10 Popular National Food Holidays in the UK
These days it really can seem as though we have a day for everything but when it comes to food, we have much to celebrate. Across the UK, we have a fantastic food industry with our farmers, food retailers and hospitality providers all making their contribution. Delicious produce, expert cooking and the finest restaurants are definitely worth celebrating.
So whether your preference is British Pie Week, British Beef Week or British Yorkshire Pudding day, we have a list of 10 of the most popular national food holidays. You can join in with them all, or you can take your pick. Whichever you choose, make sure you take some of these opportunities to celebrate the best of what British food has to offer with your customers and staff.
Food Celebrations – Yorkshire Pudding Day
First Sunday in February
Using batter to make cakes provides delicious enough results but when the first recipes for batter cooked in tasty meat fat entered the recipe books, the Yorkshire Pudding took the Sunday roast by storm. There are some that say you can?t make a good Yorkshire Pudding unless you have lived in Yorkshire; we won?t comment on that but on Yorkshire Pudding Day, you might like to try yours the traditional way, with gravy before your meat and two veg.
National Pizza Day
9th February 2019
With so many options for pizza topping, it is small wonder that we can?t agree on our favourite. One thing is sure though, most of us like to pile our pizzas high with as much stringy cheese as possible. According to a Voucher Codes study, we are all likely to eat 731 pizzas in our lifetimes. In preparation for National Pizza Day, watch out for some great opportunities to bring in the crowds with offers and speciality pizza toppings.
National Food Holidays – Real Bread Week
23rd February ?3rd March 2020
Traditional bread requires only four ingredients, flour, water, salt and yeast. This can be brought down to three if you replace the yeast with a sourdough live culture. All of this makes the overwhelming list of additives present in regular supermarket bought loaves a bit of a mystery. If you don?t fancy a daily dose of potassium bromate, monoglycerides or even plain old sugar in your slice of toast, you might want to consider giving the Real Bread Campaign?s Real Bread Week some support.
British Pie Week
4th March ? 10th March 2019
We?re hoping you won?t be eating too much bread during Real Bread Week because hot on its heels comes British Pie Week with all those tasty fillings and crusty pastry tops. We are an inventive nation and pies come in all shapes and sizes with chefs all over the UK developing their own signature fillings. Please don?t confuse a pie with a Cornish pasty, that can lead to all kinds of messiness and pasties have their very own celebration just a week earlier.
National Food Holidays – Great British Beef Week
1st April ? 7th April 2019
Cows and humans share 80% of their genes but don?t let that put you off joining our farming communities in celebrating Great British Beef Week. Started by Ladies In Beef, this multicultural celebration of assured British beef not only promotes this most favourite of meat products but also helps to ensure quality standards and contribute to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute.
National Barbecue Week
May 27th ? June 2nd 2019
Despite the vagaries of the British weather, as a nation we enjoy eating outside and are all getting a lot better at barbecues. Gone are the days of blackened meat and uncooked sausages, today?s barbecue chefs are adventurous and eager to use a big range of delicious and unusual dishes. Even if the weather is miserable, it?s hard to think of a better way to celebrate during National Barbecue Week.
British Tomato Fortnight
20th May ? 2nd June 2019
The brainchild of the Tomato Growers? Association, British Tomato Fortnight is a celebration of that most popular of salad ingredients, the tomato. Top tips for tomato flavour include growing your own, buying them on the vine and leaving them out of the fridge. Whether your favourite tomatoes are juicy cherry or giant tasty beefsteak ones, this surely has to be one of the most versatile of fresh, British-grown ingredients.
Food Celebrations – UK Sausage Week
28th October- 3rd November 2019
Pork, beef, turkey or even vegetarian, there?s a great British sausage out there for everyone and there are few of us who don?t enjoy a good old plate of bangers and mash. During UK Sausage Week, Meat Management magazine will be keeping your sausage taste buds alive with recipes and competitions, and marketing material will be available to businesses wishing to promote this teatime favourite.
National Curry Week
7th October ? 13th October 2019
Whether you?re a Friday night takeaway or gourmet curry diner addict, the curry and its related cuisine has become a national passion. Started in 1998, National Curry Week has seen the world record for poppadum stacking broken, a double decker bus tour giving out free curries, and a model wearing the world?s first poppadum dress.
National Food Holidays – British Game Week
November 25th to December 1st 2019
More and more people each year are enjoying the flavour and experience of eating British game. Wild game is high in protein and is very tasty. It can be cooked in a variety of ways and is becoming more popular on restaurant menus. British Game Week aims to encourage more people to include game in their diet and try it as a dining out option.
The great news is that the UK continues to be a nation of food-lovers who welcome opportunities to join in with industry celebrations of produce and recipes. Within the hospitality industry, food-related appreciation days represent not only significant marketing potential but also the opportunity for creativity and engagement with the public.
At IMS of Smithfield we combine traditional skills with an innovative approach to wholesale meat supply and offer competitive pricing on a range of halal meats and poultry. For more information, please get in touch with us today on 0207833080.