Street food has always been a part of British culture. Initially popular and appreciated mainly by the working class and labourers, sometimes with specialities of aristocratic origins, today street food is loved and appreciated in all British cities. Why, then, not combine typical English street food with the best Italian wines and enjoy this great food and wine experience?
The first English street food: pies
Among their many variations, pies are the oldest traditional British street food. The most popular variant is definitely the pork pie, which is made by mincing and kneading pork meat and fat and then enclosing it in a savoury puff pastry. The most suitable Italian wines to accompany this delicious dish with its high fat content are different: you can pair an excellent white wine with a good level of acidity, such as Riesling or Chardonnay, or red wines with a low tannin content. Lambrusco, Pinot Noir and a good Chianti are the perfect choice for those who prefer reds.
The king of British street food: fish and chips
Fish and chips is the best known and most popular English speciality, in all its variations and with many types of fish: from Pollock fish and chips to Plaice fish and chips to Haddock fish and chips and Cod fish and chips. With pollock and cod fish and chips the ideal pairing is with Franciacorta bubbles and in general Prosecco di Valdobbiadene goes well with all types of fried fish, especially those with lighter flavours. If, on the other hand, still white wines are preferred, Falanghina and Vermentino wines, with their acidity and sapidity respectively, contrast perfectly with the saltiness of the fish.
Cornish Pasty and Italian wine
As well as being delicious, the Cornish Pasty also has curious aristocratic origins. It was eaten by the wealthy classes in Cornwall as early as the 13th century and then later spread across the country by miners and farmers, who loved this long-keeping stuffed dumpling. Initially, the filling was mostly vegetables, but today it contains beef, potatoes and turnips. Medium-bodied red wines, even sparkling ones, are perfect to accompany the tasty Cornish pasty: a good Lacrima di Morro d'Alba DOC 2021 or a Rosso Piceno DOC, with their pleasant balance of tannin and body, are the ideal choices, both coming from the Marche region.
Italian wine to go with jacket potatoes
Among typical English street food, the tasty, steaming Jacket Potatoes definitely stand out: potatoes still covered in their skins and stuffed with stringy cheese and many other delicious ingredients. The best wines to go with Jacket Potatoes come from Campania and Friuli: Fiano di Avellino, white Lacryma Christi, Ribolla Gialla or Sauvignon Blanc Colli Orientali del Friuli 2020. If you prefer to opt for a red wine, Morellino di Scansano DOCG or a Chianti will be the perfect option.
Bacon butty and wine
The most classic of British sandwiches, the bacon butty is truly mouth-watering, consisting of warm slices of buttered bread, crispy slices of bacon and HP barbecue sauce, deserves the right wine pairing. Among the ideal wines to pair with bacon are young reds with fruity aromas and a smooth taste, and all wines that go well with cured meats. A good Bonarda dell'Oltrepò Pavese DOC or a bubbly capable of taming the fattiness of this sandwich, such as a Trento DOC, are the winning pairings.
Now that you know the best wines to pair with English street food, you just have to choose your favourite wine from the extensive collection of Italian wines that the experts at Svinando have selected for you.