British Business Lunch

TheProtestantworkethicandthedismalweatherconspiretomakeeatingmoreofarefuelingpit-stopthanasocialce1ebration.IntheUK,wheretraditionallyfoodhasbeentheenemywhichwecookuntilitisdead,thelunchhourisjustthat:onehourandincreasinglywithoutalcohol.Perhapsthegreatestadvantageofacountrywithoutadeepheritageofindigenouscuisine,though,istheenormousvarietyofcookingfromothertraditionsavailableintheUK.WhereasabusinessvisitortoPortugalwouldbeofferedPortuguesefoodandonetoPoland,Polish,thevisitortoBritainisaslikelytobeofferedIndian,Chinese,ThaiorMalay.OneBelgianbusinessman,encounteringanIndianrestaurantforthefirsttimeonatriptothiscountrywasastonishedbythesmellsandtasteswhichheencountered.WhereBirminghamhasitsIndianBaltihouses,ManchesterisfamousforgoodChinesefood,whileinLondonthebusinesslunchercaneataswellasinanycityintheworld:butyouwillprobablybeexpectedtobebackattheofficebytwo.

新教徒的职业道德与阴冷的气候促使吃饭更近乎是热量补充而非社交往来。在英国，传统的做法就是把食品当成敌人打死煮熟了事。午餐通常只要一个小时，而且烈性酒也渐渐不上席了。英国没有源远流长的传统烹饪菜系，也许这种情况带来的最大好处是人虽身在一方土，却能吃遍天下佳肴。款待到葡萄牙的生意人吃葡萄牙菜，到波兰的吃波兰菜，而到英国的生意人则有品尝多种菜系的可能，如：印度菜、中国菜、泰国菜或马来西亚等。有个比利时生意人访问英国时第一次到印度餐馆就餐，菜的风味令他大为吃惊，赞赏不已。伯明翰拥有印度Balti餐馆，曼彻斯特以上乘中国菜闻名，而在伦敦吃工作午餐的人可享用世界各地的美食，但你也许该在两点以前回到办公室。