Virtual discoveries: at home menu tasting – create English food and drink delights

The renowned Bread Ahead Bakery School is bringing their popular baking lessons to your home with online tutorials. A favourite spot in London’s foodie heaven Borough Market, Bread Ahead offers online tutorials. From muffins, sourdough, pretzels, donuts, focaccia and more, see how baking bread can invigorate your senses and inspire your next team building activity. Get baking at Bread Ahead’s Online Baking Workshops.

Explore the tastes of England’s West Country, famous for its farm fresh local produce, artisan suppliers and market stalls. Although famous for its cheese, Bristol’s food scene offers so much more.  Explore this 360 tour and take in Bristol’s foodie hotspots and stunning vistas including the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, the lively St Nicholas Market, the critically-acclaimed The Lido Restaurant, or the eclectic Mud Dock café. Explore the tour at VisitBristol’s website.

England has a proud history of creating some of the world's finest spirits. Bars and distilleries across the country are sharing a taste of their creations with virtual mixology classes. 

Nothing beasts the crisp taste of English gin, but take this classic drink to the next level with Brighton Gin's gin cocktail recipes, including home-made syrups and extras. Craft your own perfect drinks menu for your next event at the Brighton Gin website. 

Get hands-on guidance with the Cotswolds Distillery's live sessions, with gin and whisky cocktail masterclasses and live performances from local musicians, giving you a real taste of this beautiful part of England. See the latest virtual events as well as their onsite venue at the Cotswolds Distillery's Facebook page. 

One of Britain’s most classic dishes, Beef Wellington is a great way to celebrate a quality cut of beef, retaining its flavour within puff pastry. It is thought the name ‘Beef Wellington’ originated from the resemblance the dish as to the wellington boot.  Courtesy of Hampshire Fare, the chef at the prestigious hotel Chewton Glen has shared its recipe individual Beef Wellington – bringing the hotel’s fine dining to your own home – get baking at the Hampshire Fare website.

Finally, create the fundamental part of a British afternoon tea with this traditional scone recipe. And decide for yourself the long debate which goes first, the jam or the clotted cream. Enjoyed best with a well brewed cup of English tea – using this handy guide to create the perfect brew. Complete the afternoon tea with a mix of small sandwiches and petit fours.

British scone recipe:

Ingredients for about 8 scones (4 people):

- 230g of flour

- 150ml of milk

- 60g butter, diced

- 25g of sugar

- 1 egg

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 1 pinch of salt

Preparation of the recipe:

Preheat your oven to 180°C. Butter a baking sheet or cover it with a piece of parchment paper.

Evenly mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl, then pour in the milk. Add the cold butter cubes, without melting them, then knead to obtain a smooth dough.

Roll out the dough to about 2 cm thick on a surface coated in flour. Cut out discs with a glass or a large round cookie cutter.

Brush the scones with the egg mixed with a little milk.

Bake on the middle rack until the scones are lifted and slightly golden brown, usually taking between 15 and 20 minutes. Adjust the duration according to your oven!

Taste the warm scones with a good tea, milk, jam and clotted cream.

Note - Clotted cream is not always easy to find outside of the UK. It is a thick cream (with 55% fat!) Prepared from raw milk heated for several hours and then rested in the fridge, it can be prepared at home if you can't find an equivalent.