Big British Food Map About the Big British Food Map

Date Published:

30/04/2008

Catherine Jackson, website producer for 4Food, talks about the Big British Food Map, and what it's all about.

I love talking about food almost as much as I love eating food. I don’t think I’m alone in that. It’s the one topic of conversation that EVERYONE has got an opinion on. If I were to ask you to tell me about an interesting place you‘ve been to where you ate or bought something delicious, what would your recommendations be? What is so great about that place? That’s where the Big British Food Map comes in. It’s about finding and sharing those great little places that people know.

What kinds of places can people add?

Maybe you’d recommend a deli or butcher you go to when you’ve got time at the weekend. Or a little known local market that’s been there for years. Or a place to eat breakfast with unlimited coffee refills. Whatever it is, we want to know about it. To add somewhere to the map, just tells us as much detail as you know about the place, and tell us why you’re recommending it.

We’ll come and visit

Our roving reporter Andrew Webb is going to be travelling across Britain visiting as many of the places you suggest as is humanly possible for one man, four wheels and a laptop. Each week he’ll be moving on to a different county, in search of the interesting places and great food that you’ve recommended.

4Food's man on the ground

Along the way, Andrew will be talking to farmers, producers, chefs and everyday people about the issues the British food industry faces. The Big Food Fight season on Channel 4 in January 2008 highlighted the huge interest people have in what they are eating, where their food comes from, and crucially that we are willing to vote with our feet and make real consumer changes. So, I hope you’ll add your favourites to the map, and discover some new places to eat and buy delicious food.

Add your favourite food place to the map.

To kick things off, we've been asking a few Channel 4 people what their favourite places would be. We'd love you to add your favourite place. For now, here's my list:

Royal China, London

40-42 Baker Street, London, W1U 7AJ
Is it possible to have an addiction to dim sum? I just can’t get enough of it. This was recommended to me as the best place to eat dim sum in London, though I’m still on a quest to find new places. I had lunch here over the Chinese New Year celebrations, and it was bursting at the seams, but delicious. I love the way they cover people’s coats on the back of their chairs with special coat protectors – what a genius idea!

The Company Shed, Mersea Island

A great friend of mine lives near this little gem on Mersea Island. I did a day trip out to visit, and she was wise enough to know we should get there early before twelve thirty to beat the rush. You share tables with others (depending on how many you are) in a simple shed that combines as a fishmonger and mini restaurant to eat fresh catch of the day. Bring your own bread and wine.

The Regency Café, London

17-19 Regency Street, London, SW1P 4BY
This old school café near my work does pretty much any combination of fried food you could wish for, perfect for a Friday hangover. I love the random mix of people eating here on a regular lunch time - suited civil servants, Channel 4 “media types”, and construction workers in their neon jackets and boots. Put your order in at the counter, and listen hard to hear the man behind the counter shout it out when ready. I always wonder if he’s lost his voice by the time they close every day.

Plaisir du Chocolat, Edinburgh

Plaisir du Chocolat, 251 - 253 Canongate, Edinburgh
Amazing hot chocolate place. Great place to stop off and warm up on a wintry day when you’ve lost the feeling in your fingers.

The Japan Centre

Having been given a sushi recipe book for Christmas, I was on a hunt in Soho for a place to buy the right ingredients. Someone told me about the Japan Centre on Piccadilly, and when I found it I couldn’t understand how I had never noticed this 3 storey building before, with a big red sign outside, bang smack in the middle of Piccadilly. The sushi restaurant is a bit pricey, but downstairs is a fascinating world of Japanese ingredients. Dried fish flakes, anyone?