British Food: 5 Must-Try Dishes in Brighton

more than a year ago

It is quite easy to convince yourself that fish and chips is the only way to go while at the seaside, but try not to fall into that particularly tasty trap. You can’t really go wrong with a chippy, but Sussex has plenty of culinary concoctions that might open your eyes to the gastronomic delights of the south. Plus there is Brighton Rock, make of that what you will.

Brighton Rock

We’ll start with Brighton Rock, although you absolutely shouldn’t start your meal or day with the stuff. This is rocket fuel that will do a number on your teeth if you over-indulge, but there is something about that makes it a mandatory experience in Brighton. A famous novel is named after it, so it must be worth a go! Available in all colours, shapes and sizes, Brighton Rock is essentially hard-boiled sugar with peppermint flavouring, jazzed up with other tastes. A must-buy souvenir, a must-try snack.

Seven Good Things of Sussex

Sussex is famous for fish and game. A spot on the south coast will lead you that way, and the county is very well-known for what are called the ‘seven good things of Sussex’. There are obviously more than seven good things in Sussex, but hearty lovers should make a point of ticking these seven off their list. In no particular order, keep an eye out for Pulborough eel, Arundel mullet, Amberley trout, Bourne Wheatear, Chichester lobster, Rye herring and Selsey cockle. Come to think of it, they all sound like characters in a weirdly delicious superhero show.

Hashegeddon

The almost universal complaint about English breakfasts is always ‘not enough hash browns’. How to fix this issue? Joe’s Cafe in Brighton has hit the spot by creating an absolute monster of a hash and piling all sorts into it. The breakfast, brunch and lunch smasher is aptly named Hashegeddon, and you’ve simply never experienced a hash quite like it. It is the closet thing to a hangover cure that we’ve ever found.

Banoffee Pie

One of those quintessential English desserts, banoffee pie was actually created in Sussex. The Hungry Monk in Jevington (20 miles east of Brighton) takes the credit, when an unreliable recipe for coffee toffee pie was amended via the magic of the banana. The Hungry Monk has sadly closed, but banoffee pie remains a staple of all menus across the country.

Brighton Gin

We’ll finish with some booze, because that’s how we generally like to end things. Brighton Gin has won awards all over the country, no small feat when you take into account the renaissance that gin is currently experiencing, and we’re not about to disagree with those handing out the gongs. Made in small batches (quality over quantity), Brighton Gin is made from 100% organic ingredients that claim to be good for your liver. Not that they won’t damage your liver, no, they actually claim to be good for it. Say no more!

Brighton