As excitement builds alongside England’s progress in the World Cup the nation is grappling with important questions, such is it coming home?
Will the bare-chested Senegalese fans who have danced non-stop for the entire tournament be invited onto Strictly?
Do impartiality rules mean that TV companies must employ at least one completely bald person on every panel of experts?
If England beat France 5-0 with free-flowing football will Roy Keane smile or self-implode?
And, of course, the big one. What food should you get in for the big games ahead?
The home delivery market is enjoying a boost with the food of Asia proving the most popular.
And we shouldn’t be surprised at that because the first food delivery service dates back 250 years to 18th century Korea. One particularly popular dish of the time, Haejang-guk, may be worth reviving here for the final stages of the World Cup.
Meaning “soup to chase a hangover”, it comprises cabbage, vegetables and meat in a hearty beef broth – an early form of bovril. Records show the soup would be prepared on the day of a banquet, brought to boiling and then the pot wrapped and kept overnight. When the dawn bell rang, portions of the still warm soup would be delivered to the homes of high ranking officials to help clear their head and prepare for the day ahead.
Another fan of Asian food was the former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich who once had his favourite Japanese Restaurant in London deliver to his home in Azerbaijan. The food itself cost £1,000 but delivery costs added another £39,000 to the bill.
Back in the real world, supermarkets have been reporting a major tactical shift by shoppers stocking up for the latter stages of what is the UK’s first Winter World Cup.
Instead of the burgers, sausages and pizzas normally associated with World Cups, fans have gone early for Christmas, snapping up three for two festive packs of pigs in blankets, samosas, mini spring rolls, loaded skins and other finger food for match day sustenance.
A speciality of SK Foods, these packs are ideal for sharing, easy to prepare and bring the food of Asia and elsewhere to your local supermarket – so even if the World Cup doesn’t come home for Christmas, at least some tasty food will.
About Sean Flint
Development & Innovation Chef of SK Foods.
Your food. Our Passion.
