A study by European bakery expert St Pierre has shown that a third of Brits plan to keep a taste of the EU on their plates this Christmas as Brexit approaches.
With the UK’s departure from the EU imminent, St Pierre’s research reveals that more than one in six British households (17%) plans to intentionally adapt their festive menus to include foreign flavours.
A French Champagne brunch is expected to be enjoyed by 54%, with 20% saying they plan to eat croissants for breakfast. 15% say they’ll be choosing Italian Panettone to snack on and 23% will stock up on Gluhwein for a Germanic festive feeling.
Could COVID travel restrictions have contributed to this bolstered interest in exploring the world through food? The study found that 41% of those surveyed reported being more willing to embrace new foods this year.
As a nation, we have a long-standing love affair with European food, and we all know that absence makes the heart grow fonder
Paul Baker, founder of St Pierre, comments that the challenges of 2020 have contributed to this: “As a nation, we have a long-standing love affair with European food, and we all know that absence makes the heart grow fonder. It’s not surprising that after such an unpredictable year, Brits are planning something to look forward to. Despite everything, food has the power to lift moods, bring people together and make the ‘everyday’ magnifique.”
But the data does vary from region to region; the research notes that 49% of home cooks in Nottingham intend to embrace European festive fare on Christmas morning while 68% of residents of Norwich are expected to stay loyal to UK produce.
