Food and drink are an integral part of Lake District life, with the area renowned for it’s plentiful stocks of fresh produce that allow many to sample wholesome and locally sourced food of all sorts from season to season.
Local Produce
Fresh meat, game, fish, goat and sheep cheeses, fruit and vegetables are all bountiful in the area, lending a distinct local cuisine that can range from the familiar and comforting to the bold and exciting. With many establishments keen to utilise local produce, menus change frequently, bringing exciting new flavours as the year progresses.
Fish and Chips is a speciality of the seaside towns, alongside plenty of pickles, jams and cheeses alongside fruit and veg that can be found at many of the area’s regular Farmer’s Markets. Herdwick sheep make lamb a fantastic choice in Cumbria, and while the Lake District’s lakes may not yield fish, trout is noted for its excellence in the Lake District.
Something to wash it down with
Drink is also plays an important role in the area, with pubs and inns also housing their own microbreweries, making a wide and varied selection of ales and bitters for all palates. Sweet wine is also local to the area, and Damson Gin a delicious tipple after a hard days walking.
Cumbrian Specialities
And then there are the more idiosyncratic offerings that include the Cumberland sausage, Gingerbread, Apple Tansy and Kendal Mint Cake (a useful source of energy and staple food for fell walking) that make the food and drink of the Lake District a memorable – and delicious – experience.
From high cuisine to cosy and comforting honest food, the Lake District boasts it all across a wide selection of restaurants, hotels, pubs, inns, tearooms, cafes and local shops. Discovering the food of the Lake District will take your tastebuds on a journey every bit as exciting as the outdoor thrills and spills.
