First-Class Restaurants and Luxury Food Stores: The Emergence of the Soviet Culture of Consumption in the 1930s

This chapter concentrates upon the importance of migrant personnel in the development of London's food and the introduction of new products by newcomers. Migrants have therefore had a significant impact upon the dietary habits of Londoners since 1850. This appears more obvious after 1945, connected with larger scale immigration, particularly from the British Empire and Commonwealth. Despite the importance of migrant influences upon the eating patterns of Londoners before 1945, the domestic diet of most sections of the capitals population would have mirrored the national picture, dominated by English food habits. Restaurants established by migrants represent just one aspect of the increasing multiculturalization of food in London, as the capitals population can eat the food which it samples in restaurants and takeaways at home. While some Londoners may not venture into shops established by immigrants, they would certainly use supermarkets, which now contain a wide range of international foods, whether tinned, chilled or frozen.