Bert, I think you've got it right, in your fourth paragraph, English cooking, lets drop the pretentious "cuisine" bit, is no better or worse than anywhere else. Its just that the real traditional English cooking has never been fashionable. As to fast food outlets, I suppose they have the same advantages and disadvantages as "Euro fizz" beer, its consistent, reasonably priced and available anywhere, whereas cask conditioned ale and proper cooking can vary from sublime to awful depending on the skill and care of the publican / cook. Sorry about the dig at America, after all we would'nt be chating if it wasn't for them.

Pete M