Reviewer mocked for saying 90s Londoners could only get boiled mutton

Londoners have relentlessly mocked a US restaurant reviewer for suggesting that during the 1990s and 2000s the only food options available were porridge and boiled mutton.

Robert Draper, a writer for the New York Times, returned to London for the first time in a decade and wrote a review featuring four different eateries across the capital.   

In a bizarre introduction, he suggested that between the ‘roaring 90s’ and his return ten years ago the ‘noble capital’ featured ‘devotees’ of boiled mutton and porridge before saying there were only a few ‘scattered exceptions’.

Mr Draper complimented the London food scene by saying there is finally ‘something for everyone’ before diving into reviews featuring Indian and Mediterranean food – despite the first curry house opening in the UK more than 200 years ago. 

New York Times writer Robert Draper has been mocked by Twitter users for writing a review suggesting that during the 90s the capital’s eateries only served porridge and boiled mutton

Londoners have ridiculed the idea that the capital would only serve two dishes, and wondered where Mr Draper had been eating

Londoners have ridiculed the idea that the capital would only serve two dishes, and wondered where Mr Draper had been eating

Although the review was published a few days ago, Twitter users have just discovered the article and begun sharing it far and wide with hilarious results.

Kate Carter said: ‘As a vegetarian Londoner, it’s been pretty tough surviving on porridge alone. Thank heavens things are beginning to change … [eye roll emoji].’

Penny Creed asked: ‘Where the hell was he eating Porridge and boiled mutton?!’

Others have ridiculed the author’s apparent idea of the capital in the late nineties and early noughties – when Tony Blair was Prime Minister and Boris Johnson became the Mayor of London.

Tom Hamilton wrote:  ‘I do miss Tony Blair’s time as Prime Minister, when you could go out anywhere in London and get a hearty dish of porridge and boiled mutton.’

Another individual added: ‘Oh I remember those days @nytimes back in the 90s when rationing was just coming to an end, we hadn’t seen a banana since before the war and mother used to serve us boiled mutton on porridge, father would clip us round the ear if we even dared to mention an avocado.’ 

Others pretended as if London in 2008 was comparable to the UK during either the Victorian era or just after the Second World War during rationing

Others pretended as if London in 2008 was comparable to the UK during either the Victorian era or just after the Second World War during rationing

Will Humphrey said: ‘I lived in London ten years ago. Quite how I managed to live like that, I don’t know, to say nothing of the lack of electricity or sanitation. 

‘Still, learning how to use a mangle was a vital life skill.’

Stephen Hill tweeted: ‘”Lorks a mercy guv’nor, there I was sittin’ with me jellied eels when didn’t I find meself longing for a nice duck a l’orange, washed down with a nice chateau Mouton Rothschild 1970.

‘But alas I live in Landan so I am stuck with porridge and boiled mutton” – Londoner, 1998.’ 

Others have warned that entrepreneurs in the trendy area of Shoreditch might latch on to the idea of boiled mutton and porridge pop-up shops.

Sam Freedman said: ‘Tbh a pop-up that only did porridge and boiled mutton would probably do quite well in Shoreditch.’

Joseph Walsh added: ‘Probably restaurants in Shoreditch serving porridge and boiled mutton now, but not ten years ago.’

Some warned that entrepreneurs in the trendy area of Shoreditch might create a pop-up store for porridge and boiled mutton

Some warned that entrepreneurs in the trendy area of Shoreditch might create a pop-up store for porridge and boiled mutton



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