Dining out in the Lake District and Cumbrian food
The Lake District is almost as famous for its Cumbrian food as it is for its lakes. So, whether you are searching for hearty fare or a satisfying snack, you will find plenty to choose from in this part of the world.
Windermere Pubs and cafés
If you enjoy real ales, home-cooked Cumbrian food and a warm welcome, there is a wide choice of country pubs, wine bars, and cafés in Windermere and Bowness to suit all tastes and budgets. Famous for its real ales and authentic old country pubs, Windermere offers visitors a wealth of hostelries to whet the appetite. Whatever you fancy to eat or drink, you will find it within half a mile of the Aphrodite´s Lodge. From pavement cafés, serving home baked cakes and bread, to gastro-pubs with extensive menus, Cumbrian specialities and local ales, Windermere is home to some of the best pubs and cafés in the Lake District.
Restaurants in Bowness-on-Windermere
Offering a vast choice of cuisine, restaurants in Bowness-on-Windermere are among the best in the Lake District. In Bowness-on-Windermere, you can sample an excellent range of Cumbrian cuisine at local restaurants, including award-winning local cheeses, meats, game, jams and relishes. If you prefer to ´go international´ Bowness-on-Windermere is also home to some of the best Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian and Tapas restaurants in the Lake District. If you want to celebrate a special occasion in style, why not book a table at one of the Lake District´s Michelin-Starred Restaurants.
If you plan to stay in this part of the Lake District, why not book into a luxury spa hotel with hot tub suites in Windermere?
Cumbrian Food
Famous Cumbrian fare includes delicious meats, cheeses and confectionery, unique to this stunning part of England.
Cumberland Sausage
Nobody knows why Cumberland Sausage is coiled instead of in the traditional links. However, it is linked (excuse the pun) to the times when German miners were in Cumbria during the reign of Elizabeth I. The sausages were said to have been created to suit their taste and flavoured with spices imported into Cumberland via the major port of the time at Whitehaven.
Damson Gin
Anyone who is lucky enough to be in the Lake District in April should visit the nearby Lyth Valley where the white blossom of the damson trees is a stunning sight. Damsons are used in this part of the world to make jams and the famous local speciality, Damson Gin. Most pubs sell the gin if you want to try a glass or two. The skins of the damsons are also used to dye textiles.
Kendal Mint Cake
Thought to have been invented by mistake, Kendal Mint Cake was created by Joseph Wiper who was trying to make a clear mint at the time. He ended up with a cloudy mint with a thicker consistency and the rest, as they say is history. Mint cake is now produced as white or brown bars or chocolate coated and is carried by walkers for an energy boost while walking the local fells. Sir Edmund Hilary and Sirdar Tensing ate the famous Kendal Mint cake on the summit of Everest in 1953.
Cumberland Lamb
Herdwick Sheep and lambs graze on the natural herbage of the region which gives their meat a distinct flavour. Cumberland tattie pot is a delicious recipe which includes swede and black pudding and layers of potatoes. Pickled red cabbage is often served as a side dish. A traditional sauce served with lamb or ham is Cumberland sauce made from the juices of oranges and lemons, added to redcurrant jelly, mustard, port and ginger.
The Lake District is heaven for foodies, and whether you enjoy cakes, pastries, traditional sausages and cheeses or some famous Grasmere Gingerbread, you will be spoilt for choice in Cumbria!
If you are planning a trip to the Lake District, why not book into a luxury Windermere spa hotel with hot tub suites and make the most of your stay.