Rosie,
First off. For all you know, I have been to England and I have tried all of those things. I dont know why you would presume I haven't. Hell, my parents and grandparents are in england right now. They've been there for 2 weeks now. My older brother spend 2 months there. Granted, I haven't been there, but you had no way of knowing that. Bad form. :wink:
Second of all, im telling you about history. And historically, the descendants of the british didn't contribute anything to cooking. They just didn't. Maybe in modern (as in, last 400 years or so) times the English have taken credit for some dishes... but by then they had protectorates and colonies and what not all over the world. Where do you think all of these "british" recicpies came from? India. Greece. Africa. etc.
Im not saying those aren't all great foods. And im not saying there is anything wrong with taking the dishes of other countries..... hell, I LOVE mexican food and Indian food. I'm just saying, don't demean Americans for doing it when the British are just as guilty.
Both the British and American cultures are a mish-mash of other countries. Which is why we are the two most powerful countries in the world. Diversity = Strength.
---Andrew