From Scottish smoked salmon to Cornish clotted cream, the British larder is stacked full of delectable, high quality produce, the envy of many a nation. Yet, perhaps the old adage that 'familiarity breeds contempt' holds some truth, for British produce - and British food in general - still seems to suffer from something of an inferiority complex at home.
The aim of British Food Fortnight is to get the message across that, when it comes to food, British often means best. During the two weeks it runs, the Fortnight's organisers will be calling on food producers, retailers, restaurants, pubs and tourism outlets to help nurture a renaissance in the pleasures of preparing and eating regional British food and drink. As in previous years, schoolchildren are the focus of much of the activity. Chefs will be working with schools to help teachers organise practical cookery activities.  British Food Fortnight's organisers have put together a resource pack for teachers. They're also challenging schools to cook a meal using ingredients that clock up the minimum number of food miles.
 The Fortnight is focusing its attention on inspiring children and their parents to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day
As well as teaching young people about the pleasures of eating good food, the Fortnight is focusing its attention on inspiring children and their parents to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. It aims to get parents involved in food-related homework and will ask children and their parents to record their fruit and vegetable intake during the fortnight. British meat The British meat industry, in particular the British pork industry, has had a rough time recently with the rising costs of animal feed and competition from cheap imported meat. The organisers of British Food Fortnight are encouraging us to support our farmers and buy British. They also hope to highlight the high welfare standards of meat reared in the UK and to remind us that when calculating our carbon footprints, we can be sure that our British bangers haven't travelled far. If you'd like to find out more about what to look for when buying meat, watch BBC Food's video Buyer's Guides:
Inspiring ideasTo help inspire you, we've come up with some menu ideas, based on the best of British produce and regional foods. Cook a British meal for friends One of the great things about British cooking is that preparation and presentation needn't be fussy and complicated. There's nothing worse for you or your guests than having you spend the first hour of a dinner party banished to the kitchen catching only clips of conversation and missing all the gossip! With this menu you can put the grilled lettuce starter together in a matter of minutes, delivering a fresh, crisp and creamy wonder only moments after you disappeared into the kitchen. The cottage pie pretty much looks after itself after the initial preparation - just put it in a hot oven about half an hour before you want to eat. Then the trifle, which you can largely prepare the day before. Prepare all of the layers except the cream, which is best freshly whipped and spread over just before you are planning to serve it, and it will keep happily (indeed improve) in the fridge overnight.
British with a twist There's no doubt that British food's ever-improving reputation has something to do with the increased imagination applied by chefs to traditional ingredients and dishes. British cuisine has received and embraced a deluge of exotic flavours and styles from other cultures over the past decade, but, as the recipes below show, this has not replaced the Britishness of our menu; rather it has inspired and invigorated it. Why not experiment and create your own new British favourites? Apply different techniques to British ingredients or embolden and modernise a classic recipe with a dramatic new flavour.
Explore regional British cooking Britain has a wealth of regional foods that are waiting to be rediscovered. From Morecambe Bay in Lancashire come traditional potted shrimps, followed by a warming potato and sausage casserole, Somerset-style. Yorkshire is famous for its rich, gingery parkin. Have it as a dessert or on its own, with a warming pot of afternoon tea.
More British bitesHere's a selection of dishes, from homely, comforting puddings to innovative combinations of British ingredients fit to be served in the country's top restaurants.
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