There is an interesting note about the "bad british food" trope. I was watching a video on food rationing in Britain during the war and then for nearly 10 years after WWII. Of course you are going to lock in some bland food choices if you don't have options. People who are jonesing for some jam or butter for their bread or a few ounces of chocolate per week are not going to have extravagant cuisine.
Laterly, there have been a lot of foodie types in the UK because it became like any other over-done middle class eccentric thing. David Mitchell referred to them as anorak trainspotters who just turned the trainspotting to food.