Poke (pronounced "poh-kay"), a Hawaiian salad dish prepared with raw fish cubes, is all set to take the lunchtime food scene in the U.K. by storm. Poke is already gaining popularity in the United States, especially among foodies with a preference for sushi.
For the uninitiated, poke is basically a Hawaiian salad dish usually prepared with raw fish cubes, especially tuna or salmon, and marinated in a soy sauce dressing. This cuisine is gluten as well as dairy free, and is also available in vegan varieties for people inclined to vegetarian foods.
While Britons are yet to get a taste of the salty fish cubes, major cities in the United States are already getting more accustomed to this Hawaiian dish. In fact, the New York Magazine has wondered in a recent article if the fish supplies would be able to keep pace with the growing demand for poke, IB Times reported.
So far, the only experience people in London have had with this Hawaiian dish is the Eat Poke, a pop-up store that has been moving in the Kerb street community. Eat Poke has been offering smaller dishes bearing a close resemblance to the Hawaiian style food. In Hawaii, poke is basically a casual dish and not a full meal.
Meanwhile, Pret a Manger is all set to become the first U.K. chain to include poke to its lunchtime menu. They are expected to be followed by Bill Granger, an Australian chef owning three restaurants in London that offer raw tuna and avocado poke dish, Independent reported.
In fact, chefs have started loving poke for its potential for variety with poke, which literally means "to cut or section." As far as the ingredients are concerned, almost anything goes, including mushrooms or beetroot as alternatives to fish. Hannah Dolan, a food developer at Pret, said: For a while we have been contemplating to include poke salad in our menu, the publication quoted Hannah Dolan, a food developer at Pret, as saying. She said that inspired by the Hawaiian dish they would be introducing their individual version of the dish this spring.
