The Impetus of the British Empire

My opinion of what motivated Britain to spread its empire around the world has long been a standing joke at cocktail parties, mostly in the States where it is universally well received, but not here in London (as I haven't been invited to any parties yet).  Having first visited England in the 1970's as a college graduate, my palate was unsophisticated enough to eat whatever was on offer at whichever pub I stumbled into - usually steak and kidney pie or bangers and mash - or  whatever was available in a greasy newspaper wrapping from a corner chippie (although I didn't call it that at the time).  I survived just fine, venturing occasionally into an Indian or Chinese restaurant.  But the old cliche was not lost on me; namely, English cuisine was simply an oxymoron.  Later on, after marrying my English husband, I came up with the riposte somewhere in California (maybe in a jacuzzi with a glass of wine) that the reason the British Empire expanded to conquer the world was simply because they were in search of a good meal! After all, how else would there be so many Indian and Chinese restaurant in London? This line always brings a good laugh in the States, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet here in London (haven't been invited to any parties!) Lately it has occurred to me that those early Brits were also in search of a good tan!