I’ll cut straight to the point: I love an English breakfast. You can scream, cry and gnash your teeth at me for being a beans-on-toast apologist. Hush, now — I’ll just eat it for you. Pass it over.
During my semester studying in England, I had the opportunity to become acquainted with a variety of English delights. I don’t even use such words sarcastically; I truly enjoyed the opportunity to spend time getting to know foods foreign to me, even in their blander moments. With that said, I won’t lie that there came a point where I was sick of boiled potato. But oh, gosh, were potato and I so very acquainted! (Fine, maybe a little sarcasm).
Saving the best for last, below are three English dishes that I find myself missing now that I’m back in Waffle House country.
1. Eton Mess
When I say I would eat this stuff by the pound, I mean it. Eton mess is truly a mess, but in the best way — a pile of thick whipped cream, juicy berries and crushed merengue make for a delicately sweet and deliciously sticky bowl (or two). Said to have been coined by an incident at Eton College, Eton mess has been a long-time classic on British dessert menus.
If you try to concoct this at home, don’t bother trying to make it pretty. It’s best in a random bowl with an oversized spoon.
2. Yorkshire Pudding
Affectionately called ‘yorkies’, I find myself missing the simplicity of these savory baked goods. Traditionally served with a big Sunday roast, Yorkshire pudding is a soft, slightly chewy bread made of a simple batter that soaks up gravy exceptionally well.
Yorkies go back even further than Eton mess — a staple they’ve been, and staple they’ll remain.
3. Full English Breakfast
I probably think of this stuff once a week. Though I love breakfast in America just as much, a full English breakfast is it’s own breed. Lately, I’ve been curious if I could replicate it. Thick-cut bacon, browned sausages, jammy egg, pan-roasted tomatoes, and a certain triangular hashbrown (that I can’t find in the States). It sounds basic, but like my other faves, the simplicity is an element of it’s charm.
Honorable Mentions
- Tea. Cliche? Maybe. Delicious? Undoubtedly. Tea bags are larger and stronger in Britain than America, and I miss how much flavor I could get from just one.
- Halloumi fries. While I’m sure that halloumi fries are far from unique to the English, halloumi is an expensive, small-batch cheese in America that I miss having easy access to. In England, most fast food chains would have fried sticks of halloumi available.
- Fish and chips. I feel a bit silly for this, particularly since you can find great fried fish in America, but the sheer size of England’s fish and chip servings made for formidable competitors with American portions.
Do you have any English faves? Drop them in the comments below!
-Macy