Mike T.’s English breakfast has the community talking
For those who missed it, Mike T. and Cindy T. began their 2024-25 winter vacation in London this week with a proper English breakfast that had me completely sick to my stomach.
– Kevin D. analyzes the Ts English breakfast:
Historically, the ‘full English breakfast’ concept emerged post WW2 rationing as an expansive list of hot breakfast dishes, over time ‘Full English’ became synonymous with a specific plate of food. Just some quick thoughts on the actual eating beyond the terrible photo:
– tomatoes are a game changer on a breakfast plate, alongside buttery toast and eggs totally divine, Brits have this correct
– the beans come in too large of a portion but are quite nice in a couple bites as a garnish, worth trying a U.K. favorite ‘beans on toast’ as a simple lunch, heated up canned beans with buttered toast, surprisingly tasty and satisfying
– I like mushrooms so don’t mind them on the plate, but can’t grok why they are a staple
– technically a full English also includes blood sausages, which no matter what I’m told is just a bridge too far
Net net not the worst breakfast ever but way too much on the plate and couldn’t pay me to eat blood at brunch.
– Brad in Tucson, AZ says:
The American Revolution was not fought because of rebellion against high taxes or a desire for religious freedom, rather to escape the tyranny and tastelessness of Mike’s Traditional English Breakfast. Thus begat Waffle House, IHOP, Denny’s, and Alice’s Restaurant in Tucson.
And to think the sun never set on the British Empire, condemning them to all day breakfasts.
– Chris Y. has experience with the English breakfast:
Lived in Cork for a stint, work.
1st meal: McDonaldsÂ
Landed in Shannon, about an hour north of Cork. Quirky note: US Customs operates out of Shannon. It’s called Pre-Clearance. So what? It means you are technically in the US before your plane takes off. So what? You land in the US like you departed from a domestic location. You stroll past Customs and the god awful lines.
Anyway, by the time I landed and took a shower, it was happy hour time. My team took me to a pub and immediately started drinking. I kept telling co-workers I had been up for 24 hours and had not eaten for some time. They assured me they would feed me. They lied. I ducked out and got a cab and the only place open was McDonalds.
2nd meal: Roadhouse Pub
The next day I sat down for a proper email, napkins and such. I played it safe and ordered a steak. Waitress asked me what I would like for my side. I said baked potato. She looked at my funny. i looked at her funny. She asked if I was sure. I said yes. She brings me a steak, and a baked potato and a baked potato. I told her I only ordered one bake potato. She told me steaks come with baked potato.
What does this have to do with breakfast (it’s called The Full Irish by the way) not much other than the Irish/English dining experience will make you long for the US. The good news, Cork was (is?) very international. Great Indian and Asian dining.
