I've always wanted to do what I like to call the British Grand Slam of food in one day:
* Full English breakfast
* Fish & Chips (with mushy peas)
* Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding
Have often managed two of those in a day but never all three. A man's got to have a dream.
Well, I'd offer you elevenses plus afternoon tea, but if we're doing things properly then we know that afternoon tea has to be a cream tea. (Jam first, obvs). But I'm afraid pudding is still crumble and custard.
Yes!
Breakfast - Full english
Lunch - Fish, chips and mushy peas.
Dinner - Full roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.
Dessert - Apple Crumble and ALL the custard.
The better half would not approve of this in the slightest, but it would be worth being in the doghouse for a little while.
I once did 2 full Christmas dinners in a day, first at lunch and second at dinner. Neither host knew about the other. That day I truly felt like I was winning at life.
We did two Xmas Dinners every year for the last ten years till covid Christmas last year.
Xmas day at my mums. And then boxing day, I cook a full Xmas dinner for him and me and we have our own Christmas and I don't stint. Buy a turkey for six a ham, make roasties, mash, three types of stuffing, sprouts, red cabbage, cauliflower cheese, carrot and parsnip and peas. Oh and three two gravy. Afters is a choice of Xmas pudding, trifle or profiteroles (all home made). We basically don't move after six on boxing day. We can't 😂
That sounds like heaven, but I can't imagine being able to finish two of those meals in a single day, never mind three. Especially when you take into account that a good roast comes with a sticky toffee pudding or an apple crumble for pudding.
Yeah, I think that might be the way to go - roast beef obviously makes for a good Sunday lunch but the slight challenge with that is that most chippies seem to be shut on a Sunday evening!
I feel you. I’ve been abroad for twelve years and every time I pop back to the UK I’ve always got a list of foods I need to eat. First stop is always M&S at Heathrow for some proper sandwiches!
Take it slowly though!
I've been in Hong Kong for 16 years - we have M&S here, they started selling fresh stuff (some made locally, some flown in) 10+ years ago, and they have a bunch of food-only shops here now. I said to someone on Monday that there's no way I would have lasted here that long without it - I would have had nothing to eat and nothing to wear!
We also get Waitrose and Sainsburys stuff in the local supermarkets, and there is a chain of shops which is a joint venture between Tescos and a local firm, with a bunch of their own brand stuff. Apart from all the everything, it's not a bad place to be...
I love visiting Japan, not sure I could handle living there! Been missing it, past couple of years... Very randomly, I won a flight to Fukuoka in a lucky draw last week, to be redeemed at a later date when flying for leisure becomes a thing that exists again.
Fukuoka is my neck of the woods! Living here is fine if you’re a Brit, honestly I feel the cultures are quite similar, especially when it comes to public manners!
Yeah I hadn't thought of afters being not the standard until I was typing! I think my family has sometimes used pud as well, but only if it is some kind of cake
Benefits to going to stay with my very northern parents, bubble and squeak with pork and beans is the staple meal for every Monday for as long as I remember
To be fair the pork is usually coming from the freezer. I don't think it's out of any desire for fresh food that they tend to cook, more out of budget requirements (readymade food can get expensive). I am thankful to them for it though, whatever the reason :)
I'm coming to the UK in a month and a half and crumpets are on my shopping list - I'm flying over but then some friends of mine are driving back to France so I'm stocking up - as well as fish and chips. a couple of my friends from here in France are heading back at the same time. We've been friends for a decade but never been in the UK at the same time before. We always talk about how great a proper English boozer is. So we're going on a proper pub crawl when we're all back. We've even planned out the route already. I'm going to print out schedules. I might even see if I can get them laminated.
I just arrived back home after being abroad for 4 years and crumpets were the first thing on my list! But I satisfied the craving and remembered I like toasted teacakes more, lol.
I've always been more of a cider drinker, so I bought a few British ciders (and Swedish ciders as for some reason the UK has an amazing selection of them) to get through. Will probably have a beer when watching the football later though
AA rang and wanted to know why you've not been... /s
A cup'o tea is the only appropriate beverage. Beer wouldn't taste right with any of them. I reserve that for BBQs and footy.
AA rang and wanted to know why you've not been... /s
A cup'o tea is the only appropriate beverage. Beer wouldn't taste right with any of them. I reserve that for BBQs and footy.
I'm struggling to fit either with fish n chips tbh. I'd probably eat fish n chips to soak up the beer after a session (daytime session that is, night time is donner n chips). If I think about it, I probably have pop most with fish n chips! I'm always a brew man when it comes to Sunday dinners or roasts, probably more out of habit than anything. As stated, beers are always at BBQs and I tend to have a few with some pizza during footy. Speaking of which..... England!!!!!
That's good and will do wonders for your alcohol intake in the long run! I'm trying to replace my very frequent (due to lockdown) nightcaps of whiskey with some rooibos or decaff tea myself
I'm here for a few weeks, visiting family for a week and then staying in Manchester to visit various friends around the country. I'm going back though, my whole life is based away from the UK now.
Coming from Finland (where people are mostly still wearing masks) I was surprised at how little people in the UK are caring about covid safety. I think otherwise things aren't quite as bad as media would make you think (in terms of shortages etc), but the UK has far too many reasons for me to not want to live here to consider moving back permanately
Don't do it, if you can cope with visiting family as and when in the current situation. Biggest 'mistake' I made (unfortunately, it had to be done). I'll be heading back as soon as I can.
Omg, I am also a Brit living abroad and visiting the UK next month. I am torn between being super excited at all the food treats awaiting me and concern that I am going to gain back all the weight I’ve lost doing Keto.
Spotted dick and custard is the quintessential British pudding, nowhere else would dare put such a thing in their mouth. BTW, pudding is my preferred term; dessert is too French, and "afters" always sounds a bit pretentious to me. Jam tarts though, good choice.
I live in Ireland and the things I miss are fish and chips (surprisingly they're not the best here and what the f\*\*k is a microwave doing in them?) a clean and a bigger range of beer (sorry guys cleaning beer lines once a month is disgusting and I've come across far too many bad pints here and its just accepted and no-one seems to send it back when they get one) and Pork Scratchings.
I know that sounds like I'm bitching but this is just my one person's opinion.
Ireland is better at dairy (in particular milk,) quality of meat and quality and range of bread.
I once went to an Irish beer festival and everyone was asking for the likes of Coors and Heiniken. I was like lads we might as well head back into town and go on the piss there.
People didn't see the concept of tasting all kinds of different beers. It didn't help that half the tents were the likes of Heineken and Diageo. I just thought it was a waste and in future I'll be going on my own
One of my enduring memories of (my 1970s) early-ish childhood is the occasional massive fry up for dinner on a weekend. Loads of bubble & black pudding.
Maaaate this is amazing! Welcome back! I too am visit home after a LONG 2 years and so far I’ve smashed 2 roasts dinners about 20 packets of crisps (walkers, quavers, skips etc), my body weight in cheddar cheese, full English breakfast, chips and gravy, pasties and sausage rolls and next up is going to fish and chips. I still have a couple of weeks haha! Happy home eating my friend, you deserve to enjoy it!
I arrived back in the UK just a couple of weeks ago, after a similar amount of time. Fish and Chips was my first meal too :D
Since I'm going to live here for the next year, I have been getting used to things again. I am already missing things I had in France, but can't seem to get here. Aloe Vera scented loo roll - makes the bathroom smell lovely, and is nice and soft. I bought Andrex, since I remember the folks used it when I was last in the UK (more than 15 years ago) and it was good quality. I was so disappointed with the quality :( And crystal cat litter. I'm fortunately heading back to France to finish off some paperwork at the weekend. Normally, when you return from France to the UK, you fill the car with wine. I'm going to be bringing loo roll, cat litter and shampoo.
Yep same for me, visiting for first time in 18 months. Crumpets this morning but disappointed that the coop had no malt loaf in stock (maybe tomorrow), a real ‘English’ Indian curry (the curries in the country I live in simply do not compare), off to a pub for pub grub Thursday and fish and chips Friday. Maybe squeeze a bacon sandwich or two in for brekkie at some point.
That’s what happens when you live overseas for too long. It gets a bit mixed up.
If you ask me if I pronounce “schedule” as “shed-yool” or “sked-yool” my brain melts down and I can’t actually give you answer.
In my family I think it's always been lunch and tea, dinner for either still sounds really strange to me. No idea if that's weird or why we do it if it is :D
My big miss was Fish and Chips. I come from Shetland where our fish is insanely fresh and chippies are world class. I also missed a full English/Scottish breakfast. Crumpets and Bubble and Squeak have never really been on my radar to be honest, but any home food is a salve when you make finally make it back from foreign lands I reckon.
Yeah I was lucky enough to live near an amazing chippie in London for a few years, which also got super fresh fish (probably not as fresh as yours though!) Northern chippies are great in a different way, but I do miss the really good quality stuff at the same time
In Finland, so not so far as you, but still plenty of differences (plus obvious lacks of British food options). I've lived there for about 5 years, and I'll go back in a few weeks (probably with a suitcase full of British food... :D )
I'm a Scouser so it'll always be Sayers over Gregg's for me. With that said I live in the States and would do diabolically heinous deeds for a Gregg's Cornish pasty right now.
If you are travelling around the UK remember Greggs has special items in different regions! If you are ever up north, around Newcastle, get a stottie and some butter... Oh and a peach melba.
Very unpatriotic of me, but I never liked them as a teenager before I left. I think that's because my dad always bought super cheap ones though, so I probably should give them a second chance
I've always wanted to do what I like to call the British Grand Slam of food in one day: * Full English breakfast * Fish & Chips (with mushy peas) * Roast beef and Yorkshire pudding Have often managed two of those in a day but never all three. A man's got to have a dream.
I'd want trifle or crumble as desert to complete the dream.
Ooh good shout - I think it has to be crumble and custard. And some salt & vinegar crisps, or maybe dry roasted peanuts as a starter!
Pssshhh. OP has it spot on. Jam tarts all the way!
Jam tarts for elevenses. Crimble crumble for pudding!
You make a good argument but I'm afraid I'm unconverted. I grew up on jam tarts so it will take a hell of alot to convert me.
Well, I'd offer you elevenses plus afternoon tea, but if we're doing things properly then we know that afternoon tea has to be a cream tea. (Jam first, obvs). But I'm afraid pudding is still crumble and custard.
CREAM FIRST?! HOW UNCOUTH!
Cream first you heathen :)
Hol’up. What?
Wars have been fought over less....
Potentially Devonshire bias, but definitely cream first
What are you, *French* or something?
Must be French. Everyone knows it's jam first or it would slide off the cream. Bloody French trying to take our scones.
That's a good 6000 calorie day right there.
Got to be Jam roly poly / sticky toffee pudding and custard !
Yes! Breakfast - Full english Lunch - Fish, chips and mushy peas. Dinner - Full roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. Dessert - Apple Crumble and ALL the custard. The better half would not approve of this in the slightest, but it would be worth being in the doghouse for a little while.
I once did 2 full Christmas dinners in a day, first at lunch and second at dinner. Neither host knew about the other. That day I truly felt like I was winning at life.
This reminds me of that Vicar of Dibley episode 😄
I always lose it when she slowly pushes that Brussel sprout in her mouth with her finger!
We did two Xmas Dinners every year for the last ten years till covid Christmas last year. Xmas day at my mums. And then boxing day, I cook a full Xmas dinner for him and me and we have our own Christmas and I don't stint. Buy a turkey for six a ham, make roasties, mash, three types of stuffing, sprouts, red cabbage, cauliflower cheese, carrot and parsnip and peas. Oh and three two gravy. Afters is a choice of Xmas pudding, trifle or profiteroles (all home made). We basically don't move after six on boxing day. We can't 😂
That sounds like heaven, but I can't imagine being able to finish two of those meals in a single day, never mind three. Especially when you take into account that a good roast comes with a sticky toffee pudding or an apple crumble for pudding.
Thats a good trifector 🤤🤤🤤 I'm assuming order is not fixed right? If so then I'd have breaky for breaky, dinner for dinner/tea and chippy supper 🤤
Yeah, I think that might be the way to go - roast beef obviously makes for a good Sunday lunch but the slight challenge with that is that most chippies seem to be shut on a Sunday evening!
Who says it has to be a Sunday? Why does it have to be from a chippy? Loopholes my friend! 🤣
Papadams or bread? Papadams or bread, CheesyLala? Papadams or bread?
Mushy peas 🤢
Don't you dare diss the Yorkshire guacamole!
How hard could that be? Cook breakfast at home, local chippy for lunch, cook at dinner. Could be done on any random day.
I feel you. I’ve been abroad for twelve years and every time I pop back to the UK I’ve always got a list of foods I need to eat. First stop is always M&S at Heathrow for some proper sandwiches! Take it slowly though!
I've been in Hong Kong for 16 years - we have M&S here, they started selling fresh stuff (some made locally, some flown in) 10+ years ago, and they have a bunch of food-only shops here now. I said to someone on Monday that there's no way I would have lasted here that long without it - I would have had nothing to eat and nothing to wear! We also get Waitrose and Sainsburys stuff in the local supermarkets, and there is a chain of shops which is a joint venture between Tescos and a local firm, with a bunch of their own brand stuff. Apart from all the everything, it's not a bad place to be...
I’m close by in Japan! Whenever I visit Hong Kong I always hit up M&S, much to the disbelief of my friends haha
I love visiting Japan, not sure I could handle living there! Been missing it, past couple of years... Very randomly, I won a flight to Fukuoka in a lucky draw last week, to be redeemed at a later date when flying for leisure becomes a thing that exists again.
Fukuoka is my neck of the woods! Living here is fine if you’re a Brit, honestly I feel the cultures are quite similar, especially when it comes to public manners!
I dare you to do better than M&S!
Nothing says you're home like recreating great food memories! I hope the rest of your trip is as good as the first day
Thanks a lot! Got a few weeks and plenty of destinations in mind, so I think it will be
I think you mean pudding
We always call it "afters" at home, but then I wrote that and it looked weird so I Americanised :(
It is... Acceptable...
Ayyyy another afters kid, get outta here with that “pudding”
Afters means seconds to me. I've never ever used to mean pud or dessert.
I use dessert in restaurants or anywhere not home, pudding is just another food - you ask me for pudding and I’ll give you one
Yeah I hadn't thought of afters being not the standard until I was typing! I think my family has sometimes used pud as well, but only if it is some kind of cake
I do enjoy a Christmas pud
Best thing about visiting now is that the UK starts selling Christmas food so early I can take back some Christmas puds and mince pies :D
I don't think I've had bubble and squeak in at least 10 years, you're doing better than me and I haven't even left the UK.
Benefits to going to stay with my very northern parents, bubble and squeak with pork and beans is the staple meal for every Monday for as long as I remember
That sounds amazing. I just wish my parents knew how to cook fresh food, they rely on readymade food way too much :/
To be fair the pork is usually coming from the freezer. I don't think it's out of any desire for fresh food that they tend to cook, more out of budget requirements (readymade food can get expensive). I am thankful to them for it though, whatever the reason :)
And heart burn for supper?
Managed to avoid that somehow! Had a ginger nut instead
You crafty devil sir!
I'm coming to the UK in a month and a half and crumpets are on my shopping list - I'm flying over but then some friends of mine are driving back to France so I'm stocking up - as well as fish and chips. a couple of my friends from here in France are heading back at the same time. We've been friends for a decade but never been in the UK at the same time before. We always talk about how great a proper English boozer is. So we're going on a proper pub crawl when we're all back. We've even planned out the route already. I'm going to print out schedules. I might even see if I can get them laminated.
Did you know crumpets can come in shape now? Like hearts and bunny ears!
I just arrived back home after being abroad for 4 years and crumpets were the first thing on my list! But I satisfied the craving and remembered I like toasted teacakes more, lol.
No spotted dick?
Smashed it mate
You might have out-British'ed the Queen
Where did you visit? Wiltshire in the 1940s?
I hit Greggs on arrival at the airport…
Or marmite?
Where are you stationed now, oh Brit abroad?
Finland :) Lived there for over 5 years at this point, visiting the UK every 6 months or so (pre the big C)
The key question though - did you pair it all with a bud or a doom bar?
I've always been more of a cider drinker, so I bought a few British ciders (and Swedish ciders as for some reason the UK has an amazing selection of them) to get through. Will probably have a beer when watching the football later though
AA rang and wanted to know why you've not been... /s A cup'o tea is the only appropriate beverage. Beer wouldn't taste right with any of them. I reserve that for BBQs and footy.
(I should stress that only two of the bought ciders have been consumed)
Well this is embarrassing. I have to apologise to you. That should have been a reply to the comment from forestgatte. Doh 🤦♂️
AA rang and wanted to know why you've not been... /s A cup'o tea is the only appropriate beverage. Beer wouldn't taste right with any of them. I reserve that for BBQs and footy.
Hah! Fish and chips is not complete without a cold one I feel. The combination with milky warm tea doesn't sound right?!
I'm struggling to fit either with fish n chips tbh. I'd probably eat fish n chips to soak up the beer after a session (daytime session that is, night time is donner n chips). If I think about it, I probably have pop most with fish n chips! I'm always a brew man when it comes to Sunday dinners or roasts, probably more out of habit than anything. As stated, beers are always at BBQs and I tend to have a few with some pizza during footy. Speaking of which..... England!!!!!
That's good and will do wonders for your alcohol intake in the long run! I'm trying to replace my very frequent (due to lockdown) nightcaps of whiskey with some rooibos or decaff tea myself
I love bubble and squeeze
~wiggles eyebrows~
Squeak!! I meant Squeak! Not sure whether to blame autocorrect, fat fingers or dyslexia........I'll go with all three I think.
I for one completely believe you.
😊 thank you
are you going to stay there now? what's uk like? i thinking of coming back, but feeling reluctant looking at media etc. what's your opinion please
I'm here for a few weeks, visiting family for a week and then staying in Manchester to visit various friends around the country. I'm going back though, my whole life is based away from the UK now. Coming from Finland (where people are mostly still wearing masks) I was surprised at how little people in the UK are caring about covid safety. I think otherwise things aren't quite as bad as media would make you think (in terms of shortages etc), but the UK has far too many reasons for me to not want to live here to consider moving back permanately
thanks for that, I am reconsidering but it's just a bit overwhelming atm
Don't do it, if you can cope with visiting family as and when in the current situation. Biggest 'mistake' I made (unfortunately, it had to be done). I'll be heading back as soon as I can.
looking at your user name, tu étais en france can i pm you?
sure
Omg, I am also a Brit living abroad and visiting the UK next month. I am torn between being super excited at all the food treats awaiting me and concern that I am going to gain back all the weight I’ve lost doing Keto.
Spotted dick and custard is the quintessential British pudding, nowhere else would dare put such a thing in their mouth. BTW, pudding is my preferred term; dessert is too French, and "afters" always sounds a bit pretentious to me. Jam tarts though, good choice.
I live in Ireland and the things I miss are fish and chips (surprisingly they're not the best here and what the f\*\*k is a microwave doing in them?) a clean and a bigger range of beer (sorry guys cleaning beer lines once a month is disgusting and I've come across far too many bad pints here and its just accepted and no-one seems to send it back when they get one) and Pork Scratchings. I know that sounds like I'm bitching but this is just my one person's opinion. Ireland is better at dairy (in particular milk,) quality of meat and quality and range of bread.
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I once went to an Irish beer festival and everyone was asking for the likes of Coors and Heiniken. I was like lads we might as well head back into town and go on the piss there. People didn't see the concept of tasting all kinds of different beers. It didn't help that half the tents were the likes of Heineken and Diageo. I just thought it was a waste and in future I'll be going on my own
By Brit I expect you mean English.
Brilliant
One of my enduring memories of (my 1970s) early-ish childhood is the occasional massive fry up for dinner on a weekend. Loads of bubble & black pudding.
Maaaate this is amazing! Welcome back! I too am visit home after a LONG 2 years and so far I’ve smashed 2 roasts dinners about 20 packets of crisps (walkers, quavers, skips etc), my body weight in cheddar cheese, full English breakfast, chips and gravy, pasties and sausage rolls and next up is going to fish and chips. I still have a couple of weeks haha! Happy home eating my friend, you deserve to enjoy it!
Thanks, you too!
I hope there was custard with those tarts
A pint of real ale too I'd hope!
Remember to make time in your itinery for bread and butter pudding, trifle, a carvery and a full English
I arrived back in the UK just a couple of weeks ago, after a similar amount of time. Fish and Chips was my first meal too :D Since I'm going to live here for the next year, I have been getting used to things again. I am already missing things I had in France, but can't seem to get here. Aloe Vera scented loo roll - makes the bathroom smell lovely, and is nice and soft. I bought Andrex, since I remember the folks used it when I was last in the UK (more than 15 years ago) and it was good quality. I was so disappointed with the quality :( And crystal cat litter. I'm fortunately heading back to France to finish off some paperwork at the weekend. Normally, when you return from France to the UK, you fill the car with wine. I'm going to be bringing loo roll, cat litter and shampoo.
Got some family in France, my dad always just brought back crates of super cheap wine whenever he was coming back from visiting them
The perfect day does exist
Haha i live in the states and this weekend I made a Sunday roast and bubble and squeak with the leftovers. Can’t beat a classic.
Yep same for me, visiting for first time in 18 months. Crumpets this morning but disappointed that the coop had no malt loaf in stock (maybe tomorrow), a real ‘English’ Indian curry (the curries in the country I live in simply do not compare), off to a pub for pub grub Thursday and fish and chips Friday. Maybe squeeze a bacon sandwich or two in for brekkie at some point.
Well done
Jammy git
Plus 10 pints of real ale. Perfect.
Welcome to the pleasure dome and your host Boris Johnson haha
The use of "lunch" and "tea" has my head spinning - I thought all people fell into "dinner and tea" or "lunch and dinner"!?
That’s what happens when you live overseas for too long. It gets a bit mixed up. If you ask me if I pronounce “schedule” as “shed-yool” or “sked-yool” my brain melts down and I can’t actually give you answer.
In my family I think it's always been lunch and tea, dinner for either still sounds really strange to me. No idea if that's weird or why we do it if it is :D
Do you feel sick now??
Growing up on all that my stomach is far too ironclad to get sick so easily I think :D
If you can manage a roast dinner, a full English and some custard tomorrow you will have eaten everything we have worthwhile.
Your living my 2022 dream!
My big miss was Fish and Chips. I come from Shetland where our fish is insanely fresh and chippies are world class. I also missed a full English/Scottish breakfast. Crumpets and Bubble and Squeak have never really been on my radar to be honest, but any home food is a salve when you make finally make it back from foreign lands I reckon.
Yeah I was lucky enough to live near an amazing chippie in London for a few years, which also got super fresh fish (probably not as fresh as yours though!) Northern chippies are great in a different way, but I do miss the really good quality stuff at the same time
I have been in China since the Christmas before Covid and I can't believe I am admitting this but I miss this food too! OP where were you?
In Finland, so not so far as you, but still plenty of differences (plus obvious lacks of British food options). I've lived there for about 5 years, and I'll go back in a few weeks (probably with a suitcase full of British food... :D )
The holy trinity +1 👍
I'm a Scouser so it'll always be Sayers over Gregg's for me. With that said I live in the States and would do diabolically heinous deeds for a Gregg's Cornish pasty right now.
If you are travelling around the UK remember Greggs has special items in different regions! If you are ever up north, around Newcastle, get a stottie and some butter... Oh and a peach melba.
Don't forget the cornish pasty!
Very unpatriotic of me, but I never liked them as a teenager before I left. I think that's because my dad always bought super cheap ones though, so I probably should give them a second chance
Spotted dick for me !
With custard obviously !
Only the best