"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh.
'Plush', by A.A. Milne
The traditional English breakfast is a national institution. Most of us love a full English breakfast; you can even travel abroad, for example to the Mediterranean resorts of Spain, and find this quintessentially British dish for sale in cafes and restaurants.
The full English breakfast, also called a 'fry-up', consists of fried eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried bread and often a slice of white or black pudding (similar to black pudding). It is accompanied byofofcoffeeand warm, buttered toast. Nowadays, breakfast can also include other items such as baked beans and hash browns.
There are many regional versions of this staple. For example, Ulster Fry contains Irish soda bread; the Scottish breakfast consists of a tattie scone (potato scone) and maybe even a piece of ithaggis; The Welsh breakfast consists of laverbread (barra ned, made from seaweed); AndCornishBreakfast often comes with Cornish pork pudding (a type of sausage).
The tradition of breakfast goes back to the Middle Ages. In those days there were usually only two meals a day; breakfast and dinner. Breakfast was served mid to late morning and usually consisted of just beer and bread, perhaps with some cheese, cold cuts or drippings.
On social or ceremonial occasions such as weddings, an extensive breakfast was often served by the nobility or nobility. A wedding mass had to take place before noon, so all weddings took place in the morning. The first meal the bridal couple ate together was breakfast and became known as the 'wedding breakfast'.
In Georgian and Victorian times, breakfast had become an important part of a shooting party, weekend party or hunt and was served a little earlier. The gentleman loved to entertain lavishly, and that included breakfast.
Breakfast was quiet, informal with plenty of silver and glassware to impress the host's guests. The breakfast table groaned under the weight of the produce of the host's estate. Newspapers were available so that the family and guests could keep up with the news of the day. It is still socially acceptable today to read newspapers at the breakfast table (an absolute 'no-no' at any other meal).
In addition to eggs and bacon, which were first brined in the early 18th century, the breakfast feast may also include offal such as kidneys, meats such as sole and fish dishes such as kippers and kedgeree, a lightly spiced colonial dishIfof rice, smoked fish and boiled eggs.
State lunch given by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) on board HMS Serapis for the King and Queen of Greece, 1875
OfVictorian erasaw the rise in British society of a wealthy middle class that wanted to copy the customs of the nobility, including the tradition of a full English breakfast. When the middle class went to work, breakfast was served earlier, usually earlier
Surprisingly, the full English breakfast was also enjoyed by many workers. The heavy physical work and long working hours in the factoriesIndustrial Revolutionmeant that a hearty meal in the morning was necessary. Even as late as1950'ernealmost half of the adult population started the day with a good old English griddle.
In today's health-conscious world, you might have thought that a full English breakfast wasn't the healthiest way to start the day, but some experts claim that such a meal in the morning boosts metabolism and doesn't have to be unhealthy. especially if the food is grilled too deep fried.
Perhaps the full English breakfast remains so popular not just because it tastes so good, but simply because people from all walks of life have been enjoying it for centuries. It is served everywhere in Britain: in luxuryhotels,, cafes and restaurants. Sometimes you will also find an 'all day breakfast' on the menu, this is truly a meal that you can enjoy at any time of the day.
For many working people, breakfast during the week, if eaten at all, often consists of just a piece of toast and a cup of instant coffee on the go. But what could be better at the weekend than relaxing and reading English with the morning newspaper?
Published: May 4, 2015.
