Britishness

[elisi]

So, I have lots of political links & stuff waiting to be posted, but right now I am going with something that's pure fluff:

26 British Food Quirks That Brits Don’t Realise Are Weird

My question is - are they really that weird? As in, are you unaware that British people eat this? Or do you find it odd that anyone would?

Like, chip butties. I had never come across this concept before moving here, but zomg they're wonderful!

(Basically a white bread sandwich/bread bun with chips. English chips, not french fries.)

So if there's anything that actually strikes you as odd and unknown (like, I presume everyone knows that British people love beans on toast), you are more than welcome to tell me so! :)

Also, I get to use the mood for 'curious' which is rare!

Comments

[promethia_tenk]

I was ready to tell you 'no everybody knows about that, whatever.'

Except, yes, actually, quite a lot about that is quite weird. I note especially the general theme of putting carbs on top of carbs.

I don't know what they're on about with cheese and crackers being weird, though. Surely everybody does cheese and crackers? Americans certainly do.

Every time I hear about brown sauce I think about the first clip here: https://youtu.be/sdAwrMRhGGQ

[elisi]

I note especially the general theme of putting carbs on top of carbs.
This is probably why we're catching up with the Americans when it comes to being overweight. Although chip butties are wonderful.

I don't know what they're on about with cheese and crackers being weird, though. Surely everybody does cheese and crackers? Americans certainly do.
That was one of the things that threw me. Don't most people have cheese & crackers?

Every time I hear about brown sauce I think about the first clip here
Made 'of Brown' sounds about right, yes.

[yourlibrarian]

Are they weird? Ok, I'll bite ;)

Well, I have to say beans on toast has always been baffling to me. For starters this sounds messy, as in how do the beans stay on the bread? Second, beans with rice, sure, they intermix well. We also eat beans with pasta regularly, though with angel hair not larger kinds. Beans and potatoes I'd also say don't really mix. So yes, it's a very odd combination I can only assume came about because it's a form of cheap food that's filling and, thanks to the beans, nutritious.

I've never tasted Marmite, so I can't say.

Wait, what? Spaghetti on toast? Frankly, that sounds like the sort of meal a kid who can't cook comes up with out of leftovers from the fridge.

Jelly on ice cream. I don't know as that's any stranger than hot fudge, caramel, or marshmallow. Ditto on sausage rolls, batter, or clotted cream.

Bread and fries? Not as messy as spaghetti and toast but chips are already finger food. And carbs.

Mushy peas? I'm not sure what's added to them besides the mashing but no, not strange.

Chips and gravy I'd also say is no different than what a lot of people do adding either cheese or chili or both. Personally I find the idea of mushy fries revolting since the whole purpose of fried food is for it to be crisp (and hot) but otherwise this is a jelly on ice cream comparison to me.

I don't know why anyone dunks anything they eat in liquids but it does seem particularly odd for something which does not need to be moistened to get it down your throat.

I'm not sure what a Branston pickle is vs any other kind, but pickles and cheese just seems like an incomplete sandwich rather than something strange.

Prawn cocktail crisps -- they've made chips for virtually any flavor these days so I'm not sure how these could even be in the running.

Cheese and crackers? It's so common we even have a shop named that in town. Personally I think crackers go better with really soft cheeses but that's a practical issue rather than a taste one.

Fish fingers in a sandwich seems redundant but there are fish fillet sandwiches and the taste is the same, plus you could add toppings.

We've done virtually everything that can be done with a potato in the U.S. too, though it's usually the fried kind that are served to kids.

Pub food presumably is like bar food here. Bar food tends to be limited in scope and usually goes for the sandwich or fried items, more because it's finger food I'm guessing.

Baked beans and ketchup seems to defeat the purpose of baked beans or is apparently visual acknowledgment that the bean sauce is inadequate.

Our version of brown sauce is generally used for steak or beef products here.

I would think heavily buttered crumpets are a way to get them down your throat. They seem like excellent butter delivery vehicles and terrible as actual bread.

No idea what a Viennetta is. Big breakfasts are uncommon here unless it's on the weekend. People just don't have time -- it's more likely to be a breakfast sandwich and a coffee assuming one eats breakfast at all.

[elisi]

So yes, it's a very odd combination I can only assume came about because it's a form of cheap food that's filling and, thanks to the beans, nutritious.
Pretty much. :)

Wait, what? Spaghetti on toast? Frankly, that sounds like the sort of meal a kid who can't cook comes up with out of leftovers from the fridge.
It is mostly consumed by children & students. Cheap & easy.

Jelly on ice cream.
It's more jelly AND ice cream. No children's birthday party is complete without.

Bread and fries? Not as messy as spaghetti and toast but chips are already finger food. And carbs.
But it's in a sandwich, so much easier to eat. And it tastes gorgeous. Also, it's NOT french fries, but fat, soft British chips. Big difference. :)

I don't know why anyone dunks anything they eat in liquids but it does seem particularly odd for something which does not need to be moistened to get it down your throat.
Same here. And then there are wet soggy crumbs at the bottom of the cup. :(

Prawn cocktail crisps
I guess because they're so ubiquitous? Like, they're not an 'odd' flavour, they're as normal as salt or cheese & onion.

Pub food presumably is like bar food here.
No, pub food is stuff like... baked potatoes or shepherds pie or chili con carne or chicken tikka. Simple everyday meals. No frills. (Unless it's a fancy gastro-pub giving itself airs & graces.)

I would think heavily buttered crumpets are a way to get them down your throat. They seem like excellent butter delivery vehicles and terrible as actual bread.
In case you are thinking that a crumpet is a muffin there is a comment here which explains it. Mind you, I find crumpets somewhat rubbery.

No idea what a Viennetta is.
You poor thing! Here is an ancient advert which gives you an idea.

Big breakfasts are uncommon here unless it's on the weekend.
Oh same here. Although a full English is a great hangover cure. :)

[watervole]

I've seen most of those and enjoyed several, especially as a kid, but I would never (as a true Brit) have anything on my chips but sale and vinegar.

[elisi]

but I would never (as a true Brit) have anything on my chips but sale and vinegar.
Funny thing, isn't it? I don't like vinegar, but where I come from we have salt, vinegar AND Soy sauce.

[kikimay]

I'm screaming for the pasta on the toast. THAT'S NOT HOW YOU EAT SMALL PASTA! NOPEEEEE.

The chips in a bread roll ... isn't that universal street food? I eat this too, when I'm out and it's tasty and practical. It's also a tradition in Sicily to put meat in the bread roll. Not as the American hamburger, more like this --> http://isaac.guidasicilia.it/foto/news/cucina/panino_con_meusa_milza_N.jpg

To each his own, I suppose.

Still, that pasta on the toast. BARBARIC.

[elisi]

Still, that pasta on the toast. BARBARIC.
LOL. It's cheap & cheerful pasta out of a tin, barely worth the name 'pasta', not like something that's been carefully prepared. Hence putting it on toast - you make it marginally more substantial.

(Not that I would ever eat it, but that's because I don't eat pasta out of tins.)

The chips in a bread roll
Yeah, I think that's more of a universal thing, even if other countries don't have proper chips. ;)

[wolfy-writing.livejournal.com]

I think I've heard of most of those, but there are a couple that I find weird. I'm not that big on white-carbs-on-white-carbs, so both the chip butty and the spaghetti hoops on toast make me go urgh. (I also reacted like that in the Philippines, where a lot of people would put spaghetti on rice, or eat it with the standard bread, which was white, square, mass-produced, and sugary.)

[elisi]

so both the chip butty and the spaghetti hoops on toast make me go urgh.
Ah, but the former is delicious. If you're ever in England, you should try it just as an experience. And it's a cheap meal! :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

But why wouldn't you do any of those things? Although I do think chips with your breakfast implies it is brunch!

Here on the small island we don't just put gravy on our chips, but grated cheese as well - it is a standard on all the chip shop price lists 'chips with cheese and gravy'.

[jeymien.livejournal.com]

Well, this is just poutine and not weird at all! ;) Happy Canadian over here...

[kathyh]

Funnily enough, because we had a large lunch, we've just had beans on toast for "tea". My husband didn't add tomato sauce to his but he did add brown sauce! Marmite on toast is my ultimate comfort food. Can't understand why anyone "foreign" would think that strange :)

[elisi]

Simple AND filling. :)

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, some of those (all the toast ones, for starters) are really weird. Others not so much (mushy peas is just British hummus, isn't it?)

As for rice and chips, my grandfather used to demand potatoes on the side anytime he was served rice, but he was born in 1906 and still thought rice and pasta were newfangled foreign food.

Then again (with apologies to kikimay), I come from a nation who have not only created the kebab pizza, but also figured out how to bake a full hamburger meal including french fries and toppings inside a calzone pizza, so maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.

[kikimay]

LOL, this sort of mixes are coming in Italy too, although with less popularity in the South, I guess.

But that would explain why my father was even considered a good cook when he lived in Sweden. That was strange. (He always prides himself of that)

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Well, other than putting cheese on a cracker and butter on a crumpet - Americans would never think of eating any of the rest.

And most Americans have never had a crumpet (you can get them in Canada however).

[wolfy-writing.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think I've ever had a crumpet. I had a scone with some kind of cream (possibly clotted?) on it once, in Fiji. It was nice.

[hobbituk.livejournal.com]

They all looked perfectly reasonable to me..... lol.

[elisi]

Of course! :D

[jeymien.livejournal.com]

Honestly, the chips in the bread sandwich is a bit weird over here in Canada. It was an eccentric thing that my grandfather used to make when I was little.. and when I tell people about it, they're all like, wtf? I have fond memories of that carb loaded lunch ;) I think I have to go through this list now.. As I note, I'm Canadian, family is Scot/Irish background, so that may make a difference 1) Had this plenty of times as a kid. As an adult, not so much. My husband looks at it oddly... 2) Never done the marmite and buttered toast thing. Never even tried Marmite. Not sure how it's weird though. Lots of stuff goes on toast. 3) now while I said lots of stuff goes on toast - tinned pasta doesn't. And yes, it's not real pasta. But sometimes I do want some alphagetti or zoodles with toast.. but not over top. This is weird. 4) how in the world can jelly and ice cream be bad? 5) we don't have take out sausage rolls here. But that looks good. If I lived where there was takeout sausage rolls I'd buy em. 6) Batter is not so much of a thing for me. But weird? Nah. 7) as I said above - I've done this. I liked it. I was a kid, who doesn't like chips in white bread when you're a kid. (as a bonus, I'd put some ketchup in too, maybe that's a north american thing though). It is a bit weird for Canadians though. 8) Not a fan. But it's not weird. Grandma loved it. 9) the mushy peas isn't a thing though. Yes, it's weird ;) 10) fries and gravy weird? GOD NO. ADD SOME CHEESE AND IT'S PERFECT! 11) Curry sauce and potatoes, yes please. 12) people don't dunk cookies in their tea? 13) yeah. pickle and cheese sandwiches are weird. But I know Canadians who eat them too. Not chutney though.. 14) not a thing here. Yes, weird. I think I've seen them though.. specialty stores? 15+16) cheese and crackers, of course (I like to add some garlic sausage too but that may be the Ukrainian influence of Manitoba) - also all flavours of cheese and crackers, boursin is awesome... 17) Common here too. potatoes are part of many curries here.. 18) Nope, never done this one. Yep, fish fingers in a sandwich is weird. 19) YUUMMMMMMM AND YES THIS IS GOOD. Any kind of potato! 20) Yep. Not weird. 21) never really bothered with this. but it doesn't look weird. I kinda wanna try it. 22) HP Sauce. Canadians love their HP Sauce too. Not weird. 23) crumpets are just english muffins. And yes, you put lots of butter on them. We have these every christmas morning with my in laws. It's a thing. My husband will taunt his sister when she can't be there for the morning.. 24) something I see here.. but I don't think it's weird. Sweets are nan's. Yep. 25) I have one of these toasters. Damn right. 26) looks like a good breakfast. Maybe just on the weekend though. That tomato is pretty burnt though.

Muffins....

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I hate to disillusion you but crumpets really aren't English muffins - they are as different to muffins as toasted sliced bread is.

A muffin is a kneaded dough similar to bread dough,* but cooked on a griddle rather than in the oven. Crumpets are made from a batter which is poured into a ring on the griddle. You split a muffin to eat it, but a crumpet has a distinct top with holes in it where the bubbles have risen through the batter and burst before the batter is cooked - this is the top and you put butter on it so that, as it melts, it runs down through the holes and eventually out the bottom and all over the plate if you use enough butter :)

*I am embarrassed to see that the BBC now use the American term 'English muffin' for muffins!

[shapinglight]

They all look horrible except the marmite.

[elisi]

Even the crumpets? (Mind you, I don't like crumpets, but people tend to adore them...)

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

I use to eat beans on toast.

At all of them were weird to me.

[elisi]

All of them? Oh dear...

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

Pasta on toast? That's new to me...

[elisi]

It's not pasta. (Well, it comes out of a tin...)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Hee!! A lot of this I was aware of. There were a few surprises - and a few that are rather universal, to be honest!

*HUGS*

[elisi]

See after living here for 20 years they all seem normal to me...

[poniesandphotos.livejournal.com]

I have never heard of a Chip Butty before. But now I desperately want one. Like...I feel like I've found my calling. And it is to eat Chip Butty.

[elisi]

It is a gorgeous, gorgeous thing. Get a potato or two, cut them into long rectangles (approx. the size of your finger, or fatter), fry in oil, put into white bread [bun]. Add salt, vinegar, ketchup etc as you like. :)

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

My Asian self will lie awake tonight over this article. Lowkey reconsidering my move there later this year. (Jk jk...)

[elisi]

You'll be most welcome! (Although the political landscape might put you off...)

[geekslave.livejournal.com]

I thought I knew a lot about British people, but most of this I wasn't aware of and some - like ketchup on baked beans (blech!) I'm glad of that. ;)

I only knew about the brown sauce thing because of the movie Intermission.

The loads of butter on crumpets is basically how I used to eat English muffins.

Stacey

[elisi]

but most of this I wasn't aware of
That's why I thought it was an interesting list. Everyone has heard of an English Breakfast, but some of the odder things are not advertised. ;)

I only knew about the brown sauce thing because of the movie Intermission.
What do other people use HP sauce FOR? Or do they not have it at all?

The loads of butter on crumpets is basically how I used to eat English muffins.
I think there is a thread above re. the differences between crumpets & muffins...

[thedothatgirl.livejournal.com]

A Brit here, so many of the toast based snacks shown are for kids or as light/ cheap meals.

I don't know anyone who eats hoops on toast anymore. It's not pasta - it's slop from a tin.

The holes in crumpets are made for the butter. Jelly & Ice cream is a kids party staple.

Don't be fooled into thinking we live on just this sort of food. British food is amongst the most varied and interesting in the world, I've eaten better here than in the US for sure.

[thedothatgirl.livejournal.com]

Oh and if your clotted cream for the scone is fuzzy on top then it's off. It will have a layer of buttery substance but that's just the fat. Your arteries harden by simply looking at it.

[double_dutchess]

A lot of these seem perfectly normal to me, like marmite, sausage rolls, chips with gravy or curry sauce, cheese on crackers, viennetta, square toasties, pork scratchings (yum!) and other pub snacks. But beans or canned spaghetti on toast? Yuck!! The jelly with ice cream doesn't really appeal to me either. Chip buttie is new to me, but it's something I could see myself eating.

[elisi]

But beans or canned spaghetti on toast? Yuck!!
It's cheap & easy. And people seem to like it! (Although the spaghetti hoops is mostly a children's food.)

The jelly with ice cream doesn't really appeal to me either.
It is THE children's birthday party dessert. Almost as important as a cake with candles.

Chip buttie is new to me, but it's something I could see myself eating.
And it is delicious!

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I do about two of those things (tomato is in bloody everything!!!).

[elisi]

Yeah, my own habits only encompass a fraction. But it's a good list. (And yes, tomatoes in everything...)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I was unaware of the sausage rolls and I only know about English breakfasts because I went to the UK with my folks. I LOVE ENGLISH BREAKFASTS! I wish you could get something like them in US restaurants. The beans and ham and tomatoes....yummmmmmm

[elisi]

I was unaware of the sausage rolls
I am trying to imagine a world without sausage rolls. Not that I like them particularly, but they're such a staple...

I LOVE ENGLISH BREAKFASTS!
QUITE RIGHT TOO!