Traditional English breakfast--need advice

[Tuckervill]

Okay, so I'm putting on a Regional Baseball Tournament. It's a Really Big Deal for our little town. We have to do all this hospitality, like a banquet and a Commissioner's Breakfast for the coaches and officials (about 50 people).

There is a new couple in town who moved here from the UK to open a business--portrait studio. There is an old Victorian property downtown that they moved into, and the space was previously used for events, weddings, etc. So they're putting their studio in there, making the rest of it a proper English tea room. (I am thrilled with this idea in general.) Since my baseball league did business with the studio (they did our team pictures), I've become friendly with them. Her tea room opens up this month, and they have offered to do my breakfast for the tournament in August (did I say, for free?).

The only problem is she is offering a traditional English breakfast, which she says includes:

Toast, cereal (serve yourself)
Bangers, bacon, an egg, toast topped with beans and tomAHtoes :) , sauteed mushrooms, and....

black pudding. :P

I'm cool with the bangers (although I am going to taste them first), eggs, toast, bacon, tomatoes, toast, mushrooms. But, I'm considering my guests. All from the Southwest Region (NM, TX, LA, AR, OK, MS). Many will be Hispanic or Native American. None will be English. :D:D

When I asked what type of beans she said the closest she found here were Showboat pork and beans. What I want to know is if there is a typical recipe for the English version that cooks over there make often, and can I get it so I can try it?

I think she might be planning on using Showboat--but that would be considered low class around here. If we changed them to pintos, everyone would be happy. But if I tasted what she's actually talking about, they might actually be acceptable.

Black pudding....I suggested she make half of what she would make for a group this size, because much of it would go uneaten. I think I know many men who would like it after they get past what it is. I'm not sure this is the right situation to introduce them to it! :)

I come humbly before the largest group of British folks I know. Your input is greatly appreciated. :)

Karen

[Eden]

I'm not a Brit, but I fondly remember B&B breakfasts there when we hiked the Dales way... we never had to eat lunch.....

Bangers are just pork sausage links. We had everything from good to knock your socks off when we were there. We could swear that at one place the pigs must have been trotting around the night before - OMG, I'm not generally a big fan of pork or sausage, but these were exceptional.

The beans were usually very much like pork and beans, generally minus the pork. The sauce was generally a bit sweet, tomatoey and bland. The beans used were small white beans. I'm not sure how pintos would sit with the Brits. I get the feeling that few people actually make their own beans for breakfast. Canned ones are so common and inexpensive and making them would be quite time consuming.

We were never offered black pudding, though I think someone may have had kippers out....

[shootingstar]

Am I qualified to have an opinion? ;)

Lovely of her to offer a free breakfast if one reads it right.
Breakfast looks yummy to the team. Maybe someone has to bring a small bottle of red hot/chili sauce. :)

As for blood pudding, would her feelings be hurt if she didn't serve it at all? Or less than 1/2 of amount made for whole group. Otherwise it might be wasted.

[Trekhawk]

I think the beans you are talking about are called Baked Beans. Aussies like them too. When I lived in the States I could find Heinz Baked Beans at Raleys Supermarkets but I am guessing a lot of other supermarkets in the States sell them too.

Good luck with your breakfast.:)

[Owlie]

Yep, it's Heinz baked beans. And I echo everyone else's thoughts on the black pudding.

[ny biker]

Baked beans in England...

http://voxford.blogspot.com/2007/11/all-lost-in-supermarket.html

[Tuckervill]

Yeah, ya know, right after I posted, I googled, and Wikipedia actually had a picture of exactly what she described!

So bangers aren't that much different than regular old pork sausage? I think we'll go with that...but she did say that 16 of them are $9. I was really surprised she could even get them, but they are nearby at the "real" butcher shop in the city. She said they make them there, and that they are as good as she's ever had in the UK. But expensive, so if they're not that different, I say serve something cheaper! :)

Yes, free, but not exactly. She did our team pictures and for that we charge a vendor fee of 10% of her profit. Instead of writing me a check, she'll have the breakfast.

I think all the guys would find it unique but not inedible--except for the black pudding. I just can't get past that personally, I guess, but I don't see the harm in offering it. I think I will publish the menu in advance so they can be prepared.

Still can't wait to hear from the UKers. :)

Karen

[Bruno28]

You could substitute haggis for black pudding :D But then it's a full Scottish.


Oh, and don't serve cheap pork sausages unless you want to be eating bits of pig face. I kid you not, I saw this on tv just last night.

Yes, yes, I know- this from a woman who eats sheep's intestines......

You are definitely on the right track with everything else. A recent trend over here is the insidious inclusion of hash browns. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Yum, yum.....

9544

[tantrumbean]

You definitely need baked beans, any brand will do - nobody makes them, they just come in tins. Also, you might want to consider fried bread! And hash browns are great with a full breakfast!!!

[Duck on Wheels]

Black pudding is delicious! Here in Norway one might eat it with a sprinkle of sugar, or a trickle of molasses on it, or (best of all!) a dollop of fresh-made sugar-stirred lingonberries :p:p:p It's great for dinner with bacon, lingonberries, potatoes, and lightly steamed early summer cabbage. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. But yeah, some people won't want to even try it, so do advise her to make just a small quantity. Personally, I tend to request "no beans, please" when having breakfast in Britain. If I'm offered an extra slice of black pudding instead that's cause for an extra tip :)

[papaver]

We eat blackpudding with apple sauce, mashed potatoes and some mustard... hmmmmm

[sfa]

I'm just off a week in Ireland, eating that breakfast (minus the beans--they seem to be more of an English thing) every morning. I had never had black pudding before and was a bit nervous about it, but it was good stuff! I suspect most people, if they aren't told what it is, will just try it and think it's just a version of sausage. If they DO know what it is, some may be unwilling to try it, but many will just figure that if they eat meat, it's really not significantly different, so they may be willing to try it. And others will be happy to try it knowing what it is since it's new and different.

I agree to keep the amounts down since it may go uneaten, but some people may turn out to be like us--DH and I are wondering where we can find it in the US so we can get some from time to time.

Sarah

[Tuckervill]

That plate looks delicious! But not the black pudding (my personal preference).

That other meat that's not sausage looks like country ham to me. Is that what the Brits consider bacon? Not that it matters. I'd eat it.

She IS suggesting fried bread or toast. I like the idea of fried bread. I think the guys would like it.

The beans would be good. I'm thinking the equivalent here would be Bush's baked beans, not pork and beans, you know? Is that closer?

She said she would serve the beans on the bread, but I like it on the side better. Gives folks more options. Although, there will be more toast on the table, too.

The more I learn, the more I think it will be just fine! Do you usually order the eggs the way you like them? We might have to just serve scrambled or something--plating 50 fried eggs...I don't know.

Karen

[Eden]

I think at all the B&B's we were at the eggs were default scrambled - but I'm guessing that is for the convenience of the host, who already has a job in front of them preparing all that breakfast!

[NbyNW]

I also have fond memories of many such breakfasts, while hiking from one B&B to the next in Scotland . . .

DH is from New England and complains that the British baked beans are too tomato-ey and don't have molasses . . . I guess it's just a matter of style.

IMHO, why try to south-westernize it? I say let the generous donor offer up something that is authentic to her background and of which she is proud. Perhaps a little card on the tables explaining what is on the plate, and play up the novelty as to why it looks different from what they would get at any other local restaurant. If none of these people have had the opportunity to travel to the UK, it might be a first step towards broadening their horizons.

More important is that she's able to get bacon the way it's sliced and cured in the UK vs. here.

Anyway, baked beans and blood pudding are hardly the center-pieces of the meal. The amount of beans and pudding you get make them more like condiments. Kinda sorta.

[Tuckervill]

Well, I have to admit I am a little taken aback by pork n beans. That's low class to me, but it might not be to others. But you did clear up something, when you said, "no molasses". I'm guessing she likes the pork and beans better because they are not as sweet as baked beans here.

The card on the table is a GREAT idea. The bacon like in the picture will be fine. I was thinking "streaky bacon" which I never heard called that until I read Wikipedia. :)

I think it will be fabulous. Thanks,

Karen

[Bruno28]

To sum up -

Eggs - Traditionally they are served fried 'sunny side up'. But can be scrambled or poached.

Bacon - generally what we call 'best back bacon' (which refers to the cut) and personally I prefer it unsmoked (just in case you were thinking of inviting me :rolleyes:)

Suasages - good quality pork sausages (see reference in earlier post)

Black pudding - a key component of the meal (tsk, tsk, jocelynlf)

Beans - always Heinz baked beans.

Fried bread is an alternative to toast for those who feel their cholesterol levels may be a bit on the low side. In Scotland a fried potato scone is another option.

All washed down with tea and orange juice. English breakfast tea is the preferred blend (the clue is in the name:D)

BTW over here this breakfast is known as a heart attack on a plate.

Hope it all goes well!

I should let you know that in the UK a strange yellow ball has appeared in the sky. Everyone in the UK has gone outside to look and wonder at this strange phenomenon, which appears to radiate heat. They may be gone sometime. Probably explains the lack of other uk responses.

[papaver]

I should let you know that in the UK a strange yellow ball has appeared in the sky. Everyone in the UK has gone outside to look and wonder at this strange phenomenon, which appears to radiate heat. They may be gone sometime. Probably explains the lack of other uk responses.

That's funny we can see it from here too. I wonder what it is. :D:D:D

[Bron]

Bruno has it spot on!

We always use Heinz beans too, they are really the only ones.

I also like mushrooms, but they are not essential.

The tea needs to be properly strong, served with milk and in a mug - fine china does not go with this sort of breakfast!

[Bruno28]

Oooops! I missed out the fried tomato.

[Tuckervill]

Fresh tomatoes, since they will be falling out of everywhere at that time of year. :)

I drink English breakfast tea every morning. I'm sure the guys will want coffee, but I'll be looking for tea.

She wants to do mushrooms. She's highly disappointed that everyone uses canned mushrooms, here. I don't know where she's been eating, so I don't know if that's true. I never use canned ones, except in a casserole or something. I love mushrooms, so I'm going to encourage her in that vein! :)

Thanks,
Karen

[NbyNW]

Bruno -- no disrespect meant to the blood pudding! Just that when I've had it, the portion has been a few small bites, so for those who consider it an exotic item, they can try it or leave it without guilt.

Personally, I think it's quite tasty.