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.

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/...permarket.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