The Anatomy of an English Breakfast

Experiencing a full English breakfast is essential.  Touted as a hangover cure from last night’s pub crawl, the full English breakfast, also known as a “fry-up”, consists of a combination of the following: fried eggs, bacon, sausage or black pudding, baked beans, toast or fried bread, grilled or fried tomatoes and mushrooms, possibly a potato cake and of course, a mug of hot tea. Ready for an afternoon nap yet?

If 3,000+ calories isn’t your idea of a good start in the morning, go for the other British breakfast staples.  A bacon butty is simply back bacon, which is really more like ham, on a bun just more fun to say. Then there are traditional pancakes & thinner crêpe like pancakes; however, usually served with sugar and lemon juice or the quintessential English scone with jam and clotted cream. And every kid’s morning favorite are eggs & soldiers, translation:  a soft boiled egg and toast cut up into strips to dip into the yolk. Should there be a vegetarian still reading at this point, I promise meat and dairy free options are equally available.

Now finding a full English is the simple part, nearly every hotel, pub and cafe  in the country serves it up the old fashioned way or nouveau style. Check out E. Pellicci in Bethnal Green for true caff culture and a working man’s fry up, the way it is intended.  The Wolseley on Piccadilly does a glammed up version complete with a glass of champagne or for lake view, family dining try Inn the Park in St. James’s Park near Buckingham Palace. Foodies will dig the early morning view over Borough Market at Roast and the Fox and Anchor near the Smithfield Market is just one perfect traditional pub. Anyway you fancy, the Brits do breakfast well as my waistline can attest.

(photo courtesy of Kai Hendry)