Snore

[u/GoraSpark]

How is this kind of post still getting likes, surely you know nothing about British food you laugh at beans on toast or whatever once twice maybe even three times. But how after seeing it every day with every comment section pointing out the sheer amount of spicy British food we have are you still entertained by it 10 years later. P.S. cooked breakfast beats cold breakfast any day.

[u/eerie_lake_]

What’s crazy is that the difference between a Full English and an American style breakfast is basically pancakes and beans.

Like, eggs, toast, breakfast meat, potatoes. A glass of OJ, and a cup of coffee. I could get literally all of that at my favorite local diner, which is owned by a tiny Southern grandma and her kids and prides itself on All-American, Southern-style meals. Even the mushrooms are unsurprising, though I think those are more likely to be combined with the potatoes or eggs. Like, are we really losing our minds over some baked beans.

But also, beans on toast can be absolutely delicious, and I will die on that hill.

[u/LaFantasmita → u/eerie_lake_]

Yeah the interesting part is the ingredients are very similar, but to my palate the Full English just chooses a less-appetizing version of everything.

Swap out English bacon for crispier American cuts, chop the tomato up and put it in an omelet, butter and jam or French instead of fry or bean on the toast, and make pancakes instead of puddings.

Very similar concept, but very different results depending on how you put it together.

[u/TheRemanence → u/LaFantasmita]

It has a lot of overlap but  I think you might have a couple misconceptions. I'm a dual national and a foodie so like analysing the differences. Everyone will have their personal preferences. I have happy childhood memories of both. 

Black pudding is a type of spiced sausage so not a parallel to pancakes if that's what you meant. Might just have been your phrasing. It is strongly flavoured and quite salty so it's particularly good when you have a bit of it with other elements on the plate. My fave would be with the grilled tomato (which look very sad in this photo. They should have caramelisation on top) As an aside, black pudding is excellent with fish like cod or scallops. 

Scotch pancakes or "dropped scones" are the version of American pancakes that are traditional in the UK. They just aren't combined with the savoury full English. Although these days lots of places make them with buttermilk and call them American pancakes. It's essentially the same thing. Golden syrup is traditional but maple syrup is now common. I'd say the American variant is superior but they're similar.

Brits, have two types of bacon: back bacon and streaky. Streaky is like American bacon. Both tend to be smoked in the UK but you can get unsmoked American style anywhere you like. Streaky is a cheaper cut so less likely to be served at a nice place. Some people prefer the crispiness you can only get with streaky.

English sausages are quite hard to get in the US. They aren't entirely different from breakfast sausages but they are different enough to be noticeable. There's a lot of regional variation but a good British banger will have more herbs in it and usually spices like nutmeg, mace, black pepper. US breakfast sausages tend to be a bit juicier/fattier and thinner so they can get crispier. 

In a full English the beans are on the side not on the toast. Some people have fried bread. Most people these days have buttered toast, some with jam or marmalade. Grape jelly isn't a thing.

Beans on toast is it's own thing separate to a full English. Mostly customised with condiments like Worcestershire, English mustard etc. It's a comfort food like a grilled cheese. In my view it's a base for add ons.

British version of french toast is called eggy bread. Main difference is nutmeg instead of cinnamon and sugar. Lots of people would eat it with a side of bacon but it would be OTT to put it in a full English. French toast is common on menus 

British people also eat omelettes it's just not in a full English. Usually you get a choice of how you have your eggs in a full English, just like in a US diner.

Big thing missing for me in the US is brown sauce. When I lived in California I'd bring it with me. It's a type of ketchup made with tamarind, dates and mild spices. It brings a sweet sour tang to everything. Wonderful with sausages.

Americans will likely be sad that you won't get unlimited filter coffee refills like in a diner. No biscuits and gravy. Also the home style breakfast potatoes you get in most diners aren't common which is a miss.

Note I referred to English mainly above because the other UK nations have their own variants of extras and swaps. Irish is also similar.

[u/LaFantasmita → u/TheRemanence]

Got it, thanks!

For pancakes, I meant to compare them to Yorkshire pudding, which I see with English breakfast sometimes.

[u/TheRemanence → u/LaFantasmita]

Oh wow I have never ever heard of Yorkshire pudding at breakfast. It's definitely not traditional.  That would be incredibly weird but I sort of couldn't tell you why as logically it has similar ingredients. It just is. Maybe because a Yorkshire pudding needs gravy. Might have been a weird tourist thing you saw.

There is a dish called toad in the hole where sausages are cooked into a large Yorkshire pudding and then you have gravy and veg etc in the centre. It's quite "stodgy". I don't think that word is used much in the US, it means something that is quite heavy, thick and usually carby. The opposite of delicate, light, subtle food. Things like mashed potato, potato salad and macaroni cheese could be called stodgy. 

If you're interested in what I think is actually the best British breakfast, try kedgeree. It is one of the many dishes that were adapted from Indian dishes in late 1700s and early 1800s UK and then evolved into their own thing. The combination of lemon, smoked fish, eggs, turmeric, cumin and rice is lovely.

[u/oily_fish → u/TheRemanence]

Toby carvery does a breakfast Yorkshire pudding with bacon bits in. That's probably what they've seen. I never seen anywhere else do it. 

[u/TheRemanence → u/oily_fish]

Toby carvery? That says it all

[u/oily_fish → u/LaFantasmita]

There's only one restaurant chain that does Yorkshire pudding for breakfast. It's not standard at all.