Tag: Lillie Langtry

Sticky Toffee Pudding

What is one dessert that you can associate with England? What dessert is found at many restaurants and pubs in England year round? One could say the answer to both of these questions is Sticky Toffee Pudding.

This is the Sticky Toffee Pudding they serve at the Cock and Bull, a British pub on 45th Street in New York City. This dessert includes chunks of hard almond toffee brittle on the side and a light cream on top. Although I love all the ones I tried in this post and my friends loved all the ones they tried, this is my personal favorite.
History

Although this dessert is associated with England it actually had its roots in Canada. The story behind it is during World War II two Canadian Air Force officers passed a recipe for sticky toffee pudding to a hotelier in Lancashire. The recipe was tweaked and the rest is history. It caught on in England and became popular. Many restaurants and pubs carry it.

This is from the Hole in the Wall pub in York, England.

It is a very rich, delicious dessert. Many people list this as their favorite. A few of my friends said they wanted to tour England and try the sticky toffee pudding at various pubs and restaurants along the way. They would call their tour the Sticky Toffee Pudding Tour.

This is from The Shakespeare, a high end pub on 39th Street in Manhattan, NYC. It came with ice cream.
Ingredients

What is it made of? It usually consists of date sponge cake drizzled in toffee sauce. Some people enjoy it with cream, while others enjoy it with ice cream. Some restaurants and pubs give you the option of accompanying it with cream, ice cream or whipped cream. It is rich and delicious.

Sticky Toffee Pudding at the Lillie Langtry in London

There are other options if you plan to make this at home. There are recipes for gluten-free versions online through different culinary websites. There are also websites carrying vegan recipes for this dessert.

This is the Sticky Toffee Pudding at the White Horse in Oxford, England. This was a personal favorite of a friend who joined me on my trip to Great Britain.

This is so popular that British pubs in the United States often have it as a regular item on their menus. The Shakespeare and the Cock and the Bull in Manhattan include it on their menu. Look up a recipe online or stop in to a British pub or restaurant. You will be happy you did.

Eton Mess

What is a traditional British dessert that is popular during summer? Which dessert includes those luscious British strawberries? It is my favorite dessert Eton Mess.

Every establishment may vary it slightly. This is the Eton Mess made by Lillie Langtry on Lillie Road in London.

This dessert originated at Eton College. It was traditionally served at Eton’s annual cricket match against the students at Harrow School.

What are the ingredients? It has traditionally included strawberries, hard meringue, and double cream. Why is mess a part of its name? It is because all the ingredients bare mixed together in a big mess. The hard meringues will soften as they sit.

How can you make a healthier version? If you are making it at home you can replace half the cream with plain greek yogurt. To mix it up further you can even substitute other berries.

Eton Mess one evening on the patio at Pedn Olva in St. Ives, Cornwall.

This dessert is gluten-free and vegetarian. Hard meringues are usually made with egg whites and sugar. In the U.K. hard meringues are readily obtainable at different food stores such as Whole Foods and Sainsburys. When dining out always make sure the chef did not add in additional ingredients if you have food sensitivities.

Eton Mess at the White Horse in Oxford, England

I am partial to British strawberries. I think they are the best. Eton Mess is my favorite English summer time treat. If you fancy strawberries, you may want to order Eton Mess. It is delicious!

Sunday Roast

When most people think of traditional British food the first thing that comes to mind is Fish and Chips. Fish and Chips is the most loved food, but what comes in second? The next most loved food in England is the Sunday Roast.

What is a Sunday Roast? It is a traditional main meal served on Sunday in pubs and restaurants. It usually consists of a roast meat, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and roasted vegetables. Usually you have a choice roasted meat that could include beef, chicken, or lamb.

This is Sunday Roast at Lillie Langtry on Lillie Road in London. I choose roasted chicken. It came with roasted potatoes, roasted caramelized carrots, green beans, and Yorkshire pudding.
History

The tradition of the Sunday Roast seems to have started in the 1800s. During that time many average families did not have a large fireplace in their residence. They also may not have had enough money to cook a large amount of food. As a result, what they could afford to buy was dropped off at the bakers on the way to church. Bakers had ovens that could handle the job. It is thought that this is when most started following the tradition of the Sunday Roast.

If you want to enjoy this meal, check to see ahead of time which pubs or restaurants are serving it. You may need to make reservations in advance. It is a very delicious tradition to enjoy.

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