An example of ny exquisite artwork

Yesterday I wanted to give a short talk about the British Breakfast, which i have given you here:

Breakfast is the first meal of the day. The word is a compound of “break” and “fast,” referring to the conclusion of fasting since the previous day’s last meal, hence “breaking the fast”. Nutritional experts have referred to breakfast as the most important meal of the day. This is based on studies of the large numbers of people in the West who skip breakfast, to adverse effect on their concentration, metabolism and weight.

In Medieval Europe, for instance, the basic format of meals differed from what is currently ‘standard’, in that only two meals were to be had – a heavy dinner at noon and a light supper, largely due to the influence of the Church. However, exceptions existed, most notably for children and the infirm. They were allowed a small breakfast meal, and many labourers, farmers, and other physical workers also took the meal despite criticism and social pressure on them not to, and by the 15th century even the nobility had begun to ignore the rules and mores of polite society and took breakfast. Lately it has become a health risk, been squeezed together to make into a wacky morning TV programme and become a news headline when a story broke about how the EU were making an attempt to ban the greasy spoon cafes.

Full breakfast

A full breakfast is a traditional cooked meal, typically and originally eaten at breakfast, though now often served all day. Usually labelled the fry-up or bacon and eggs. The full breakfast traditionally comprises of  fried foods, usually bacon and eggs, and is popular throughout the British Isles and other parts of the English-speaking world. The name “Bacon and eggs” was popularised by Edward Bernays in the 1920s. To promote sales of bacon, he conducted a survey of physicians and reported their recommendations that people eat hearty breakfasts. He sent the results of the survey to 5,000 physicians, along with the first ‘media hype’ touting bacon and eggs as a hearty breakfast. Various parts of the United Kingdom have their own variants of the full breakfast, including the full English breakfast, full Scottish breakfast and the Ulster fry.

The normal ingredients of a traditional full English breakfast are back or streaky bacon, eggs, fried or grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread or toast and sausages and baked beans are a common modern addition. When an English breakfast is ordered it is commonly referred to as a Full English, or a Full Monty. This is usually served with a mug of steamy tea.Which leads me smoothly onto Builder’s tea, which is the nickname for a mug of strong English Breakfast tea, served with milk and, often more than one sugar. Called this because it has the reputation of being the favourite drink of construction workers when taking a break. Back in 1916, the ministry of Munitions’ health committee wrote in a publication called ‘Hours of Work’, ‘an opportunity for tea is regarded as beneficial both to health and output’.This still holds true today and not just for builders. This style of tea is a mainstay of the office tea break, with many executives enjoying its refreshing qualities. Builder’s tea is typically robust and flavourful with a bracing character and a muddy brown  colour. It’s usually brewed from own-label supermarket brands but alternatives are available. The main drink in British greasy spoons is usually Builders tea.

So the Greasy spoon, a colloquial or slang term used in Britain for small, especially cheap, archetypal working class restaurants. This respite for the British man became synonymous with the working classes. Like the pub it provided them with a warm dry atmosphere and a cup of cha, or tea. The name “greasy spoon” is used to imply a less-than-rigorous approach to hygiene and dishwashing, and appears in use in the early 20th century. In the UK, greasy spoons are colloquially referred to as a “caff”. The typical caff serves mainly fried or grilled food, such as fried eggs, bacon, black pudding, bubble and squeak, burgers, bangers, mushrooms and chips. These are often accompanied by baked beans, cooked tomates and fried bread. They are celebrated for their delectable bacon, sausage or chip butties, but cold sandwiches are also available.

The roadside caff or little chef (made famous again by chef Heston Bluthemthal) was the stronghold of British truck drivers who traveled the major trunk roads such as the A1 and the A6 prior to the opening of the motorways. These cafes were not only stops where the driver could eat, but also made convenient meeting places where the trade unionist like Arthur Scargill and more recently John Cruddas could talk to their members. These unlikely arenas were seen as places to bring people into the fold of social change and highlight the imposition of government on their lives.

me getting wet trying to cook breakfast.

But with all this talk about greasy foods you might want to fully understand the health benefits according to doctors in the states. Eating breakfast is the secret to staying healthy. They believe skipping the first meal of the day increases the chances of becoming obese, developing diabetes or even having a heart attack. Dr Mark Pereira and colleagues at Harvard Medical School analysed the eating habits of 1,198 black people and 1,633 white participants. Overall, 47% of whites and 22% of blacks said they ate breakfast every morning. They suggest people who eat breakfast are less likely to be hungry during the rest of the day and are, therefore, less likely to overeat. But to be honest scientist are always contradicting each other. Hospitals are full of nonagenarian coffin-dodgers who wear tents for t-shirts, drive a truck and for their entire lives have been packing away the Full English, the Full Scottish, the Ulster Fry and whatever they call it in Wales, and still have nothing more wrong with them. Maybe just social eating keeps them alive.

I admit a fried breakfast is not going to be the healthiest. But I also want you to consider the social implications of you got rid of the fry up. Number one you would have to find something else to complain about. Number two what other excuse do you have to get together (either at home or at a caff) of a Sunday morning, sip your tea, groan about the price of fags, complain about your hangover, or just discuss current affairs near or far.

I wish you to consider every morning as you sit down to your cornflakes and coffee the plight of the great British Breakfast. Yes, saturated in fat, it still rolls on. And even if your stomach cannot commit to the cholesterol. Think maybe, about your meal and the way that you eat it. If the breakfast that you eat is going to kill you eventually then it might as well be eaten around interesting company. Why shovel it down in front of the TV, whilst waiting for the weather report? I believe that every meal should be a social gathering, even if it is functional, business like, conditioned, revolutionary or otherwise. Sit down with family or friends and talk about your expectations for the rest of the day.