My First Encounter with English Bacon

So, I’ve heard mixed reviews about English bacon but have never had the opportunity to find out for myself. That is until I decided to stop in for a few drinks and a bite to eat at Black Horse Pub. This place is filled, but not packed, with crazy Brits screaming at the big screen above the bar during some football match. They serve a full English Breakfast here but seeing as how it was well past lunch time I opted for English bacon on a roll. (Please excuse my crappy photo as my real camera is broken and my phone doesn't take the best pics.) I honestly didn't think I’d love it—considering how much I adore good old American thin, crispy, streaky bacon—but I was actually quite pleased. It's much thicker, a bit sweeter, and served simply on a buttered, toasted roll. It's basically just meat & bread... but I have to say, it’s one of my new favorite sandwiches!

Earlier this week I found out that a good friend will be moving to London in a few months. This of course devastated me as she is someone who would go to great lengths to help me discover new places to eat pigs in a blanket (what I am I going to do without you??). But now that I know English bacon is so dope, the news is now rather exciting and I can’t wait to go visit (so please hurry up and move already)!

Dear British Children, This is Bacon:

According to a survey done in London, British schoolchildren don’t know that bacon comes from pigs! Have they not been exposed to Jamie Oliver’s bacon saving campaign? Did he not spend plenty of time in school cafeterias? Surely he must have taught those kids that bacon does not come from this:

Apparently 26% of kids thought that bacon comes from sheep! (Yes, I know this is only a lamb, but she was just so gosh darn cute that I had to post her.) That percentage is way too high if you ask me. And kind of scary! I cringe at the thought of what a survey here in the US would find...

Bad Bacon Behavior

Above is the typical “999 breakfast” for the Metropolitan Police at London’s Scotland Yards. Chef Hasanali Khoja refused to cook bacon and sausage as it is against his Muslim beliefs. At his hiring, he was assured that no pork handling would be involved in his supervisory position. However, after his refusal to cook the meat, he was told his job was at risk and was also subjected to racist behavior from HR management. 

It’s sad when bacon causes discrimination, violence, and disorderly conduct.

Taste Testing

Due to my pamphagous desire to explore all things bacon, I ventured into the world of bacon flavoured snacks. That’s flavoured with a “u” because these were all acquired by Charlotte on her trip to London. Now that my fingers are stained with the scent of artificial bacon, here are my findings...

I first heard of Walkers Smoky Bacon Flavour Potato Crisps from my friend Khary who claims that they do taste a lot like bacon. The texture is exactly like a Lay’s potato chip and while they do have a meat-tinged flavor to it, I'm not sure I’d call it bacon-y. When you open the bag it almost smells like BBQ flavor—they definitely have a smokey smell and taste.

Smiths Bacon Flavour Fries were actually pretty tasty—probably my favorite of the bunch. They are perfectly salty with a hint of sweet bacon. They even look a bit like bacon...

Wheat Crunchies Crispy Bacon Flavour Crunchy Wheaty Tubes look kind of scary... Resembling something like a dog treat, I expected them to have a fairly meaty flavor. They were indeed crunchy and wheaty (as the name suggests) but the flavor was rather bland and didn't come close to tasting like bacon.

Red Mill Bacon Streaks Cereal Snacks have an interesting texture—kind of light and airy but sort of saturated with oil at the same time. These had the most bacon-like flavor... but I can’t say that I really enjoyed them. 

In conclusion: I prefer the real thing.

Bacon “Flavour”

I thought America could not be beat in it’s bacon-obsession. So why is it that the UK has such a variety of bacon flavored snacks not available here in the states? My friend & fellow pork lover Charlotte recently made a trip to London. She was kind enough to bring me back a plethora of crisps, crunchies and cereal snacks—all with that “extra crunchy bacon taste.” I should mention I was given these snacks with a warning... but I'm not afraid (well, maybe a little). Stay tuned for the results of my bacon snack tasting.

Thanks again to Charlotte for going on a mini-mission to help support my research!

An Honest Bacon Debate

My fellow baconista Charlotte sends me pictures from her favorite Bacon Sandwich spot in London’s Regents Park. The Honest Sausage uses free-range and organic pork from small, family run farms. I think Jamie Oliver would approve! 

Now, some people would say that English-style bacon isn't bacon at all. Charlotte assures me it’s delicious (these bacon sandwiches have been known to cause quite a fuss) whereas I♥Bacon tells me “it’s just salty ham.” Anyone care to weigh in? And please tell me where in NY I can try some for myself.