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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What is it about British holiday makers and full breakfast?

425 replies

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 23/11/2019 17:58

The other day I was wathing randomly Four in a Bed. The hosting B&B had an amazing (for me) choice of breakfast foods- loads of nice cereal, yoghurts, fresh fruit, cold meats, cheeses, freshly baked bread, most locally picked/made, seasonal whenever possible. Every couple on the show complained that there was no cooked breakfast option and rated the B&B really low on the breakfast front because they didn't get to have their fry-up.
Another time I watched snippets of a programme showing people to travelling around France, again all complaining that they don't get to have their bacon and beans, but were offered French breakfast instead. There was a time when I worked in a hotel abroad over the summer and likewise saw plenty of British tourists who would refuse to have breakfast if they didnt get their fried eggs and would moan there was no bacon or fried beans. Now mind you, I love eggs for breakfast, but I also ate plenty of other stuff that are available.

Asking here as I am a foreigner and back home we are not really religious about our breakfasts- sometimes we have cooked breakfast, sometimes a sandwich, sometimes cereal, and I have never in my life met a fellow countryman who would complain as much about not having specific foods on offer, especially when abroad. And out of all the British people I know, very, very few actually have a fry up for breakfast, not mentoning having it every day. I didn't get that vibe to from tourists from other countries, not the same extent at least.

I know that while abroad or generally on holiday you sometimes want to eat something familiar, but don't really understand why people are so upset to not have the food they don't even eat at home every day offered while away every day?

OP posts:
HUZZAH212 · 24/11/2019 09:04

So what is your country of origin OP? Because you've ignored the question repeatedly when asked on the thread you chose to post as a self proclaimed 'foreigner', regarding your 'curiosity' about views on an 'English' breakfast? It's hardly 'outing', but I'd say pretty relevant if you want to compare your own insights. Why aren't you prepared to tell us? Is it because you feel your 'observations' (stereotypical comment), may all fall apart? 🙄

HUZZAH212 · 24/11/2019 09:13

@longwayoff OP hasn't commited any offence of being a 'foreigner'. OP made a pretty scathing post regarding 'why are British folk, such sticklers (ignorant/borderline hostile) apoarently about complaining and insisting on getting bacon and eggs for breakfast? Apparently due to OPs extensive research on this from watching 5mins of' Four in a bed', some random French travel show, and working 'abroad' in a hotel for a season. I'm still rather unclear where exactly 'abroad' consists of exactly? As the world is quite extensive to my potentially limited knowledge 🙄

Paperdolly · 24/11/2019 09:36

“Tell us where you're from and we can find something about your culture to slag off.”, Ponoko 😂

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 24/11/2019 09:40

@HUZZAH212 I thnk you seriously need to take a chill pill, camomile tea may be of some help.
None of what you said I said actually was written. I explained it, you seem still not to get it. The original question, to spell it out for you, was, why are (some) British people so attached to a particular idea of a breakfast. Not asking about French or Italian people since it's a UK based forum. A lot of people managed to explain without being vile or misinterpreting my words.
Lets say I'm from France. Or Sweden. Or Germany. Or Italy. Or India. Or Russia. Or Spain. Feel free to make comments on any of the above :)

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 24/11/2019 09:43

but asking why is it a big deal if a place in the UK or abroad died not offer one, knowing that people eat a variety of foods for their breakfast daily and not necessarily a fry up.
Overseas it's not that big a deal, but people would probably expect it in larger hotels that cater to the British holiday market.

In the UK, it's a bit of an own goal to not serve a full English breakfast given its something that people enjoy but don't have often, and it's in the country traditionally associated with it.

Of course people eat different things for breakfast, but the point is people treat themselves on holiday.

Userzzzzz · 24/11/2019 09:45

In this country, if we’re staying for the odd night or mini break I want a massive ott breakfast. Abroad, especially when it’s hot, I couldn’t do it for a week.

Theimpossiblegirl · 24/11/2019 09:45

I'd like the option of a cooked breakfast if in the UK, it's traditional and a treat, but would never expect it or seek it out abroad.

MonaLisaDoesntSmile · 24/11/2019 09:45

@croprotationinthe13thcentury While I actually quite like a good fry up, not sure I would say it's one of the best breakfast in the world. I suppose it's subjective, and the way we were brought up?
Would not agee that rst of Europe lacks identity in this matter, as some countries have their own special breakfast meals, but agree with what some people said in the thread- breakfast is not a meal to which people attach as much attention as to lunch or dinner, maybe that's why they fuss less over it than people in the UK?

OP posts:
LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 24/11/2019 09:46

I find that most nationalities grumble a bit over not getting some specific food/drink when abroad.

longwayoff · 24/11/2019 09:46

What? You think that was scathing? And she said, your interpretation, that we Brits can be ignorant/ borderlne hostile about bacon and eggs? Grin however can she have formed such an erroneous opinion? Glad you're here to put her straight.

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 24/11/2019 10:12

Good gracious! The op just asked a perfectly polite question! Some of the replies on here ... incredible .

jcurve · 24/11/2019 10:39

If you were to rank countries on breakfasts, *England would come top globally - I would put my house on it.
I can’t really think of another country that has any clear identity in this area. It’s all a bit of a fudge. *

Australia and New Zealand (two countries obsesses with breakfast - avocado everything, corn fritters, ricotta hot cakes) and probably also the USA (pancakes, biscuits & gravy) would like a word...

tabulahrasa · 24/11/2019 10:43

“breakfast is not a meal to which people attach as much attention as to lunch or dinner, maybe that's why they fuss less over it than people in the UK?”

I don’t know that people pay much attention to it at home though, I think it’s once you’re paying for a meal you start expecting something a bit more complicated...

Grimbles · 24/11/2019 10:46

What is it about Jamaicans and Rice and Peas?

How far would a perfectly polite question like that stand?

ethelfleda · 24/11/2019 10:49

Grimbles possibly less so, but then us British haven’t been subjected to centuries of persecution.

happycamper11 · 24/11/2019 10:50

I don't have it at home but on a British break it's likely to be cold but active. A fry up is filling and will keep us going far longer than a continental breakfast. For that reason I'd prefer a cooked breakfast when I've paid to have a breakfast included

CurryBelly · 24/11/2019 10:55

I’d only want a full English in the UK simply because no other country can do it properly. They try in the USA but it’s gross.

Anyway, when abroad I like to eat what they eat so to speak. So pancakes in the US for example. One of the best was noodles and rice in Thailand. Curry for breakfast? Go on then! 😁

croprotationinthe13thcentury · 24/11/2019 11:03

I like the pancakes one. Possibly give the US second place. Curry - no, that can’t be a breakfast dish, I’m sorry. You are just waking up fgs.
It’s interesting, scientists have done tests, including all sorts of pills etc regarding curing a hangover. None of them come even close to a good English fry up.

longwayoff · 24/11/2019 11:07

Curry for breakfast, leftover from previous night, delicious. Draw the line at cold pizza though, yuk.

IcedPurple · 24/11/2019 11:09

Lets say I'm from France

Or let's say you stop playing coy and tell us where you and your fellow oh-so-tolerant, non-complaining citizens are from?

iklboo · 24/11/2019 11:15

I'm not a big fan of breakfast. I can eat a fry up every now & again but I prefer a bacon or sausage butty. My favourite is a platter of meats, cheese, bread etc.

longwayoff · 24/11/2019 11:18

Hey nationalists and persecutors of people who you think aren't like you, what's wrong? Has Nige let you all down? Surely there's some bigoted forum somewhere else where you can all snuggle up and share your bile with one another? It doesn't matter where OP is from, none of our business. But I bet she's glad she doesn't come from the same place as you.

Breathlessness · 24/11/2019 11:20

I’m English and I don’t get it. It’s never been my thing.

I have seen a french couple, at a very naice restaurant (in the grounds of a 5* hotel on a long-haul-holiday destination island) explain how The French eat and how they wanted various dishes brought to the table at the same time rather than as courses. It was a mini lecture. I almost took notes Grin

busybarbara · 24/11/2019 11:21

If you ate a fry up many days of your life you will surely be shortening it. Full of trans fats, grease and red meat, it will literally take a decade off your life

Motoko · 24/11/2019 11:25

It’s interesting, scientists have done tests, including all sorts of pills etc regarding curing a hangover. None of them come even close to a good English fry up.

I've always reckoned it's the grease, plus it fills your stomach.

Re the single square of butter, it's as a pp said, one is not enough for two slices of toast (two full slices, not 2 triangles) especially as the butter is usually hard from the fridge, so difficult to spread.

Last night, I remembered an awful breakfast we had, at a 5* hotel. We were staying there after a wedding, and came down to a buffet breakfast. There were no fried eggs, only scrambled, but it looked like wallpaper paste, and was grey. Suspect it was made from powdered egg. DH said the bacon was rubbery, and the strip of fat along the edge, was like chewing an elastic band. The tomatoes and mushrooms were tinned, which in a cafe is fine, but considering the cost to stay there, and type of hotel, I expected fresh tomatoes and mushrooms cooked on a griddle.

Considering this was a 5* country manor hotel, that cost an arm and a leg for one night, it was very disappointing. I've had better in greasy spoons.