Hobbit Breakfast
There is nothing a Hobbit likes more than a good breakfast. In fact, they are famous for it. A good hobbit breakfast could contain a variety of delightful comestibles. Certainly eggs, done by whichever method served your fancy, bacon, fried mushrooms and bread, black pudding if you are adventurous and perhaps some little sausages, all served with a nice cup of tea. Tolkien took inspiration for the Hobbit breakfast from the traditional English breakfast and in recreating a Hobbit breakfast care should be taken to look at the traditional English breakfast, not the variety of imitations that have sprung up. No baked beans, french fries or pancakes, I am afraid. Nor tomatoes, while they are a part of the traditional English breakfast, they are not a Middle Earth food.
I will be providing a list of ingredients rather than a precise recipe for Hobbit breakfast, for while the essential eggs and bacon remains, the extras can be varied. I am also assuming that anyone who reads this will understand how to fry foodstuffs. Obviously tailor the amounts depending on how many people you are serving, and their appetites.
There is nothing a Hobbit likes more than a good breakfast. In fact, they are famous for it. A good hobbit breakfast could contain a variety of delightful comestibles. Certainly eggs, done by whichever method served your fancy, bacon, fried mushrooms and bread, black pudding if you are adventurous and perhaps some little sausages, all served with a nice cup of tea. Tolkien took inspiration for the Hobbit breakfast from the traditional English breakfast and in recreating a Hobbit breakfast care should be taken to look at the traditional English breakfast, not the variety of imitations that have sprung up. No baked beans, french fries or pancakes, I am afraid. Nor tomatoes, while they are a part of the traditional English breakfast, they are not a Middle Earth food.
I will be providing a list of ingredients rather than a precise recipe for Hobbit breakfast, for while the essential eggs and bacon remains, the extras can be varied. I am also assuming that anyone who reads this will understand how to fry foodstuffs. Obviously tailor the amounts depending on how many people you are serving, and their appetites.
I do not think it necessary to post specific citations mentioning hobbit breakfasts as there are so many, but for forms sake both breakfast and a 'nice little second breakfast' are mentioned on page thirty seven of the Hobbit, the first page of the chapter entitled "Roast Mutton".
The Hobbit Breakfast Guide:
Eggs: The freshest eggs you can find, fried, boiled, poached or scrambled.
Bacon rashers: Nice, thick bacon fried until crispy (Canadian style bacon, to the Americans out there)
Fried mushrooms.
Bread: Toasted, fried or even just a buttered bread roll. If serving boiled eggs, have toast rather than fried bread.
Sausages: Plain pork sausage would be my preference, avoid flavoured or spicy sausages.
Black pudding. Fried with the rest.
Porridge: For those with truly impressive appetites.
Devilled kidneys: The quintessential English Gentleman’s breakfast item.
Kippers: Smoked herring.
Jam and marmalade: If serving toast rather than fried bread, consider a selection of fine jams and marmalades.
English style tea and coffee.
The Hobbit Breakfast Guide:
Eggs: The freshest eggs you can find, fried, boiled, poached or scrambled.
Bacon rashers: Nice, thick bacon fried until crispy (Canadian style bacon, to the Americans out there)
Fried mushrooms.
Bread: Toasted, fried or even just a buttered bread roll. If serving boiled eggs, have toast rather than fried bread.
Sausages: Plain pork sausage would be my preference, avoid flavoured or spicy sausages.
Black pudding. Fried with the rest.
Porridge: For those with truly impressive appetites.
Devilled kidneys: The quintessential English Gentleman’s breakfast item.
Kippers: Smoked herring.
Jam and marmalade: If serving toast rather than fried bread, consider a selection of fine jams and marmalades.
English style tea and coffee.