Boy did I start something! And aren't I now more determined to try adding grits to my range of Real English Breakfast foods. (Anybody know how an Ulster Fry differs from the English version?).

To be fair to our visitor, there was a very subtle intonation to his voice which could have been either "why on earth is this Englishwoman so interested in this extraordinarily unattractive food, I had better indicate, very politely, that she won't like it" or "I don't expect this woman will like these if she tries them, even though I do, so I had better forewarn her". He did recommend I ate them at source, remember.

As to cheap foods becoming sought-after, I have never been able to understand the attractions to people not a hundred miles away of frogs and snails and very small birds eaten in one mouthful. They are not cheap, but they are the stuff you eat when you are really desperate in a famine. So how come the high status?

And what are White Castle sliders?

Penny