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Aldi reveals what millennials really think about traditional British fare
- Almost half of millennials don’t know what Bangers and Mash is, and 41% think that Toad in the Hole is a fictitious dish, while a fifth have never tried a Scotch Egg
- New research by Aldi coincides with British Food Fortnight
Ahead of British Food Fortnight (18th September – 3rd October), new research from supermarket Aldi reveals that British classics, such as Bangers and Mash, Toad in the Hole and Scotch Eggs, are at risk of being confined to history books – with many millennials not knowing what they are and even doubting they exist.
Almost half of Brits (41%) aged 24-35 don’t know what the British classic Bangers and Mash is, while also thinking that British staples like Spotted Dick (46%) and Toad in the Hole (41%) are made up dishes, with a shocking 16% believing the latter consists of an actual toad cooked with potatoes!
And it’s not just meals that are at risk of being forgotten, as the Aldi research shows almost one fifth (18%) of millennials don’t think the UK’s iconic Scotch Egg snack is real; a quarter (22%) have never tried it and 41% mistakenly think it originates from Scotland – when in fact the idea came from England.
Aldi is on a mission to encourage Brits to learn more about food history this British Food Fortnight. The supermarket has partnered with Seren Charrington-Hollins, one of Britain’s top food historians, to help explain the stories behind classic dishes and the origins of their names.
Seren said: “As a nation, our culinary history is rich with stories and delicious dishes. My work as a food historian means I understand that over time, peoples’ preferences and tastes tend to change, but it was surprising to learn that such a large chunk of Brits are not au fait with classics such as Bangers and Mash and Toad in the Hole.
“I’m delighted to be working with Aldi to bring these iconic national treasures back to the forefront of minds and hopefully back to the nation’s dinner table during British Food Fortnight.”
Seren Charrington-Hollins explains the names and origins of the traditional British dishes:
- Origin – Toad in the Hole, or sausage toad, is a traditional English dish consisting originallyof a small piece of beef and later of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables.
- Name – The origin of the name is unclear, but it may refer to the way toads wait for prey in their burrows, making their heads visible in the earth, just like the sausages peep through the batter.
Scotch Egg
- Origin – This meaty delight originated in England in the 19th century, and was originally covered in fish paste rather than sausage meat.
- Name – Named after the establishment that invented them, William J Scott & Sons.
Bangers and Mash
- Origin – Bangers and Mash, also known as sausages and mash, is a traditional dish of Great Britain and Ireland, consisting of sausages served with mashed potatoes.
- Name – The term bangers originated during World War I, when meat shortages resulted in sausages being made with a number of fillers, notably water that caused them to explode when cooked.
Spotted Dick
- Origin – Spotted Dick is a traditional British baked pudding, historically made with suet and dried fruit and often served with custard.
- Name – The spotted part of the name refers to the currants, which resemble spots, and “dick” is believed to derive from the word dough.
Stargazy Pie
- Origin – Stargazy Pie is a Cornish dish made of baked pilchards, along with eggs and potatoes, covered with a pastry crust.
- Name – The heads of the pilchards appear through the crust as if they were studying the stars, hence the name.
Pease Pudding
- Origin – Pease Pudding is a savory dish made of boiled legumes, typically split yellow peas, with water, salt, and spices, and often cooked with a bacon or ham joint. A common dish in the North East of England.
- Name – Pease is the Middle English word for Pea. The name Pease Pudding refers to a type of porridge made with Yellow Split Peas. Fresh peas were never used as they would spoil quickly hence why the dry, yellow split pea would be favoured.
The majority of Aldi’s produce is sourced from British suppliers, offered at great value prices. Shoppers can immerse themselves in traditional British products with Aldi from just 39p, including:
- Crestwood Scotch Eggs (89p, 226g)
- Lancashire Black Pudding (85p, 240g)
- Dessert Menu Strawberry Trifle (£1.49, 600g)
- Durham Foods Finest Pease Pudding (39p, 227g)
- Specially Selected 2 Heritage Raspberry Eton Mess Pots (£2.69, 2x100g)
-Ends-
About the Research
Extra statistics from survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by supermarket Aldi:
- 10% believe Black Pudding is a myth
- 11% think Bangers and Mash is fictitious dish
- 13% think Eton Mess is made up
- 10% believe Black Pudding is a myth
- 11% do not believe Scotch Eggs exist
- 12% think Bangers and Mash got its name because it was created on Fireworks Night
- 18% think that Toad in the Hole is a fictional meal
- Brits don’t know what Stargazy Pie (23%) 18% think that Spotted Dick and Toad in the Hole aren’t real meals
- Over a third admitted to never trying: Black Pudding (34%), Toad in a Hole (34%), Eton Mess (33%) and Bubble and Squeak (30%)
- 33% knew ‘Bangers and Mash’ got that name because of the noise they make when being cooked
- Some Brits thought that Spotted Dick was associated with King Richard
- Only half (47%) had heard of Scottish classic, Neeps and Tatties, rising to four-fifths (80%) in Scotland but just a quarter (24%) in London
- 64% of Scots thought Scotch Eggs came from Scotland
- A quarter (28%) of Brits have never had Toad in the Hole
- Two-fifths (41%) of 18-24-year-olds have never tried Bubble and Squeak
- A third (32%) of people in Wales have not tried Welsh Rarebit
- Almost the same figure (4%) think ‘Bangers and Mash’ were named after an 80s song
For further information, images or to request a sample, please contact the Aldi Food team on:
alditeam@clarioncomms.co.uk
020 7479 0910
Please contact the Aldi team at Clarion to confirm product details and availability prior to print
For more information, please contact the Aldi Press Office on:
T: 0161 235 0300 or aldi@citypress.co.uk
