# British Sunday roast dinner **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 23, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213 "2009-09-23T09:51:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/21 "2009-09-23T20:44:54Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > I’ve seen roast, mashed and chips(chunky fries) on the same plate a lot. > > Look at my location for an explanation 😉 - garlic schpuds too. 🙂 Our christmas dinner always has roast and creamed mashed potatoes and sometimes a few plain old boiled ones too. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/22 "2009-09-24T02:27:54Z")
Moving to Cafe Society from GQ. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/23 "2009-09-24T02:59:34Z")
I thought it was just my mother-in-law who did this! Having two different types of taters just seems like overkill to most 'Merkins. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/24 "2009-09-24T04:40:03Z")
I’ve enjoyed several family sunday roast dinners during my time in England over 30 years ago, but the only food item that stands out in my memory is yorkshire pudding. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/25 "2009-09-24T07:07:31Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > Yeah a typical posh northener taking the piss out of us poor,but incredibly goodlooking southerners,dessert? > > . Posh Norveners? Good looking Suvverners? What on earth are you smoking? ---
**Author:** ![Stefan\_moss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Stefan\_moss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stefan_moss)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/26 "2009-09-24T10:55:05Z")
Yes yes, lovely to know about your personal esperiences, but what would be considered truly traditional? it seems ideas are mixed… ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/27 "2009-09-24T11:16:07Z")
> [@Stefan\_moss](#): > > Yes yes, lovely to know about your personal esperiences, but what would be considered truly traditional? it seems ideas are mixed.. “Traditional” in this context only means “the way me Mam did it”. Hence the variation. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/28 "2009-09-24T12:01:54Z")
> [@Stefan\_moss](#): > > Yes yes, lovely to know about your personal esperiences, but what would be considered truly traditional? it seems ideas are mixed.. There isn’t a single “traditional” roast dinner. Sorry. You’re not gonna find the answer you’re loking for. The best we can do is describe our own experiences, which are similar in nature but which vary. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/29 "2009-09-24T12:04:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > We have a number of Irish and British pubs in Bangkok doing up an excellent Sunday breakfast. I shall always be indebted to my British and Irish brethren for this wonderful invention. Cool; you’re welcome! But could you tell us what it is we invented? I’m not familiar with the “Sunday Breakfast”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/30 "2009-09-24T12:24:58Z")
Well. Now I’m hungry for roast potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/31 "2009-09-24T12:30:53Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Cool; you’re welcome! But could you tell us what it is we invented? I’m not familiar with the “Sunday Breakfast”. 🙂 I assume it’s a dirty big fry up. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/32 "2009-09-24T12:47:36Z")
> [@yojimbo](#): > > I assume it’s a dirty big fry up. But as it’s a Sunday, does it come with roast, boiled or mashed potatoes, or all three?? 😃 OB (bubble or sauteed man) ---
**Author:** ![JoseArcadio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@JoseArcadio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseArcadio)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/33 "2009-09-24T12:54:26Z")
Mmmmm, dirty big fry up! Our Sunday roasts were usually either roast beef or roast chicken, served with gravy, roast and mashed tatties, yorkshire puddings, peas & carrots and parsnips in autumn/winter. I don’t think there’s a single “traditional” way to have a Sunday roast, it varies from family to family and region. We rarely had lamb, for example, but sometimes had game birds or venison because my auntie was a gillie (gamekeeper) on a local estate and also a butcher by trade. In our family the leftovers were used to make [stovies](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stovies). Did any UK dopers have something similar? Stovies is a Scottish dish but I guess there must be regional variations? ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/34 "2009-09-24T17:34:11Z")
You’ve had your answer about what’s actually traditional: > [@Malacandra](#): > > Roast and new would not have been traditional because you normally roast _old_ potatoes, which wouldn’t have been in season when new ones were. It’s less of a problem these days, what with hothouses, air freight and all the other reasons for eating stuff out of season. with which I agree. However: > [@](#): > > Opinions vary as to Delia, but par-boiling potatoes, then shaking them to roughen up the surface a little before starting the roast in really hot fat is, in my experience, far from contemptible. I have no contempt for cooking roast potatoes in this \*traditional \*fashion. I have deep contempt for Delia, and would point out that to claim that this is “her” recipe is to give the vain old lush considerably more credit than she deserves. She’s never had an original thought in her life, and if I hear her say “basalmic” or mention half fat creme fraiche one more time… ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/35 "2009-09-24T19:28:26Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Well. Now I’m hungry for roast potatoes. What, exactly, is “roast” potatoes? I gather that this is not baked potatoes, as I know them, which are potatoes that are put in the oven in their skins. The potatoes are well scrubbed. Many people, and just about all restaurants, will wrap them in aluminum foil, sometimes with a bit of oil on them, and sometimes with seasoning, too. When I make a roast, I almost always peel and cut potatoes into chunks, and put them in the pan with the meat (beef, chicken, pork, doesn’t matter). This way they are cooked in the pan juices. Are these considered roast potatoes? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/36 "2009-09-24T19:43:23Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > When I make a roast, I almost always peel and cut potatoes into chunks, and put them in the pan with the meat (beef, chicken, pork, doesn’t matter). This way they are cooked in the pan juices. Are these considered roast potatoes? It is. If you want them extra crispy, prep them and par boil them (10 mins or so). Strain them, put them back on the heat to dry out, then put the lid on the pan and shake vigorously. Then add them to the VERY hot fat round the meat. The rough edges from shaking will crisp up deliciously. While I am sure this method has been practiced by many people for aeons, it was popularized by (and I got to know about it through) Delia Smith. An irritating woman to be sure, but a very popular British celebrity chef. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/37 "2009-09-24T20:27:57Z")
Actually the first appearance on British TV that I saw was Jamie Oliver. But the first appearance in my mother’s kitchen would have been - well, whenever I first saw her cook a roast. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/38 "2009-09-24T22:06:56Z")
> [@villa](#): > > It is. If you want them extra crispy, prep them and par boil them (10 mins or so). Strain them, put them back on the heat to dry out, then put the lid on the pan and shake vigorously. Then add them to the VERY hot fat round the meat. The rough edges from shaking will crisp up deliciously. For best results, you need a big joint and to do a bit of maths. Roast potatoes take about 30-40 minutes to roast. Think how much time you’re going to leave your joint to rest (probably 20 minutes or so). Subtract that from the first time. Put your potatoes in to roast when the joint has the resulting many minutes to go. Once you remove the joint, turn the oven heat up to gas mark 7, put the tray with the roasting potatoes on the top shelf, taking the opportunity to baste the potatoes, and put your Yorkshire Pudding mix on the bottom shelf. It’ll all be ready and delicious all at the right time. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/39 "2009-09-25T00:54:27Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > When I make a roast, I almost always peel and cut potatoes into chunks, and put them in the pan with the meat (beef, chicken, pork, doesn’t matter). This way they are cooked in the pan juices. Are these considered roast potatoes? Did you not have a name for that method? They’re potatoes with the roast, in a roasting pan. Doesn’t seem much of a leap to call them roast, or roasted, potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213/40 "2009-09-25T03:54:18Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Cool; you’re welcome! But could you tell us what it is we invented? I’m not familiar with the “Sunday Breakfast”. 🙂 Maybe “breakfast” is not quite right, as the time varies at the different pubs. For instance, Molly Malone’s in the link in my previous post has what it calls the “Sunday carvery” from noon to 7pm. Some pubs have it in the morning, others call it brunch. But it’s always on Sunday, exclusively in the British and Irish pubs, and always the big English or Irish meals. Very good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-sunday-roast-dinner/511213.md?page=3)