rofessor Hamblin's Full English Breakfast

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

The Baron’s chief advisor was Professor Hamblin, formerly on the faculties of Oxford University and Cambridge University in England.

Usually, once a year the Professor decided to leave Lilliland for a week or two to visit England. The Baron could usually tell when the Professor was thinking about a visit to England, even before he requested the time to leave.

The Baron and the Professor often had breakfast together to discuss planned events of the day regarding Lilliland business. The Professor did not order the usual continental French breakfast of coffee, croissant, preserves, butter, and apple juice, but instead he asked for a full English breakfast.

The full English breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, fried potatoes, stewed tomatoes, and scones with jam. A bowl of cereal was also included. Sometimes, added to that was a request for sautéed mushrooms.

The Baron, who is a light eater, usually sits in wonderment at the size and variety of the full English breakfast.

“Is that really what the typical Englishmen eat in the morning, or are you just pulling a fast one on us?” he would query.

The Professor said that this was very serious business and very typical of the true English table.

“I suppose that it is a very healthy way to start the day in Great Britain,” the Baron concluded.

As the time grew near for the Professor’s trip to England, high tea was ordered at four o’clock in the afternoon. The Baron and Lady Angela especially liked high tea and joined the Professor while he was being served. Fresh tea, small finger sandwiches, and delicate pastries usually were served at that time.

But what did the true Lilliland citizen do for a dining experience? Was it British in any way, or French, or Swiss, or just what?

Lady Angela said that breakfast at Alpine Castle was more French than anything with French rolls, jam, butter, and coffee with fruit. However, at three o’clock in the afternoon, it was more English with teatime. Usually there was tea, scones, and small sandwiches.

So, maybe in Lilliland, they had the best of three countries, French, English, and the wonderful cheeses of Switzerland on any occasion.