Latest news with #TheEnglishManner
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
You're eating bananas 'totally wrong' as expert says you shouldn't peel skin
Bananas are a tasty and nutritious snack that can be eaten on their own or added to breakfasts, smoothies and desserts, but an etiquette expert has claimed people are eating them wrong Banana lovers are in for a shock as they discover they've been eating the fruit incorrectly for years. The humble banana, adored globally for its soft texture and sweet flavour, is believed to have originated from Southeast Asia. Today, it's readily available in supermarkets worldwide. The common method of eating a banana involves peeling the skin and biting into it from top to bottom. However, an etiquette expert has suggested that this isn't the correct approach. William Hanson, from Bristol, is recognised as Britain's leading etiquette coach and a twice Sunday Times bestselling author. He hosts two podcasts, including The Luxury Podcast, and is the executive director and owner of The English Manner. This etiquette and protocol coaching company offers classes in London and across the globe. Hanson has garnered millions of followers on social media where he shares etiquette tips and advice. Recently, he shared a video on Instagram demonstrating the "proper way" to eat a banana. If you thought you knew how to eat a banana, you might be in for a surprise. According to Hanson, you shouldn't even peel it. Positioned before a banana on a plate, the etiquette guru stated: "Now, we don't pick it up and peel it like a primate. Instead we use a knife and fork. "First, going from one end cut it off then cut off the other end. Turning your knife on its side then score down the skin, peel back and eat like so." Hanson's unusual banana-eating method has racked up over 40,000 comments on Instagram as users shared their bemusement. One user posted: "I'm not doing extra dishes for a banana, William." Another remarked: "Bruh, you offended the entire world's population." A third comment reads: "Need to know how this dude eats a sandwich." One observer noted: "Done a bit of travelling, but never seen a banana served on a plate [with] skin on! You need new content!" Another person joked: "That's enough now William! Time out!" Undeterred by the mixed reactions, Hanson proudly claimed in his caption: "This really is the only way you should be eating a banana." Interestingly, Hanson is not alone in his unconventional banana consumption. The late Queen Elizabeth II was known to use cutlery for her bananas too, according to the Daily Express. Former Royal chef Darren McGrady previously revealed: "With a banana, she'll cut off the bottoms and cut the banana lengthwise, and then cut the banana into tiny slices to eat it with a fork." The monarch's approach mirrored that of Hanson's, avoiding peeling the banana by hand to not resemble eating "like a monkey." People typically eat a banana by peeling it and biting directly and this method is favoured for its convenience. The sliced banana technique is mostly only used for preparing dessert dishes like banoffee pie or fruit salad.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Expert claims key ingredient doesn't go in cooked breakfast for harsh reason
The Full English breakfast is a British staple, but the 'proper' way to cook it always fires up debate - and an expert has now claimed that one key ingredient 'has no place' in the dish Diving into a Full English is a treat like no other when you've got an appetite (or perhaps nursing a bit of a hangover) - yet folks can't help but argue over the 'right' way to whip one up. Adding fried bread may feel like a touch of indulgence at breakfast time, and even though it's not exactly health food, its tempting crunchiness is hard to turn down. But does this crispy delight truly belong in the ranks of Full English essentials like hash browns – which some have criticised as a "lazy" pick – or is it an absolute must? Opinions among the pros don't line up. The English Breakfast Society sings the praises of the crunchy component, but Steven Moore, the historical advisor for The English Manner, begs to differ. "Fried bread is a very old staple of the tradition and absolutely should be included" insists Guise Bule of the English Breakfast Society. Extolling its virtues he added: "It's a wonderfully traditional English breakfast ingredient that is really easy to make and adds a wonderful crunchiness to the breakfast plate, and tastes like heaven when combined with egg and bacon." Conversely, Steven from The English Manner has a strong opposing stance: "Fried bread is one of those items added by hotels to use up leftovers disguised as adding 'value'. It has no place on an English breakfast, in our opinion. "The English breakfast emerged from the Country House Weekend, and the only place you'd find fried bread on one of those tables was under roasted game." For those craving a fried bread fix with their morning brekkie, never fear - BBC Good Food has a straightforward recipe to achieve the perfect, crispy finish. You'll only need a couple of ingredients: two tablespoons of neutral-tasting oil like sunflower, or 40g of lard, alongside two slices of thick, fluffy white bread. To make, the steps are as follows: "Heat half the oil or lard in a frying pan over medium-high heat. "Once hot, fry the bread for 1 min 30 seconds until golden, then add the remaining oil or lard, turn the bread over and cook for another 1 min 30 seconds, until golden on both sides". Easy peasy - with a seriously tasty outcome. However, one revelation sure to ruffle some feathers is the English Breakfast Society's recent acceptance of fried bread in a traditional brekkie spread. Notably, this comes off the back of them giving hash browns the thumbs down. The organisation reasoned that hash browns should give way to the British staple bubble and squeak, given its richer history. They even attributed the rise of hash browns to American food giant McDonald's, concluding: "Somebody had to put their foot down. Otherwise, we'll find kebab meat in our English breakfast before long."
