The typical American breakfast platter usually consists of pancakes and/or toast, eggs, and bacon or sausage. Across the pond, they do things a little differently. Those who have visited the United Kingdom or Ireland have likely experienced a hearty full English or Irish breakfast.
A full English breakfast, also known as a fry-up, almost always contains sausage as well as bacon, sunny-side up eggs, grilled or roasted tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and buttered toast. In some cases, the plate will also feature baked beans, and fried potatoes. And various regions of England will feature other local items such as oatcakes, or potato cakes.
A full Irish breakfast will often contain most of the same items as a full English breakfast. The differences between the two are actually a little murky. The primary differentiator: one will always find black and white pudding in a full Irish breakfast, while it is merely an optional accessory in a full English. Brown bread or Irish potato pancakes, known as boxty, may also stand in for the toast.
Those who order a full breakfast also shouldn't be surprised to find the bacon looks different from the smoky, fatty American stuff. While smokey, "streaky" bacon is sometimes found in a good fry-up, it's more likely that lean rashers trimmed from the loin and belly will show up on the plate.
If a trip across the pond isn't in the budget, there are plenty of spots around D.C. to try a hearty fry-up.
—Updated by Missy Frederick, May 2016
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