Eton Mess in London’s Shoreditch neighborhood
When I first heard the term Eton Mess, I imagined a scandal or fiasco, something, well, messy. What I didn’t think of was a luscious British dessert that you neatly eat with a spoon. Yet, that is exactly what a mess is.
Funny name. Funnier origins.
How this sweet got its unusual name is the stuff of legends. It all began in the 19th century, at a boys’ boarding school in Southeast England, with a clumsy cook who had questionable views about sanitation . . .. Watch the video below to learn more.
Eating local
Because I have this obsession with consuming signature foods in their native lands–remember last month’s post about Russian herring under a fur coat?– I have to eat at least one Eton Mess while in England. Sure, I could make this simple dessert at home. In fact, I often do. Yet, there is something special about trying a dish in its country of origin where it’s steeped in local ingredients and folklore. England’s spectacular Eton Mess is no different.
A huge stack of meringues at Paul Rhodes Bakery, Notting Hill
Ingredients for a good mess
This oddly named sweet consists of three ingredients—whipped cream, strawberries and meringue. For this dish I would suggest homemade whipped cream. It tastes better and will hold up longer than whipped cream from a can. As for the meringues, you can either bake your own or buy them at a bakery or market. They don’t have to look as beautiful as the ones pictured above. Nor do they need strawberry, cocoa or other flavorings swirled through them. Just break several vanilla meringues into large chunks and add them to a bowl of fresh, sliced strawberries and that homemade whipped cream. Swirl the ingredients together and that’s it. You now have a moist and delicious Eton Mess.
Eton Mess at the Gate in London’s Hammersmith neighborhood
Eton Mess
For the meringue and homemade whipped cream, just click on the links for homemade whipped cream and meringue below and follow the instructions for these two ingredients. If you’re pressed for time, use store-bought meringues.
Serves 4
2 cups homemade whipped cream
1 large or 3 to 4 small vanilla meringues, broken into pieces
1 to 2 pints of fresh strawberries, washed, trimmed and sliced
To assemble your Eton Mess, put equal amounts of sliced strawberries, meringue pieces and whipped cream into four glasses or bowls. Swirl the ingredients together. The messier it looks, the more authentic your Eton Mess will be. Serve immediately.