I recently decided to go and buy a new satnav. Nothing new in that but the weather was atrociuos, as the UK had been blanketed in snow and I sensed my journey would take longer than usual. I called my mate “Big Al” up on Skype to see if he fancied coming along for the ride as I knew he was “well up” on Sat Navs and could probably advise me best in my choice. On top of that he is good company to have along!
Well it was quickly evident, just going to pick up Big Al, that the driving conditions were not ideal to say the least. The snow was all but gone, it was all slush and we were experiencing heavy rain, the car was misting up inside and traffic was slowwww!!
Both Al and I had the same thought…food and a cup of tea! “Where’s the nearest “Greasy Spoon?”
Big Al used to be trucker, amongst other things in life and he knew of one not far from where we were heading and being not much of a diversion… off we went!
Ten minutes later saw us in the aforementioned “GS” and having ordered we sat down to await our respective “nose bag”.
So, whats a Greasy Spoon I hear some of you ask?
Its a cafe, caff, sandwich bar, call it what you will, nothing more, nothing less but, originally made to serve truckers on the UK’s old A roads, it is a place of simple fare, usually fried sausages, bacon, fried bread, chips etc with the obligatory mugs of strong tea. Hence…”Greasy Spoon!”
So what did we order and what was it like? We both had a “BEST” with a mug of tea. Big Al being er…well, big…made himself bigger by ordering his “BEST” with Black pudding on it.(Cringe…I hate Black Pudding!)
Now, I have travelled all over the UK and it always surprises me that in most places, particulalrly down south (read London) they have absolutely no idea what a “BEST” is! It’s simply an acronym for Bacon, Egg,Sausage and Tomato…served within three slices of thick bread in the commonly known form of… “A Double Decker!”
For those of you thinking yuk! Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!
I suppose it is a local saying but when you have asked for a BEST and the guy (in london) says we dont do ‘em mate! Wot is it? And then looks at me as if I am “a plonker” as he points to Sausage Bacon Egg and Tomato on the blackboard menu you really that the City that gave us the humble BLT has missed out on a major sandwich!
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Oooh I love a BEST. Had a few recently – especially last Monday when the unexpected snow fell and Lloyd Hill became a car park for the day. I got to the top and was told my appointment was cancelled so I dumped the car and went into Jenny’s Café (by the old Spring Hill Post Office). I enjoyed her best BEST and then went back down the hill. Total time out of house to cover two miles was just under three hours.
You can go one better than the BEST (and even better than the best with Black Pudding) at Pete’s Café by the railway bridge on the Parkfields Road. There you need to ask for a SCOOBY. It’s not an acronym but the contents are amazng. Triple decker bread containing egg, bacon, sausage, beans, tomatoes, black pudding, and mushrooms! You need a ‘healthy’ appetite but the taste is incredible.
Thats where we went! And…bloody marvellous it was too!!!
We need to go together and have a chin wag mate…