Toad in the hole

Toad in the hole does not sound like an appetizing dish. Moreover, it does not sound like it is part of London cuisine. Even so, it is. Despite its odd name, it is an English delicacy with more than 200 years of history behind it.

Like most historic dishes in London cuisine, the toad in the hole had humble beginnings. At the time, only the middle classes and labourers favored it, as it was cheap to make. Moreover, it could feed several people at once. To date, the dish is widely accepted as comfort food definitive in British cuisine. Despite its simplicity and its quirky name, toad in the hole is guaranteed to fill you up and satisfy your cravings.

Also called “sausage toad”, Toad in the hole consists of sausages cooked into Yorkshire pudding batter, usually served with onion gravy and vegetables. It is not a breakfast dish, but rather a dinner or supper alternative to pies or bangers and mash.

Originally referred to as “meat boiled in a crust” in late 18th century cookbooks, nobody’s quite sure how the name transformed into the current version, but it’s not super common to find on menus and definitely worth seeking out if you want to try all of the best London foods out there.

• Where to try: Bistro Union, Dog & Duck Pub
• Price: ranges from £11 to £13