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NOTE TO THE MODS. THIS MYTAKE IS ABOUT THE British FOOD CALLED FAGGOTS SO IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU DIDN'T BAN IT WHEN GAGS NAUGHTY WORD ALARM GOES OFF. THANKS.
Welcome to the second of a short light-hearted look at British food. I'll be doing classic dishes from around the UK that people actually do eat. This week we look at faggots.
WHAT IS IT?
Faggots are a type of meatball made of pork and pigs liver and sometimes other bits of offal like heart mixed with breadcrumbs onion and herbs. Lamb or venison is occasionally used but belly pork a pork shoulder is far more common. The balls are wrapped in caul, that net-looking fatty membrane that bags up your organs.
If you are not a fan of liver check out the french crépinette as an alternative.
They are traditionally served with mashed potato, peas, and gravy.
MEANING OF NAME
The word comes from the vulgar Latin word "fagus " meaning a bundle of sticks. This is also the root of the Italian faggato, the old french fagot, and of course the welsh ffagadau. Since faggots have been used by the church throughout history to burn those who fell from faith some argue this is the source of the gay connection.
HISTORY
Thought to have arisen in the 1700s the first mention in print was in the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser of Saturday 3 June 1843, a news report of a gluttonous man who ate twelve of them.
CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE AND POPULARITY
Faggots are most popular in the west midlands, the southwest, particularly Wiltshire, and in south Wales where they were introduced by English immigrants during the industrial revolution.
There are a few large brand names of which Brain's faggots are the most common in supermarkets. Most decent butchers in the areas mentioned will make their own and always claim their recipe is the best. Very few people make their own since you can buy good ones fairly cheaply.
Britain, of course, is known for its fish & chip shops but many don't know they also serve faggots, mash, and mushy peas.
The word faggot often causes problems when advertising online or discussing faggots on social media. It's not hard to find outraged people in the press who've been banned for hate speech.
Anyone who reads music will remember being taught in school that "Every Good Boy Deserves Faggots.
GOOD V BAD DISHES
Faggots were invented to make use of the less desirable cuts but butchers tend to trim carefully to avoid the grisly and nasty bits. Mass-produced ones tend to be made by chucking everything in a chopper so expect to find a few unpleasant surprises.
POPPY'S OPINION
Outside the faggot zone of Wales and West England most people's experience is with frozen brands and this contributes to their bad reputation. Even within this area not every café will source decent faggots and will buy in low-quality ones. Faggots are very hit-and-miss and I can't say they're a great favourite of mine but I will eat them.
Faggots never really caught on outside of their heartland. Perhaps this is down to them been seen as a working-class meal or even their unfortunate name. Given that most countries have a local meatball of their own it's hard to imagine that ever-changing.
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