Are cucumber sandwiches the height of British culinary sophistication?

[purplepoppy]

Cucumber sandwiches are most often associated with the British upperclasses. A light snack to be eaten at garden parties or while watching cricket. Simply thin slices of cucumber between lightly buttered bread, with perhaps a little mint their simple elegance is a far cry from the cheese-laden ones of less culinary sophisticated countries like the USA.

But alas despite being posh and a bastion of society I don't think I've ever actually eaten one.

So have you ever eaten a plain cucumber sandwich or is it just one of those things you hear about other people eating?

[StormChaser838]

Hey my little, little Pops, I haven't been around for sometime and missed you, I can eat them by the pound, you can also toss tomatoes and cheese in them and the mint gives a good tang. And I did not really want to disclose this since it would blow too much of my cover, and probably give too much of a hint. But what the fuck, I must disclose, I am an absolute Cricket fanatic, currently watching the Ashes. I even used to play till very recently for a West Indian ( Guyanese ) Team in NYC and done it for years. You will not believe it, but with all the cosmopolitan mix, we have loads of cricket played in NYC. In fact, did you know the first international Cricket match ever played, was played in NYC? It was played between the USA and Canada. The US used to be a total Cricket country and even beat England many times. The Pommie team would regularly play here on route to tours to The West Indies. Then when world sport was becoming professional, in the mid 1800's, the ICC was formed, the world Cricket governing body, and England for some reason did not want to include the US, since they were by then not part of the Empire. Therefore, the Yanks protested very strongly and all the Cricket clubs in the North America started to play in protest a form of cricket called rounders, this later transformed into Baseball. So Baseball came out of a cricket protest. Few americans know this. But I am not making this up, you can Google it on Wikipedia. But Cricket is my number one sport. When I was small it was Footee ( Soccer), but then Cricket took over and just ruled. Nothing like facing a ball whiz past your ears at close to 100 miles an hour, what a thrill. Only when it hits you in the balls it's a bitch, girl, you will never know how much that hurts, even with ball-guards. Your fucking heart misses a few beats and every muscle in you just collapses. You have to just lie on the grown face down till the world comes back to you.

Hope I did not bore you, you don't seem like the sports kind, are you? I guess you prefer to spend that time cooking, that's also cool, whatever floats your boat is cool little one.

[BoobSlayer]

Imagine this: You were born in the greatest superpower in the world, home of the top culinary schools. You log onto an app that was made in America on an American invention called the internet. And there you find a little British girl trying to trigger you over cucumber sandwiches.

Well it's not going to happen. Boobslayer will not rant over a pathetic attempt at trying to seem sophisticated. Yesterday, some Euro girl tried to convince me that Russia was full of savages. Right... what the hell is wrong with you people? You think slicing a cucumber is sophisticated? No wonder you people have monkey pox, live in stone dwellings your ancestors built, and start World Wars over there. Don't even get me started.

Good day ma'am. Enjoy your sophisticated cucumber slices.

[8UniquelyBoring8]

cucumber sandwiches are indeed a traditional British culinary delicacy that's commonly associated with garden parties and cricket matches. Their simple yet elegant ingredients and preparation make them a favorite among the upper classes, but they may not be as popular in other countries with different culinary traditions.
I've had cucumber sandwiches in the past and while I do enjoy them to some extent, I find them to be a bit bland in flavor."

[LovingJo]

Being British, I will say probably not anymore.
But, I, 9 times out of 10, have cucumber in my sandwiches.. because 1, I love them, and 2, because they fill out/give substance to the sandwich and give it flavour and crunch.

This is an older tradition, for summer typically.. However, there is still a tradition of many varieties including it.. of which, cream cheese and cucumber, is a popular one!! 😋❤️

[LovingJo]

Thanks for the MHO 😘

[Lliam]

There is no question that you are the very essence of a posh bastion of society, Poppy. And the UK is well known for its culinary sophistication. 😁😆😂

Classic English dishes like toad in a hole, bangers and mash, and kidney pie are essential menu items in every elite establishment around the world.

I've never never had the pleasure of eating one of the delectable masterpieces to which you referred. Cucumber with butter on bread that has the crusts trimmed is genius.

My wife has had the pleasure when she and her posh girlfriends have gone to fancy tea rooms for high tea. (I don't think men are allowed.)

Unfortunately, as much as she likes cucumbers, she just told me that the sandwiches left something to be desired. I fear that she may not be culinarily sophisticated or possibly not even posh! 😲

[BoopBoopBeep]

Too much butter for my liking, but I had some nice ones at The Peninsula in London. Also at the Rafayel On the Left Bank, which personally I consider a comparable establishment with a more intimate vibe.

"British culinary sophistication"... isn't that quite lovely. You don't see those words together much I'm afraid. :P

[AviatorTom]

Several years ago, I attended the England-Australia Test cricket match in Brisbane Australia. Cucumber sandwiches were on the menu, and several well-dressed individuals were eating them... with their cups if tea. My friends and I had beer.

[Apulu_Imback]

Yes I had them but they tasted way too plain and boring compared to other sandwiches I had.

[Pudsmucker]

Cucumbers and myself do not get along. So I may not be able to associate with the upper Crest of the British. In my younger years I probably would have enjoyed having a cucumber sandwich. But as I age cucumbers upset my digestive system and gives me a massive heartburn. Now I can also eat great amount of pickled cucumbers. Then I can only tolerate the pickle as long as it is with sandwiches or my grill meat.

[PBandJ_Nerd]

I've eaten a cucumber sandwich that had mayo and dill on it with the crust. Not sure if there was cheese (i don't think so) but they taste good either way. I personally like shredded cheddar on cucumber slices.

[OlderAndWiser]

How fortunate we are to have Brits setting the standards for sophistication!

[4ngelic]

if you swap out butter for like cheese spread like saint moret sounds delicious..

[exitseven]

I like cucumbers and eat them a lot but never made a sandwich out of one. I imagine it would be all soggy.

[Nikki1989]

No, but they taste better than they sound.

[HippieVeganJewslim]

I remember eating cucumber sandwiches, but knew not that they’re British thing. I prefer gherkin sandwiches, but I reckon many Yankees put gherkins in their hamburgers.

[Goofy9009]

It’s really hard telling without me knowing very little of British culinary sophistication. But I would think so

[DJB72]

They're best with smoked Scottish salmon - wild, not farmed...

[goaded]

I've had them, I liked them. They're cool.

[SawerBrown]

They have to have mayo to be eatable.

[chicken_nugget24]

We have better food than this Poppy 😂

[BlackJeep]

I would not go to the UK for the food.

[jamesgoldman]

I've had them, few places I've been made them

[Iron_Man]

That’s horrible