Oh MAN that sounds wonderful!

It is!
Sadly, many pubs are turning into trendy Gastro pubs that think they are too cool for a Ploughman's.
An apple should be part of a Ploughman's along with some salad - but nothing fancy, just plain crunchy lettuce.

Mmmmmmm bread and cheese and nibblies as a meal is one of my favorite things.

So surreal..I just picked up a jar of branston pickle from Myers of Keswick last week...couldn't wait for a care package from the uk that is taking much too long...mmmm cheese n branston pickle!

saer
http://cravenmaven.wordpress.com

This brings back memories....of being a poor student in London for a summer. I packed myself a ploughman's sandwich for lunch 3 or 4 days a week -- cheap and tasty.

I love Ploughmans. It can be as simple or as fancy as you like, depending on the types of pickle/relish/cheese and bread that you use. A proper treat.

can someone please describe Branston pickle? Is it different than the dill or sweet pickles that we know in the U.S.? Or is it a relish?

I made some pickled onions from a video of an English man showing how.

Here he is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yypBKxI4aLY

hi splatgirl

here's a description of Branston pickle, straight from London, England!

it's not a pickle in the sense of pickled cucumber (which is what I think you mean by dill or sweet). it's more of a chutney.

it's a selection of pickled vegetables, chopped into bite-size chunks, bound in a thick sweet, spiced sauce.

it's absolutely heavenly in a cheese sandwich!

search some out and enjoy.

ohhh thanks Hannah G! I LOVE chutney of any kind and this sounds delicious! Going on my list of things to try.

Ha! I just came back to Canada from 2 weeks in the UK and Branston was FIRST on my list of British groceries to bring back. (A huge wedge of Quicke's http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/the-cheesemonger/the-diary-of-a-cheddar-maker-mrs-quickes-cheddar-the-cheesemonger-090075 was second, but I got that for free!)

You can't beat a proper ploughmans.

A Ploughman's lunch can make you feel all is well with the world-good one for highlighting it here!

I have to say though, as a bona fide UK citizen, I don't think the apple is optional! I did a quick survey around me to see whether it was just me and we were in agreement that the absolute fundamentals of a ploughmans lunch were bread, cheese and an apple. A Chutney (like Branston's pickle) being a very common addition to that holy trinity (but must be a newer addition post-colonisation of India, I'm pretty sure the ploughman's lunch is older than that)-and you won't find me saying no to some real English beer! I've never personally had pickled onions with it (not a fan) but they are classic british pub food so go for it.

Just don't forget the apple!

Loblaws sells Branston Pickle (at least here in Toronto). Hmmm, I love Ploughman's lunches!

Hooray for the Branston pickle party!! It is something I grew up eating all the time thanks to my British mom. My favourite way to prepare its open faced grilled cheddar sandwiches with Branston smeared over top and the left under the broiler until bubbly and crisp. And while, we're on the topic, can we talk about how awesome British food is in general- beans and toast, meat pies- just divine!

For Brooklyn folks -- Fairway in Red Hook carries Branston Pickle in their small "British" section. I picked up a jar a couple weeks ago.

Here's my pickled egg recipe - it's spicy...check it out:

http://motherskitchen.blogspot.com/2006/04/pickled-eggs.html

A restaurant in NYC called Chipshop does a ploughman's salad with granny smith apples, stilton, lettuce, crumbled hard boiled egg and other stuff. It is SO GOOD. Thanks for reminding me I need to make this for myself at home!