Shrove Tuesday. Banbury, UK

February 2020
Shrove Tuesday! Arguably the best day of the season.  So many delicious pre-Lent treats from all different cultures.

 Dutch Pancakes
What better way to celebrate than at a Dutch pancake house.  Dutch pancakes are a slightly thicker version of French crepes, and there are some weird and wonderful flavour combos.  I loved the concept of this one where the bacon is cooked in to the pancake batter.  The sweetness of the apples pair perfectly with the saltiness of the bacon, whilst adding some bite.  Syrup optional.  Does this count as the main course or pudding pancake?!
Try it at Little Amsterdam in Banbury.


Semla
Or go Swedish with a semla.  Generally sold from January until Shrove Tuesday, these are cardamom buns filled with almond paste and whipped cream.  Heavy buns, full of flavour - strong cardamom and almond, which I found a little overpowering, and lashings of cream.  Although I wasn't altogether taken by the taste, I did enjoy the different textures - spongy bun, crunchy almond paste and the airy cream. Southern Swedes enjoy these as is, whilst Northern Swedes eat them soaked in warm milk.  Personally, I'm with the Southerners - I found the milk made it too soggy and masked all the wonderful textures, which will you be?   
The most impressive I came across were from Bageriet in London (which still sell them for a few days after Shrove Tuesday).

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