On my many antiquing trips to England, the dish I enjoyed most was their roasted potatoes although the jacket potato I had at the Birmingham flea market is memorable as well. Let me wax poetic for a minute over the jacket potato: first, it was the biggest potato I have ever eaten standing up. (The dealers don't want you to sit down they want you on foot and buying and I was happy to accommodate them but I needed fuel.) One had a wide choice of toppings, so I opted for most of them, excluding beans, I couldn't quite factor beans into it. The potato was fluffy and generous and hot and buttery with a crispy skin that went down rather well too. The next potato that I enjoyed was always on a trip out of town to Arundel where the little village sported many antique shops and the handsome Spencer. Many women went to the village just to gaze upon Spencer as well as his antiques which were an after-thought. The Tudor Rose was a restaurant that sported the hottest food I have ever eaten. The plate of food came hot and stayed so hot it was nearly impossible to eat. The potatoes were roasted to perfection. They were crisp on the outside and creamy tender on the inside. I could have dined just on a plate of roasted potatoes. If you go to Arundel and to the Tudor Rose don't get the roast beef. Everything else is very good.
Today the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten, had Mary Poppins on to cook with her. Being English (Emily Blunt) presented a very nice rendition of the English roasted potato. It is not hard and they turned out perfectly. The secret is to parboil the potatoes for around 10 minutes first, then dry them on a rack until all water is gone and then roast them in the oven with plenty of oil, salt and pepper. I have a nice fry up in my oven right now: iron skillet with butter, sliced onions, mushrooms, and on top parboiled potatoes and I hear the timer, so I am off. If it looks pretty I will take a shot for you.
