On September 3rd, National Welsh Rarebit Day whips up a tasty and satisfying snack.
What is a rarebit? The cheesy toast was originally called Rabbit in a tongue-in-cheek way in the Welsh language because there is no rabbit in the meal.
Similar to mock turtle soup having no turtle in it, Welsh rarebit does not contain rabbit. Instead, this dish is made with toast that has hot cheese poured over it.
Over time, the dish became known as Welsh Rarebit – a nod to the inside joke.
In the eighteenth century, Welsh Rarebit was served as a delicious supper. Taverns served it with ale.
While fondue might come to mind, Welsh Rarebit more commonly uses wheat bread and cheddar cheese.
A typical European fondue would start with Swiss cheeses.
As with any dish, there are variations of Welsh Rarebit. Some of the recipes call for cayenne pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, or paprika.
Top the cheese with a poached egg, and the dish becomes a Golden Buck. Add bacon, and some call the meal a Yorkshire Buck.
It also seems that humor goes well with Welsh Rarebit. Or at least it once did back when humor was tossed back and forth across the pond.
In any case, the creamy, cheesy, and toasty dish deserves a taste and a smile, too.
