Baked Beans

[deird1]

I'm pretty sure they exist in America, but I'm not sure how common they are.

If my British character was sick and wanting baked beans on toast as comfort food,
a) how likely would it be for a Texan to know what he was after?
b) how weird would Texan think this was (comfort-food-wise)?
c) how easy would they be to get hold of?

Comments

[ex_duelist]

They're pretty common.

a) I'm sure he would understand right away.
b) He'd probably think it was pretty weird -- I'm not from Texas, mind you, but I've never heard of baked beans on toast before. Where I live (central midwest US) we usually eat them by themselves as a side dish for something like cooked ham or steak or what have you.
c) Quite easy. Any grocery store would have cans of baked beans.

[icepixie]

There's a very big difference between British and American baked beans. Take it from someone who learned the hard way during a junior year abroad. :) Where yours are what appears to be navy beans in tomato sauce, ours are navy beans in a thicker, browner sauce that is tomato-based, but also can include barbeque sauce, brown sugar, maple flavoring, onions, bacon fat, and all kinds of extra goodies. There are many flavors; here's the website of a popular brand where I am. In general, the key difference is that American baked beans are sweeter and more stew-like than the British counterparts.

I don't know that they're considered comfort food here, but they're a staple at picnics, barbeques, and restaurants that serve such fare. However, we eat them plain, and don't put them on toast. Ever, at least as far as I know. Certainly not in Tennessee, anyway. :)

[florence_craye]

This Tennessean agrees with you. :D

[random00b]

This Californian loves her baked beans and will eat them with just about anything. I have eaten them with (but not on) toast many a time (never had them with cornbreat). I also seriously loved them mixed with macaroni & cheese or spaghetti. While it's true that the U.S. baked beans is based in a thicker sauce that includes both tomato and barbeque sauces, it's possible to have baked beans with no meat involved whatsoever.

And yes, Bush's Beans are quite popular, but growing up (80s/early 90s), it was all about B&M Baked Beans!

[mecurtin]

Baked beans are extremely common in the US, but are not normally served on toast. The common varieties frequently have some amount of BBQ-like sauce in them, and it is very probable that a Texan would eat them as a comfort food with cornbread on the side.

[mizbean]

They're common side, especially in the summertime. In fact we just had baked beans for dinner tonight along with grilled hot dogs and corn on the cob. It's also a popular camping dish, and I'd say they're probably pretty popular in Texas with all the cattle ranches there. Depending on taste, they can be sweetened with maple syrup and served with chopped bacon and/or onions.

Take another non-Texan's opinion (upper Midwest), but beans on toast are not common here.

[donutsweeper]

I'm pretty sure what a Texan would consider baked beans is NOT what your British character would- much sweeter and made with salt pork or bacon