American TikTok food critic Keith Lee has ignited mass outrage and patriotism among Brits as after slating a beloved UK dish for being too greasy and lacking sufficient seasoning
Let’s face it, Britain isn’t exactly renowned for its great cuisine. People from around the world frequently describe the food as beige, unimaginative and lacking spices. However, it seems this time, American TikTok creator Keith Lee has gone just a step too far with his criticism of UK food.
As a food reviewer with over 16.9 million followers, Keith is best known for his content reviewing struggling restaurants, where he determines whether it is the food, marketing or location that’s the reason behind the lack of customers. These videos have been known to have a huge impact on small businesses.
So, unsurprisingly, British fans were excited when he announced that he would be taking a trip across the pond this year. Unfortunately, his reactions so far haven’t exactly been positive. Upon arriving in London, he filmed himself trying the hotel’s Full English Breakfast. On his plate, there was the delicious classic selection of baked beans, scrambled eggs. sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, mushrooms, black pudding and tomatoes.
But the first horror came when the US-born social media sensation placed some beans on his bread to try beans on toast – but then had difficulty biting the bread. Once he was done, he delivered his verdict. He gave the scrambled eggs a mere six out of 10, the “greasier and lot less salty” hashbrowns a dismal four out of 10, and the bacon a seven out of 10.
The real offence came when he proceeded to give the beans on toast with “no seasoning” a one out of 10, the sausage a four out of then (because it tasted too much like pork) and didn’t bother to rate the mushroom. Finally, he gave the black pudding a zero out of 10, claiming that it tasted “like blood”.
Needless to say, his viral video, which has since gained over 10.7 million views, has left British fans outraged: “I’m not easily offended, but this has done it for me,” someone wrote. “man ruined his credibility over a plate of beans on toast,” one user said.
The controversy has even generated an outburst of pride in the UK’s beige culinary offerings. “I genuinely haven’t felt this patriotic in a long time,” another TikTok user commented.
The debate also continued over on X, with Brits pointing out all of the underappreciated dishes the country has to offer. “Sorry, but I couldn’t care less what Americans think. Pie and mash is banging! I just prefer gravy instead of liquor, but we definitely eat traditional British food. Jacket potatoes, beans on toast, bangers and mash, and all the rest, mate,” an account wrote.
“British food slaps. Full English, Sunday roast, Yorkshire puddings, fish and chips, jacket potatoes, pies, afternoon tea and pub food,” one pointed out.
Another argued, “Sorry but British food is so overhated… pies, afternoon tea, victoria sponges, scones, fish & chips, mushy peas, Yorkshire puddings, gravy, salads- all bangers”