You don’t have to be a Brit or even a Harry and Meghan follower to know that May 6 is Coronation Day in the United Kingdom. King Charles III will be crowned in a ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey that day, and the news — about the carriages, the crowns, the king’s very heavy robes and the reams of regal rumors — has been everywhere.
A coronation is a solemn occasion, of course, but it’s also an excuse for a national knees-up. (That’s a lively party to us Yanks.) Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was 60 years ago, so this is a big day for British expats, who likely still enjoy the Coronation Chicken — a curry-tinged chicken salad — served at the festivities in 1953. (And in case you’re wondering, King Charles is serving Coronation Quiche.)
In honor of next week’s historic event, British expat-owned businesses across the Bay Area are celebrating with parties and special menus. Yes, there will be Coronation Chicken and tea. And, of course, ale and fish and chips.
Whether you’re a royal fan or not, everyone is welcome to join in the festivities. Here’s just a sampling of places to celebrate. Cheers!
Britannia Arms of Almaden Valley, San Jose
San Jose’s British pub, the Brittania Arms of Almaden Valley, is known for its welcoming atmosphere and classic pub fare, including housemade savory pies, bangers and mash, and fish and chips. But the 35-year-old establishment is a huge part of the local community, too, organizing toy drives and fundraisers on a regular basis.
Former co-owner Michael North, who still helps out at the pub, arrived in the U.S. 41 years ago and was one of the pub’s first customers when it opened in 1988. He began working there a year later and even now, a year after selling his share, he is still part of the fabric of the place.
“It’s a little piece of home,” he says. “We try and make sure everybody is welcome when they walk through the door. You’re only a stranger once, when you come to the Brittania Arms.”
The Britannia Arms is throwing a traditional street party-style shindig at the same time as the coronation — 3 a.m. Pacific time. There will be coronation mugs, a cake baked by North’s wife and a book well-wishers can sign to be sent to King Charles. Guests are expected to dress up in style, and a full English breakfast — bacon, bangers, beans and all — will be served.
“Whether there’s five people or 500 people, we’ll be open for it,” North says.
For those of you who would rather sleep in, general revelry will continue later in the day and all the days to come. That’s kind of the Brittania Arms’ thing.
Details: The coronation breakfast is $30, including a souvenir mug. On non-coronation days, the Brittania Arms opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends in Robertsville Square, 5027 Almaden Expressway, San Jose; www.britanniaarms.com/2022/.
Mrs Miggins British Bakery, San Ramon, Oakland, Sunnyvale and other locations
This British bakery project was started in 2021, in response to the dire shortage of sausage rolls in California.
When British-born chef Julie Whittington was made redundant at the start of the pandemic, she decided it was time to do something about the lack of British pies and pastries in the Bay Area, and enlisted friend and fellow Brit Megan Twisk. After jumping through some regulatory hoops, Mrs Miggins British Bakery was born.
Fans of the long-running British comedy, Blackadder, will recognize the name, which is inspired by London’s premiere fictional pie-maker.
Mrs Miggins sells their popular take-and-bake sausage rolls, filled with seasoned, ground pork from Berkshire/Duroc crossbreeds, as well as chicken tikka pasties, steak and ale pasties, and chicken and bacon pasties at farmers markets across the Bay Area. Just look for the Union Jack-adorned stall in San Ramon, Oakland’s Montclair district, Niles-Fremont, Sunnyvale and San Jose’s Willow Glen. Or order directly from their website for home delivery.
Sausage rolls ($24 for four) are still their biggest seller, but the recently-launched sticky toffee pudding is giving the pastry a run for its money, Twisk says. And the two are planning a special treat for customers in honor of coronation day.
“We’re going to do an afternoon tea in a box with Coronation Chicken sandwiches for two people,” says Whittington.
The box will be wrapped up with ribbons and include traditional British tea-time favorites like cake and finger sandwiches — perfect for a picnic now that the weather is finally getting warmer.
Details: Find Mrs Miggins at the Saturday markets in San Ramon, Niles, Sunnyvale and Willow Glen and Sundays at the Montclair market in Oakland — and at www.mrsmigginsbritishbakery.com.
Scrumptious Fish and Chips, Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley
Known throughout the British expat community as THE place to get Britain’s national dish, Scrumptious Fish and Chips serves the traditional crispy delight from a roving food truck. Founders Tim and Helen Korinth did not set out to be entrepreneurs but caved to requests from friends and family to make their delicious fare available beyond their backyard get-togethers.
What started as a once-a-month side hustle became a full-time endeavor when the pandemic hit, and the couple lost their corporate jobs — on the same day. While it wasn’t easy starting a food business when everything was shutting down, Scrumptious partnered with Santa Cruz’s Humble Sea Brewing and quickly gained fans for their perfectly crisp battered cod and delicious, twice-fried chips — or, as we Yanks call them, fries.
“They’re fluffy on the interior and crunchy on the exterior, and it’s a taste that everybody loves,” Helen Korinth says. “It’s the ultimate compliment when we get Brits saying this is the best fish and chips we’ve ever had — here in America or in England!”
Naturally, fish and chips ($15) is the most popular item on the menu, but their Loaded Vegan Guac Chips ($9), which tops those fries with guacamole, pickled onions, vegan ranch and chile flakes is also a hit with customers. As for chip dunking, there are no commercial sauces or ketchup packets. The scratch-made condiments include a tartar sauce made with fresh squeezed lemon and capers and a housemade curry ketchup.
“The weekend of the coronation, we’ll decorate the truck, we’ll wear British hats,” Helen says. “So if anybody in the Bay Area wants a fix of Britain or if they’re missing home, we might be the place to go.”
Details: Find the Scrumptious food truck at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos and at Humble Sea Brewing on Santa Cruz’s Westside every weekend and at Steel Bonnet, a Scottish microbrewery in Scotts Valley, on Thursdays. Find more details at www.scrumptiousfc.com.
Willow on the Green, San Francisco
This high-end British cheesemonger is the only dedicated British cheese shop in the city. The idea may be niche, but it’s found a home in the Inner Sunset neighborhood, says founder Alex J. Sinclair.
When the pandemic hit, Sinclair, like many transplants, couldn’t get back to the U.K. to visit family and enjoy his favorite foods. At the same time, he saw businesses in his neighborhood shutting down. He decided the solution to both problems would be to open a shop showcasing the best of British foods. A year later, the shop has settled into its neighborhood gem status.
May 1 will be Willow on the Green’s first anniversary, and Sinclair is busy planning an early coronation party to celebrate the milestone. It will be an “unofficial street party,” he says, with bagpipers and pies.
“I think it’s really cool we’re celebrating so far away from the U.K.,” Alex says. “This will hopefully bring communities together.”
After everything that’s happened over the last few years, he adds, “I think we’re due for a knees-up.”
Details: Opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on weekends at 1327B Ninth Ave. in San Francisco; www.facebook.com/willowonthegreen.
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