Ah, the north of England. I married a "sandgrown’un" (a Blackpool native) once upon a time many years ago (she is very much part of my past, not my present), and I’ve experienced the full panoply of their "cuisine;" mushy peas, chip butties, Marmite, pickled eggs, bangers and mash, kidney pudding, boiled parsnips, done-to-death roast beef.

It takes me back…much against my will. Terrible, terrible excuse for food.