master-cooks | The Origin Story Of The British Banoffee Pie Starts With A US Dessert

The origin story of the British Banoffee Pie, a delightful dessert combining bananas and toffee, begins with inspiration from an American treat. In 1971, Nigel Mackenzie and Ian Dowding, the owner and chef respectively of The Hungry Monk restaurant in East Sussex, sought to modify a recipe for a traditional American dessert called "Blum's Coffee Toffee Pie." This American version consisted of a crust, a toffee filling made from boiled condensed milk, and a coffee-flavored cream topping. Mackenzie and Dowding experimented by adding bananas to the mix, creating a new dish they called "Banoffee Pie," a portmanteau of "banana" and "toffee." Their innovation proved to be a culinary triumph, captivating the taste buds of patrons with its rich, sweet, and creamy profile. The dessert's popularity quickly soared, and soon it was featured in newspapers and on restaurant menus across the UK. Its fame spread internationally, and Banoffee Pie became a beloved staple in the world of desserts. This luscious creation continues to be enjoyed by many, celebrated for its humble yet delectable origins that seamlessly blend British and American culinary influences.

How banoffee pie made its way across the pond

English chef Ian Dowding's colleague had the good fortune to visit San Francisco and taste some of Blum's sweets before they disappeared. In an article for The Guardian, he noted, "Russell had his secret recipes, one of which was a dessert he had brought back from America called Blum's coffee toffee pie. However, it was no secret that it seldom turned out right." Dowding elaborated that the toffee, distinct from caramel, rarely set properly, making the pie more trouble than it was worth.

In 1971, when Chef Ian Dowding took on the role of head chef at the Hungry Monk in Sussex, England, inspiration struck. After discussing with his sister how boiling an unopened can of condensed milk in water for several hours could yield a softer, more manageable toffee, Dowding decided to give the coffee toffee pie another shot.

As he recounted in The Guardian, he and Hungry Monk owner Nigel Mackenzie didn't stop there: "We experimented with some variations — the apple version was quite good, while the mandarin one was utterly terrible — but the day we made it with a layer of bananas, I knew I had found the solution." While Blum is credited for the initial inspiration and Dowding's sister for solving the toffee-setting issue, it was Mackenzie who coined the name, a blend of the key ingredients. So, the next time you watch "Love Actually," remember the pond-jumping legacy of banoffee pie and consider treating yourself to a slice.

The Origin Story Of The British Banoffee Pie Starts With A US Dessert

How banoffee pie made its way across the pond

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