MOMENT
Cricket lunch
Eton College, June
Eton Mess
Meringues, smashed not crumbled. Cream, whipped to a soft cloud, not stiff. Strawberries, halved if small and quartered if large, macerated in a spoon of sugar for ten minutes. Fold together at the table, never in advance, never with a spatula. Two large spoons, three turns, serve.
Total time
10 minutes
Serves
4
Difficulty
Easy
Origin
Eton College, 1920s
The meringues must be shop-bought or made the day before. Fresh meringues are too soft and dissolve into the cream. You want crunch in every spoonful.
Use British strawberries if the season is right, June to August. Spanish strawberries the rest of the year work in a pinch but lack the perfume.
