iStockphoto
The United Kingdom may be home to a somewhat thriving culinary scene, but it’s not really a stretch to suggest the types of dishes most people associate with the country aren’t exactly known for being the pinnacle of gastronomic excellence.
I’m not trying to suggest dishes like fish and chips, bangers and mash, and the traditional Sunday roast can’t be delicious when done right, but there’s also a reason British restaurants haven’t been able to proliferate around the world like their French, Italian, and Japanese counterparts.
I will say there’s definitely something to be said for the hangover cure that is the classic British breakfast, a massive spread that typically involves eggs, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, and, of course, baked beans.
Beans have held a special place in the heart of most residents of the UK for close to a century thanks in no small part to the fairly unglamorous meal of beans and toast that can really trace its roots back to World War II.
According to The New York Post, that particular dish served as the inspiration for an incredibly unique item that has taken the internet by storm in the form of the “Big Bean” that was recently unleashed upon an unsuspecting world courtesy of the two London-based advertisers who whipped it up.
The duo told the outlet they’d spent two years thinking about the concept of a giant baked bean before deciding to devote a Sunday to making it a reality.
They were not only able to combine a number of smaller beans into an Absolute Unit but even designed a custom label for a can that drew inspiration from Heinz (the company—which is widely associated with the particular brand of baked beans the British know and love—seemed to have some mixed feelings).
All hail the Big Bean.