Welsch (Rarebit)

This one comes as a surprise for the visiting Brit normally expecting plain cheese on toast. It is Northern French comfort food at its most simple.

Slices of bread and ham are baked/grilled with a thick beer and cheese sauce in a deep oven dish. The dish is normally served with chips, and Worcestershire sauce is the preferred condiment. It si often served topped with a fried egg.

The name derives from the 18th century usage of the word 'Welsh' to refer to an inferior grade of article, in this case concocting a cheap dish to resemble something more grand.

Although a classic dish in Flanders, it can also often be found throughout northern France.