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Eggspect a diplomatic incident! The New York Times toad-in-the-hole recipe causes stir among Brits

'America and the New York Times begin hostilities against us with this recipe for how they think we eat,' a Brit wrote

LOS ANGELES, CALIFRORNIA: Brits have criticized The New York Times for providing the wrong recipe the iconic toad-in-the-hole dish. The Times' recipe referred to it as 'egg on toast.' The bizarre dish is considered an 'honor' for London TV chef Heston Blumenthal and was adapted from one by renowned US chef Kyle Connaughton. The middle of the toast has a hole in it, perhaps to explain the moniker. Instead of scrambled eggs or toast, the traditional British dish's actual recipe calls for batter-fried sausages.

The Times' alleged cooking expert adapted a breakfast recipe from Connaughton's Californian restaurant, called The Mad Hatter's Toad In The Hole, which is thought to be the cause of the confusion.  The strange recipe for toad-in-the-hole was published, causing a little diplomatic crisis even though the dish itself was just egg on toast, and its name was a joke. Neither of these things was noticed.

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'Toad in the hole... without any actual frogs'

"I don't think the New York Times has ever done a worse thing to our country," said one commenter. Another user hilariously wrote, "Shots Fired. America and the New York Times begin hostilities against us with this recipe for how they think we eat. Toad in the hole... without any actual frogs. Hint: It's egg and cheese on toast."

To prepare the fancy eggs, you must employ the sous-vide method, which involves vacuum-sealing, cooking in a water bath, and using a siphon canister. However, the infamous American newspaper advises that you can simply scramble or poach them if you don't have these in your kitchen.

'Hope our government is taking it seriously'

According to food reviewer Florence Fabricant, the English menu at SingleThread features toad-in-the-hole as its main dish. Connaughton calls it an "homage to Heston Blumenthal," who is an innovative English chef and the proprietor of The Fat Duck and with whom he spent a number of years working. ''This is now a diplomatic incident, and I hope our government is taking it seriously," commented Rachel Love-Howseman. At the same time, another commenter provided a picture of British Redcoats charging into combat.

Blumenthal and Chef Connaughton previously collaborated at The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, which is now part of the SingleThread Farm, Restaurant, and Inn in Healdsburg, California. He served as the research and development restaurant's head chef while there. His opulent diner charges up to $475 (£378) per person for reservations.

This week, the newspaper got into trouble with the British after claiming to have found the crisp butty. As a "surprising national hero" who "has struck a chord" with the UK, they praised strike-happy union boss Mick Lynch in December. Additionally, after publishing false inflation data in a story about the Queen's funeral, The New York Times was forced to issue an embarrassing apology for an attack on the Royal Family in September, as reported by the Daily Mail.