Everything You Never Wanted to Know About ‘Boris Broth’

Time to take a big sip of prime ministerial soup

Prime minister Boris Johnson recovered from novel coronavirus last week, after a week in intensive care. As his convalescence makes headlines ahead of Britain’s growing death toll and persistent concerns about the government’s handling of promises for testing and personal protective equipment, something else has emerged. It’s called “Boris Broth.”

Described in the Telegraph by restaurant critic and controversial former magazine editor William Sitwell as “a nourishing soup,” Boris Broth is designed for recovery, for heartiness, and comes infused with the cult of the leader’s personality. That boiled personality — along with British exceptionalism and clapping — is imagined to lead the nation where voting for governments which understand what supporting the NHS actually means clearly could not: to “victory.” Victory against the novel coronavirus, a disease for which there is no vaccine and which disproportionately impacts the economically, socially, and corporally vulnerable, but can apparently be “beaten” by broth.

Still, questions remain:

What is Boris Broth?

Boris Broth is a politically branded soup, linked to Food4Heroes, which is one of many quickly established aid groups feeding NHS staff.

Why is Boris Broth called “Boris Broth?”

According to Food4Heroes co-founder Mandy Guest, “Just like Boris, it’s invigorating, it’s robust and it’ll put colour in your cheeks,” says Guest, adding: “It’s a sustaining tonic for those in good health and a restorative for those recovering from illness.”

What’s in Boris Broth?

Butter, vegetable oil, onion, carrots, turnip, leek, celery, potato, pearl barley, chicken, chicken stock, parsley, salt, and pepper.

Is Boris Broth just a jingoistic version of restorative soup from another country?

Ahh, of course.

Will Boris Broth cure coronavirus?

No.

And in other news...

• The government is flying in workers from Eastern Europe to pick fruit and vegetables in the U.K. At least, following COVID-19, there’s no imminent political shift that will cause a similar situation. [BBC]
• KFC, Burger King, and Pret a Manger are reopening restaurants for delivery. They say it’s to “support the NHS.”
• London’s pie and mash shops are looking to their roots to plot a future through the novel coronavirus outbreak.
• Ruby Tandoh looks at the “normal, perfect” bites of the world that soothe in times of crisis.
• Two accounts of working at one of the largest ready meal companies in the U.K., looking at how “hero” discourse undermines the fact that many workers have no choice. [Vice / Vittles]
• Good tweet: