One Of Patrick Stewart's Favorite Foods Was A Classic British Comfort Dish

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Patrick Stewart, the accomplished stage and screen actor, died on October 28, 2026 at age 86. And while he may be best known as an accomplished Shakespearean actor, or Captain Jean-Luc Picard from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," or Professor X from the "X-Men" movie franchise, he was thoroughly English at heart. And as such, some of his favorite meals and treats were distinctly of a certain era in the United Kingdom. According to Sir Patrick himself, his "signature dish since 1948" is classic beans on toast. The dish, which is an easy, affordable option in place of full English breakfasts or for midday snacks, consists of exactly what is described: canned beans on a piece of toast.

In a 2021 Facebook Reel, Stewart is sitting outside, in front of a plate with two slices of artisanal bread covered in baked beans and a red tomato sauce. As he lifts a forkful of bread and beans towards his mouth, Stewart said, "The only dish I can make, and I ate it probably thousands of times all the way through my childhood: beans on toast." He gently chides New York Times food writer Melissa Clark, saying "eat your heart out" before triumphantly taking a bite. It's not clear why he calls Clark out, but since she has made a living out of upgrading everything from a can of white beans to pork chops, it may be there was a friendly rivalry going on at the time.

Born in Mirfield, Yorkshire in northern England, Patrick Stewart spoke frequently about his working class British upbringing in interviews and in his book "Making It So: A Memoir." Though coming from a small mining town seems directly at odds with the posh baritone articulations of an experienced and knighted Shakespearean actor, Stewart was insistent that his northern roots were integral to who he was. And of course, beans on toast were a part of that upbringing.

When Henry Heinz introduced canned beans to the U.K. in 1869, they were a luxury, imported product. But in 1927 the company launched the Joy of Living ad campaign, and in the decade before World War II, canned beans became a British staple. As rationing and shortages dominated England during and after the war, beans on toast became a go-to meal for the working class, and the best way to use Heinz canned beans, according to many, like Stewart's family. So it's no wonder he devoured them as a kid after the war, and continued to embrace the dish towards the end of his life.

The recipe couldn't be easier: Toast bread until it's good and crispy and slather with butter. Heat the canned beans until the sauce is somewhat reduced and thick. Heinz beans in tomato sauce is the go-to in England, but you can use whatever beans you like. Then spoon a half cup or so of the beans over each piece of bread. Of course, just because Stewart ate them that way, doesn't mean you can't upgrade beans on toast like Gordon Ramsay.