Welsh Rarebit: The Dining Car Classic That Deserves a Comeback There is no rabbit in Welsh Rarebit. There never was. The name is old British humor — "bit" as a playful corruption of "rabbit," a joke about the poor Welshman's substitute for meat. What it actually is: a rich, silky sharp cheddar cheese sauce poured over toast, and it has been on tables for more than two centuries. This recipe comes from Dinner in the Diner by Will Hollister, and it was originally served in the dining car of the Chesapeake and Ohio Sportsman — a steam-powered passenger train that took genuine pride in what came out of its kitchen. Real food, real technique, served at real speed. The technique is the story. Welsh Rarebit is made in a double boiler — or a DIY version built from a saucepan and a heatproof bowl — because cheese is fat, protein, and water. Too much heat, too fast, and the proteins seize up, the fat separates, and your sauce breaks. The double boiler keeps everything g...
