It's a beloved national dish of Wales and is found on restaurant menus across the country, but did Welsh rarebit actually start life as a joke played by the English?
Toasted bread smothered in a rich, cheesy sauce – what's not to love?
But the origin stories of this nostalgic comfort food are as varied as the recipes you can use to make it.
Some credit poor farmers using a clever substitute for meat while others think English pubs coined the name as a joke, mocking the Welsh for not affording real rabbit.
But which of these cheesy tales cuts the mustard?
Welsh food historian and author Carwyn Graves said rarebit was "clearly associated with cultural and ethnic Welshness", with cheese being a vital part of European diets for a long time, especially in regions like Wales, where the dairy industry thrived.
In the Middle Ages, before refrigeration, cheese and butter were essential for preserving milk from the spring and summer for use during the colder months.
It was also a vital source of protein for poorer communities, particularly in areas like Wales and the Alps, where meat was scarce.
