Sunday night rewind

This entry was first posted on Thurs 11th February 2010, which isn't that long ago I know, but if you're a new reader here since then I thought I'd set the scene before I drop another medieval dinner on you later this week! I'd also love to know what you know…

what do you know

By the time you get here, mid thirties, and maybe you've travelled around a bit and met lots of people (I love people), you realise that everyone's got something they know about. 

I've met people that know lots of stuff about science (my brother in law Owen). Some that know about coffee (Adam). Or cows (Hi Dad.) There are people that could tell you everything about Mussolini (my good friend Kevin), or musical theatre (my sister Naomi) or, I don't know, I could go on. Everyone you meet knows something

What do I know about? Not much really. But I do know a little bit about food. Actually: medieval food.

Unfortunately (and frankly, intensely surprisingly), it doesn't deeply fascinate everyone else in the world the way it fascinates me. 

I wrote an undergraduate honours thesis on the food supply arrangements of the First Crusade. (And KLUNK, that's the sound of the first sleeping head hitting the table). 

I began a PhD on the logistics of feeding the armies across the crusading period (1096 – 1292) (KLUNK, KLUNK). I'll go back to it one day. 

So, medieval food. 

Wanna eat some?

DSC_0007

I have, on occasion, invited people for dinner and served them an entire medieval meal made from authentic fourteenth century recipes. No forks, of course. A trencher (board) shared between two, served in courses accompanied by hippocras. FUN. Really. 

So I thought I'd make you some of my favourite medieval food. Some of the flavours and spice combinations are a bit odd, or should I say, unfamiliar. But in principle, medieval food is simple, wholesome and seasonal. Very modern really. 

Please, stay tuned. I'll be right back with my jumbles. And dariole (custard tart). And roast shoulder of lamb with pancetta which either comes from Le Ménagier de Paris (my favourite) or Tractatus de modo preparandi et condiendi omnia cibaria (tee hee! sorry). 

This'll be fun, I promise. 

While we're cooking, please, tell me what you know about! Hello? Please wake up?

xxx

 

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