Today I am talking with chef Jay Reifel who specialises in cooking historical food. He has co-written a beautiful book with collaborator Victoria Flexner called The History of the World in 10 Dinners.

We talk about the influence of other cultures on British cuisine as well as the influence British cuisine has had on other cuisines, sweet and sour food, mince pies, mediocre medieval spices, and helmeted cocks – amongst many other things.

This is the last regular episode of the run, meaning that the next episode will be the traditional postbag edition – so send me your comments, questions, and queries. Your deadline is the 28th of May 2024.

Support the podcast and blogs by becoming, if you can, a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

Follow Jay on Instagram @jayreifel and visit his website jayreifel.com – where you can find more details of his book.

Things mentioned in today’s episode:

Jay’s Helmeted Cock in Vogue

Neil’s Helmeted Cock on Channel 5

Previous podcast episodes pertinent to today’s episode:

The History of Food Waste & Preservation with Eleanor Barnett

Medieval Meals & Manners with Danièle Cybulskie

Spices with Ian Anderson

Christmas Special 2023: Mince Pies

Tudor Cooking & Cuisine with Brigitte Webster

Forme of Cury with Christopher Monk

Previous blog posts pertinent to today’s episode:

Westmorland Sweet Lamb Pie

Favourite Cook Books no.3: The Forme of Cury, Part I

Favourite Cook Books no. 3: The Forme of Cury, part 2 – recipes

Upcoming events:

British Library Food Season 2024, 25 May at 2pm. 

We Invented the Weekend festival, Salford, 16th June

Ludlow Food Festival, Friday 13th September. 

Warwick Words History Festival, Thursday 3rd October at 4.30pm. 

Neil’s blogs:

‘British Food: a History’

‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

Neil’s books:

Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper

A Dark History of Sugar

Both are published by Pen & Sword and available from all good bookshops.

Don’t forget, there will be postbag episodes in the future, so if you have any questions or queries about today’s episode, or indeed any episode, or have a question about the history of British food please email Neil at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. His DMs are open.

You can also join the British Food: a History Facebook discussion page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishfoodhistory

Mentioned in this episode:

Fruit Pig are currently sponsoring The British Food History Podcast

Visit fruitpig.co.uk for more details of their products and journey, and to access their shop. Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the BFHP a unique special offer: 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout. Time to fill your boots.