The British Food History Podcast

The British Food History Podcast

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The British Food History Podcast episodes

  • Bonus minisode: Serve it Forth Food History Festival 2026

    Hello and welcome to a little bonus minisode all about this year’s Serve it Forth Food History Festival 2026, which is online and on Saturday 17 October 2026.

    The team, made up of Sam Bilton, Thomas Ntinas, Alessandra Pino and me go through the day’s sessions to whet your appetite before the big day.

    This episode also includes an interview by Sam Bilton with Kevin Booth of English Heritage ahead of her session on the Bayeux Tapestry, all about the skeleton and facial reconstruction of Conquest Man.

    We can’t wait to see you there!

    Serve it Forth website: https://serveitforthfest.wixsite.com/info

    The Bill of Fare: https://serveitforthfest.wixsite.com/info/bill-of-fare

    Serve it Forth Tickets (£12 + booking fee): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/serve-it-forth-food-history-festival-2026-tickets-1992224789976?aff=oddtdtcreator

    More on Conquest Man: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/search-news/310826-conquest-man/



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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    23 min
  • Special Postbag Edition #7

    It’s time for the now traditional end-of-season postbag episode of The British Food History Podcast, where I (attempt to) answer your questions, read out your comments and mull over your queries.

    Several photos and illustrations are mentioned in this episode: to see them, visit the accompanying blog post on British Food: A History: www.britishfoodhistory.com

    I’ll be disappearing for a few months, unless of course, you are a monthly subscriber, where there will be a bonus episode coming up for you to listen to via the secret podcast.

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    Ludlow Food Festival 2026

    Serve it Forth mailing list

    Serve it Forth Eventbrite page

    Brecon Agricultural Show

    Mamgu Welsh cakes

    English Food by Jane Grigson

    Café Erol

    Ivor Cutler’s Life in a Scotch Sitting Room Vol.2 ep.6

    Ivor’s obituary

    The Feasts of Autolycus, by Elizabeth Robins Pennell

    Comfortably Hungry: Bleeding Cows & Black Puddings

    The Great Cream Tea Debate on my YouTube channel

    The English Housewife by Gervase Markham

    Delia Smith's famous rallying cry

    Previous pertinent blog posts

    To Make Welsh Cakes (Pice ar y maen)

    Singin’ Hinnies

    Blood ice cream

    Scones: A brief history

    Four Scone Recipes

    Cornish Splits

    Pease Bread

    Syllabubs

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    Griddle & Bakestone Cookery with Peter Gilchrist & Ross Clarke

    Eating Out in Georgian London with Peter Ross

    Retro Foods with Briony May Williams

    Hogmanay & Hamely Kitchen with Paula McIntyre

    British Fish & Seafood with CJ Jackson

    The History of Food Waste & Preservation with Eleanor Barnett

    Black & White Pudding with Matthew Cockin & Grant Harper

    A History of Baking with Sam Bilton & Neil Buttery

    Spices with Ian Anderson

    Historical Cookery with Jay Reifel

    50 years of ‘English Food’ by Jane Grigson with Sam Bilton, Ivan Day, Annie Gray & Jill Norman

    Breakfast with Felicity Cloake

    Special Postbag Edition #6

    18th Century Dining with Ivan Day

    Eel Special 1: Elvers with ‘Elver’ Dave

    Medieval Meals & Manners with Danielle Cybulskie

    Shakespearean Food & Drink with Sam Bilton

    Lent episode 1: Preparing for Lent

    C is for Caudle, Cider & Cappuccino

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    52 min
  • Griddle & Bakestone Cookery with Peter Gilchrist & Ross Clarke

    Today I am speaking with food historian Peter Gilchrist and food writer Ross Clarke, who specialise in writing about and rediscovering the traditional foods of Scotland and Wales, respectively.

    Peter is a returning guest who goes under the name Tenement Kitchen and is the co-host of The Scottish Food History Podcast. Ross is a food and travel writer and author of The Welsh Kitchen on Substack.

    They both use a bakestone or griddle (or whatever you call yours – there are quite a few names for the usually round, usually iron piece of iron we bake our crumpets, drop scones, muffins and Welsh cakes upon) and I thought we should discuss using them and some of the best of British bakestone bakes.

    We talk about the place of bakestones and griddles in British food culture, Welsh cakes, bannocks and pikelets, classic writers such as Bobby Freeman and F. Marion McNeill and the applied uses of bacon fat, amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get plenty of bonus material where we discuss adapting traditional recipes to keep them relevant, how annoyed I get when classic recipes get messed around with, what we get out of recreating historical recipes and buttermilk – plus more.

    Follow Peter on social media: @TenementKitchen on Facebook, Insta, Bluesky, X and TikTok

    Follow Ross on Social Media: @theguiri on Insta, @rosswclarke on X and Facebook

    Tenement Kitchen website

    The Welsh Kitchen on Substack

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    A Book of Welsh Bakestone Cookery by Bobby Freeman

    First Catch Your Peacock by Bobby Freeman

    First Principles of Good Cookery by Lady Llanover

    The Scots Kitchen by F. Marion McNeill

    English Food by Jane Grigson

    Knead to Know: A History of Baking by Neil Buttery

    World Bannock Day

    Ross’s article about Welsh cakes

    Ross’s article The Joy of the Bakestone (with bara planc recipe)

    The Scottish Food History Podcast episode about F. Marion McNeill – part 1 with Jeremy Lee

    Peter’s morning rolls UNSECO bid

    Serve it Forth Food History Festival EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

    Previous pertinent blog posts

    The Griddle Cakes & Pancakes section on Neil Cooks Grigson

    Pancake Day

    To Make Muffins

    To Make Crumpets

    The Muffin-Crumpet Continuum

    Singin’ Hinnies

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    A History of Baking with Sam Bilton & Neil Buttery

    The Philosophy of Puddings with Neil Buttery, Peter Gilchrist & Lindsay Middleton

    Derbyshire Oatcakes with Mark Dawson

    Lent episode 1: Preparing for Lent

    B is for Bakestone, Bechamel & Barbecue

    C is for Custard, Chancellor’s Buttocks & Crumpets

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    47 min
  • Tea, Cake & the American Revolution with Nancy Siegel

    Happy 4th of July to my listeners in the USA…and all of those around the world who also celebrate the day!

    It’s a big one because the US is celebrating 250 years of independence this year. And to mark this special day, I have a special guest, Professor Nancy Siegel, and we are going to talk about the roles food and drink – especially tea and cake – played.

    Nancy Siegal is Professor of Art History and Culinary History at Towson University, Maryland. She specialises in American landscape studies, underrepresented women artists of the 19th century, print culture, and culinary history of the 18th and 19th centuries. Lucky for me, Nancy was in London, visiting the British Library at the same time I was in London, so we got to record this conversation in person in the breakfast room of Nancy’s hotel, the Harlingford Hotel – a big thank you to them.

    Nancy has an excellent book that isn’t out until the autumn, but I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at it, called Political Appetites: The Power of Food in Revolutionary America, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. In that book, Nancy documents the roles food and drinks, especially tea (and its trappings) played in the colonists of North America wanting to sever their ties with Britain, and how food was used to help distance themselves culturally from the British – at first the colonists very much identified as British.

    We talk about the tax on tea and the Boston Tea Party, tea alternatives, culinary activists such as the women of Edenton, giant independence cakes, Amelia Simmons, and how the people of the new USA used food and drink to culturally distance themselves from the British – amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get LOADS of bonus material where we discuss George III’s botanist, pride in abundance, the value of hunting out original documents, baking fails, the all-American apple pie, and the function of satire – plus more.

    Nancy’s page on the Towson University website

    Political Appetites: The Power of Food in Revolutionary America

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    The mixing and sound engineering were done by Thomas Ntinas of The Delicious Legacy podcast

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    The Edenton Tea Rebellion

    A political teapot

    American Cookery by Amelia Simmons (1796)

    The Hasty Pudding by Joel Barloe (1793)

    Serve it Forth Food History Festival EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    Feeding the Georgian Kings with Adam Crymble and Rachel Rich

    Worcester Porcelain with Paul Crane

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    45 min
  • Food & Agriculture in Prehistoric & Medieval Scotland with Maureen Kilpatrick

    Today I am speaking with Maureen Kilpatrick of Guard Archaeology, a Scottish archaeology firm that has dug sites all over Scotland, but today we are focusing on one site called Guardbridge, in Fife, where the timespan the finds ranged from is astounding: from the Stone Age to the 13th century. Several finds were food-related.

    The site is amazing – there’s an Iron Age fort, there are field demarcations, evidence of food and how it was processed and cooked, as well as lots of evidence of the community moving from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled farming one.

    We talk about the material objects found on site, such as saddle querns, axes and ploughing tools, food remains like emmer wheat, barley, cockles and the indestructible hazelnut, non-slip pottery and the surprisingly late appearance of oats, amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get some bonus material where we discuss whether modern agriculture with its mechanised ploughs is a help or a hindrance to archaeologists these days.

    Read the full report: ARO61: Guardbridge, Fife: A multi-period settlement with a multi-vallate fort

    Follow Guard Archaeology in X/Twitter @GUARD_Archaeol

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    The mixing and sound engineering were done by Thomas Ndinas of The Delicious Legacy podcast

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    ARO55: Excavations at the site of Bell’s Pottery, Stafford Street/Kyle Street, Glasgow

    BBC News Article: 'Whole prehistory of Fife' found in one field, experts say

    Serve it Forth Food History Festival EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW!

    Ludlow Food Festival 2026

    My appearance on the Offscript podcast as part of their Albion season

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    Bronze Age Food & Foodways with Chris Wakefield & Rachel Ballantyne

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    39 min
  • Feeding the Georgian Kings with Adam Crymble and Rachel Rich

    In this week’s episode I am speaking with Adam Crymble and Rachel Rich about a really exciting piece of research looking at the complexities of feeding the households of King George III and his eldest son George who was Prince Regent whilst George III suffered from his “madness”, and eventually succeeded him as George IV. The focus of the research is the ledgers that still exist, listing the ingredients ordered, foods that were prepared and the people who ate them. Over 40,000 dishes were counted.

    They have analysed the ledgers from two royal palaces – George III’s Kew Palace and the Prince Regent’s Carlton House – with two other food historians Sarah Fox and Lisa Smith, and assimilated them to produce a book called The King’s Dinner: Family, nation, and identity on the British table, 1760-1820, which was published by UCL Press on 11 June 2026. The book is available from wherever you buy your books, but it is also available open access as a free PDF. So is the data they used in their analysis.

    We talk about the differing characters of the two Georges and how these were expressed in the foods they ate, Georgian food identity, the concept of oeconomy, the exotic food cultures NOT appearing on royal dinner tables, French cuisine and famous French chef Careme’s tenure in the Prince Regent’s kitchens, as well as their fruit and veg suppliers, one of whom was called Savage Bear, amongst many other things

    Those listening to the secret podcast get some bonus material where we discuss the upper servant’s fancy foods, the huge amounts of meat consumed, and the politics of wine.

    The King’s Dinner: Family, nation, and identity on the British table, 1760-1820(open access)

    3000 dishes on a Georgian table

    Adam’s bio on the UCL website

    Follow Adam on social media: @adamcrymble.bsky.social (Bluesky); @dradamcrymble (Insta)

    Rachel’s bio on Leeds Beckett University website

    Follow Rachel Rich on social media: @drrachelrich (Insta)

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    The mixing and sound engineering were done by Thomas Ntinas of The Delicious Legacy podcast

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    Rachel’s articles on The Recipes Project

    Hugh Laurie playing the Prince Regent on Blackadder the Third

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    Eating Out in Georgian London with Peter Ross

    18th Century Tavern Cookery with Marc Meltonville

    18th Century Dining with Ivan Day

    The Philosophy of Curry with Sejal Sukhadwala

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    44 min
  • Food History Treasures of the Guildhall Library with Peter Ross

    Today I am talking with returning guest Peter Ross who was, until recently, the Principal Librarian at the City of London's Guildhall Library. His fantastic book called Insatiable Appetites, Eating Out in Georgian London, published by the Bodleian Library was published last month, May 2026. Today we are talking about the collections in the Guildhall Library, which is a staggering 600 years old.

    We mention quite a few books and collections, but there are links in the shownotes, and there will be images on the accompanying blog post, so do check that out too.

    We talk about the history of the library and how it got some of its collections such as the Elizabeth David collection, but also some of the lesser known ones such as the Robert Miller collection, the splendiferous feast put on for James I by the Merchant Tailors, the importance of the author’s voice when it comes to writing popular cookery books, Hannah Glasse’s sauerkraut, and Elizabeth David’s Fanny Cradock avoidance techniques, amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get some bonus material where we discuss the Hannah Glasse recipes that don’t work, the Worshipful Company of Brewers, poisonous pears in pewter pots and more.

    The Guildhall Library

    Insatiable Appetites, Eating Out in Georgian London by Peter Ross

    Peter will be at the Chalke History Festival on 27 June 2024 talking about Georgian Feasting

    Accompanying blog post on British Food: A History

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    The mixing and sound engineering were done by Thomas Ndinas of The Delicious Legacy podcast

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    The Guildhall Library Collections

    The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse

    The Closet of the Eminently Learned Sir Kenelme Digby kt. Opened

    Choice and experimented receipts in physick and chirurgery by Kenelm Digby

    Li tre trattati on Abebooks for a mere £12,500

    A Creative List of Meat Carving Terms from the Middle Ages

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    Eating Out in Georgian London with Peter Ross

    Fanny Cradock with Kevin Geddes

    Early Television Cookbooks and Tie-ins with Kevin Geddes

    The English Table with Jill Norman

    50 Years of 'English Food' by Jane Grigson with Sam Bilton, Annie Gray, Ivan Day & Jill Norman

    18th Century Female Cookery Writers with the Delicious Legacy Podcast

    Previous pertinent blog posts

    Charles Darwin and the Owl

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    43 min
  • Children's Food with Deborah Albon & Amy Palmer

    Welcome back to The British Food History Podcast. Today I am talking with Deborah Albon and Amy Palmer about the history of children’s food. Deborah Albon is a former early years professional and Amy Palmer is a former infant teacher, and both are lecturers at the University of Roehampton, London. They have written a book called First Helpings: A History of Children’s Food. It’s comprehensive, well-researched and an entertaining read. I recommend it.

    We talk about the early years: the changing ideas about breastfeeding and wet nurses, the Victorian moralistic ideas surrounding withholding food, weaning the kids on wine and turtle doves, and children’s birthday parties, amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get 20 minutes of bonus material where we discuss in more depth Deborah and Amy’s approach to writing the book, breastmilk alternatives, including the changing advice with respect to formula milk, creepy feeding schedules plus more.

    First Helpings: A History of Children’s Food

    Follow Deborah and Amy on Instagram @albonandpalmer

    Deborah & Amy’s website

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    The mixing and sound engineering are by Thomas Ntinas of The Delicious Legacy podcast

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    York Festival of Ideas 2026

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    Retro Foods with Briony May Williams

    The School Meals Service with Heather Ellis

    Food in Gothic Literature with Alessandra Pino

    Previous pertinent blog posts

    Sago & Tapioca Pudding

    Colostrum (Beestings)

    Negus

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    42 min
  • Eating Out in Georgian London with Peter Ross

    Welcome back to The British Food History Podcast. In this episode, I am speaking with Peter Ross. Peter was, until recently, the Principal Librarian at the City of London's Guildhall Library. He is an historian of both food and crime in Georgian London, an Arts Society lecturer, and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.

    He has also written a fantastic book called Insatiable Appetites, Eating Out in Georgian London, published by the Bodleian Library. Published 14 May 2026.

    We talk about the migrating mealtimes of the Georgian period, chophouses, the importance of satirical cartoons when studying food history in this period, turtle soup, and why you wouldn’t want to be seen hanging around the saloop stand – amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get some top drawer bonus material where we discuss what Georgian chocolate was really like, and the beautiful and amazing Vauxhall gardens + more.

    Insatiable Appetites, Eating Out in Georgian London by Peter Ross

    Peter will be at the Chalke History Festival on 27 June 2024 talking about Georgian Feasting

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    Accompanying blog post showing the Gilray cartoon + more

    The Guildhall Library

    Peter’s London street food exhibition

    The British Housewife by Gilly Lehmann

    The London Art of Cookery by John Farley

    The English Art of Cookery by Richard Briggs

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

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    18th Century Tavern Cooking with Marc Meltonville (& Richard Briggs)

    London's Street Food Sellers with Charlie Taverner

    18th Century Dining with Ivan Day

    Elizabeth Raffald with Alessandra Pino & Neil Buttery

    Previous pertinent blog posts

    Mock Turtle Soup

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    46 min
  • British Fish & Seafood with CJ Jackson

    Welcome back to the British Food History Podcast. In this episode of the podcast, I am speaking with fish and seafood cookery expert CJ Jackson, author of The Great British Seafood Revival, published by Merlin Unwin

    We talk about cod alternatives like coley and hake; the loss of the street fishmonger; sustainability; fish farms, and whether they are a good thing; the future of Billingsgate Market; and my old fear of bivalves, amongst many other things.

    Those listening to the secret podcast get to hear about the popularity of seaweed and disco scallops!

    Great British Seafood Revival by CJ Jackson

    CJ’s website

    Follow CJ on Instagram @cjkentseafood

    Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, makers of high-quality kitchen and outdoor cookware. Netherton Foundry ships to several countries outside of the UK, including the USA and Canada. Visit www.netherton-foundry.co.uk to find out more about their wonderful products – approved not just by me but by folk such as Tom Parker-Bowles, Diana Henry and Nigella Lawson.

    If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.

    Things mentioned in today’s episode

    Follow Billingsgate Seafood School on Instagram @theseafoodschool

    Leith’s Fish Bible

    The Ration Book Diet

    Billingsgate Market

    Previous pertinent podcast episodes

    C is for Cod, Cockles and Caviar

    Previous pertinent blog posts

    To make Kedgeree

    Neil’s blogs and YouTube channel:

    ‘British Food: a History’

    The British Food History Channel

    ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’

    Neil’s books:

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

    A Dark History of Sugar

    Knead to Know: a History of Baking

    The Philosophy of Puddings

    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 me at [email protected], or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. My DMs are open.

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



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    39 min

About The British Food History Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to 'The British Food History Podcast': British food in all its (sometimes gory) glory with Dr. Neil Buttery. He'll be looking in depth at all aspects of food with interviews with special guests, recipes, re-enactments, foraging, trying his hand at traditional techniques, and tracking down forgotten recipes and hyper-regional specialities. He'll also be trying to answer the big question: What makes British food, so...British?

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