The British Food History Podcast

Neil Buttery

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? This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

  1. Robert Burns, The Globe Inn & the Annandale Distillery with Jane Brown, Teresa Church & David Thomson

    JAN 24

    Robert Burns, The Globe Inn & the Annandale Distillery with Jane Brown, Teresa Church & David Thomson

    Welcome to the second of a two-part special all about Burns Night. Burns Night, celebrated on Robert Burns’ birthday, 25th January, is a worldwide phenomenon and I wanted to make a couple of episodes focussing upon the night, the haggis, but also the other foods links regarding Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. So, if you’re readying yourself for a Burns supper, I hope this episode gets you even more into the celebratory spirit. If you’re not marking Burns Night – well, hopefully after listening to this, you will be inspired to get yourself some haggis, neeps, tatties and a dram of whisky. Hopefully, a Man O'Words single malt from the excellent Annandale Distillery – why, well, you will find out very soon. Today’s episode is a jam-packed one where I speak with three guests all about Robert Burns and his links with Dumfriesshire, Southwest Scotland. First of all I speak with Jane Brown, Honorary President of the Robert Burns World Federation, and ex-manager of The Globe, Robert Burns’s favourite haunt when he lived in Dumfries during the last eight years of his life. Jane has attended and spoken at many Burns Nights all over the world, so there's no one better to talk about with Burns’s life which had several links with food and drink: there’s Burns Night and the Address to a Haggis, his time as an exciseman and as a farmer, and his time at the Globe. Then there’s the Globe itself and all of the precious artefacts contained within it that have been painstakingly conserved by owners Teresa Church and David Thomson. David and Teresa also own the Annandale Distillery, which produces a delicious and unique single malt whisky. It’s available unpeated and called Man O’Words, after Robert Burns, and the other is peated and called Man O’Sword, after the other local historical figure associated with Dumfries, Robert the Bruce. Like the Globe, the old distillery was saved, beautifully conserved and brought back to life by David and Teresa. In today’s episode we talk about Burns’s before and after graces, Burns’s penchant for scratching poetry on windows, the importance of cask size on the flavour of whisky, and just what exactly possessed David and Teresa to buy the Globe and a falling-down distillery – amongst many other things. The Globe Inn website Annandale Distillery website The Robert Burns World Federation Follow 1610 at the Globe on social media: Instagram @theglobeinn1610; Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theglobeinn/?locale=en_GB; X @The GlobeInn1610 Follow Annandale Distillery on social media: Instagram: @annandale_distillery; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annandaledistillery/?locale=en_GB; X: @AnnandaleDstlry 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode Article: a...

    48 min
  2. Haggis & the First Burns Suppers with Jennie Hood

    JAN 16

    Haggis & the First Burns Suppers with Jennie Hood

    Welcome to the first of a two-part special all about Burns Night. Burns Night, celebrated on Robert Burns’ birthday, 25th January, is a worldwide phenomenon and I wanted to make a couple of episodes focussing upon the night, the haggis, but also the other foods links regarding Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Burns was born in Alloway, Ayrshire on 25 January 1759 and he died in Dumfries on 21 July 1796 at just 37 years old. My guest today is food historian Jennie Hood, who has written an excellent article for the most recent edition of food history journal Petit Propos Culinares, entitled ‘A History of Haggis and the Burns Night Tradition’, so she is the perfect person to speak with on this topic. Jennie Hood hails from Ayrshire, just like Robert Burns, and we talk about the origin of Burns Night, but we also talk about the medieval origins of the most important food item on the Burns supper plate – the haggis. Things covered include the first English recipes for haggis, what makes a haggis a haggis (not as easy a thing as you might expect), Burns’s poem Address to a Haggis and what it tells us about haggises in Burns’s day and how the first Burns suppers started and gained such popularity, amongst many other things. Follow Jennie on social media: Threads/Instagram @medievalfoodwithjennie; Bluesky @medievalfoodjennie.bsky.social; Facebook https://www.facebook.com/medievalfoodwithjennie Company of St Margaret, Jennie’s late medieval and renaissance re-enactment group Issue 133 of Petits Propos Culinaires 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode Harlean MS 279 Liber Cure Cocorum The Good Housewife’s Jewel by Thomas Dawson The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy by Hannah Glasse (‘Haggas’ recipe p.291) The Robert Burns World Federation Address to a Haggis by Robert Burns a href="https://lostcookbook.wordpress.com/tag/cooks-oracle/" rel="noopener

    40 min
  3. Special Postbag Edition #6

    11/18/2025

    Special Postbag Edition #6

    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 couple of 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 website: Keeping Food Traditions Alive with Tom Parker Bowles, which was recorded live at the Serve it Forth Food History Festival on 18 October. Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast. Visit their website www.fruitpig.co.uk to learn more about them, their journey, to find your local stockist and access their online shop. 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. The accompanying blog post with images Things mentioned in today’s episode Book your place at the Serve it Forth Spooky Christmas Special on 11th of December BBC article World black pudding championship throwers take aim Linny’s Kitchen Facebook page The Ginger Pig Billingsgate Market BBC article about the Denby Dale pie play The seaside town of Morecombe Books discussed or mentioned in today’s episode Bilton, S. Fool’s Gold: A History of British Saffron. (Prospect Books, 2022). Thomas, J. & Schultz, C. How to Mix Drinks, Or, The Bon-Vivant’s Companion. (Dick & Fitzgerald, 1862). Bilton, S. Much Ado About Cooking: Delicious Shakespearean Feasts for Every Occasion. (Headline, 2025) Buttery, N. Knead to Know: A History of Baking. (Icon Books, 2024). Previous pertinent podcast episodes Black & White Pudding with Matthew Cockin & Grant Harper a...

    48 min
  4. Shakespearean Food & Drink with Sam Bilton

    11/05/2025

    Shakespearean Food & Drink with Sam Bilton

    My guest on The British Food History Podcast today food historian and friend of the show Sam Bilton, podcaster and author of Much Ado About Cooking Delicious Shakespearean Feasts for Every Occasion, published by Headline and commissioned by Shakespeare’s Globe. It was, of course,  a great opportunity to talk about the food of Shakespearean England as well as the food and drink references in Shakespeare’s plays, and what they meant to those watching the plays at the time they were first performed. We talked about lots of cookery manuscripts, the importance of keeping historical recipes relevant, capons, Early Modern bread and greedy Falstaff’s sack, amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast can hear about horrible, sweet spinach tarts, Early Modern cakes, possets and more! Much Ado About Cooking by Sam Bilton Sam’s website Follow Sam on BlueSky, Insta and Threads @mrssbilton Comfortably Hungry Ais for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast. Visit their website www.fruitpig.co.uk to learn more about them, their journey, to find your local stockist and access their online shop. 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode The Globe Theatre Who is Falstaff? Books discussed or mentioned and further reading First Catch Your Gingerbread by Sam Bilton Knead to Know: A History of Baking by Neil Buttery A Dark History of Sugar by Neil Buttery English Bread & Yeast Cookery by Elizabeth David The Good Housewife’s Jewel by Thomas Dawson a...

    42 min
  5. Welsh Sheep & Cattle with Carwyn Graves

    10/29/2025

    Welsh Sheep & Cattle with Carwyn Graves

    My guest today is food historian Carwyn Graves, a specialist in the foodways and traditions of Wales, and we are talking about Welsh Sheep and Cattle – and their products. Carwyn has written a wonderful book called Welsh Food Stories, published in 2022 by Calon, which explores more than two thousand years of history to discover the rich but forgotten heritage of Welsh foods – from oysters to cider, salted butter to salt-marsh lamb. Despite centuries of industry, ancient traditions have survived in pockets across the country among farmers, bakers, fisherfolk, brewers and growers who are taking Welsh food back to its roots, and trailblazing truly sustainable foods as they do so. We talk about the importance of sheep and cattle in Wales’s physical and cultural landscape, salt marsh lamb, cawl, colostrum puddings, the Welsh and their love of roasted cheese and sheep fancying Cistercian monks – amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast can hear 15 minutes of extra material including flummery, mutton, laverbread sauce, the traditional skills in the collective cultural memory of the Welsh, the etymology of rarebit/rabbit plus more! Welsh Food Stories by Carwyn Graves Carwyn’s website Follow Carwyn on Instagram @carwyngraves Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast, and Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the podcast a unique special offer 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout at their online shop, www.fruitpig.co.uk. 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode The Art of Cookery Made Plain & Easy by Hannah Glasse The First Boke of the Introduction of Knowledge Made by Andrew Boorde Wikipedia page of Welsh sheep breeds Rare Breeds Survival Trust page on Welsh cattle breeds Previous pertinent blog posts Colostrum (Beestings) with pudding recipe Welsh Rarebit (and Locket’s Savoury) #98...

    44 min
  6. Subversive Feasting in Medieval King & Commoner Tales with Mark Truesdale

    10/14/2025

    Subversive Feasting in Medieval King & Commoner Tales with Mark Truesdale

    My guest on The British Food History Podcast today is historian Mark Truesdale, scholar of the fifteenth-century King and Commoner tradition and its early modern afterlife and author of The King and Commoner Tradition: Carnivalesque Politics in Medieval and Early Modern Literature, published by Routledge. We talk about medieval carnival, the plot of a king and commoner tale, spying foresters, rude monks, the love of eating tiny birds, who the audience might be, and the ridiculousness of baking a venison pasty in Sherwood Forest – amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast can hear about Henry VIII’s love of Robin Hood tales, cowardly herons, and Mark tells me who the king in these tales may (or may not) be referring to. Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast, and Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the podcast a unique special offer 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout at their online shop, www.fruitpig.co.uk. 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode The King and Commoner Tradition: Carnivalesque Politics in Medieval and Early Modern Literature by Mark Truesdale Mark’s article The Medieval Robin Hood: Folk Carnivals and Ballads on Folklore Thursday My blog post about King Alfred burning the cakes The Great Household in Late Medieval England by C.M. Woolgar Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales Sentimental and Humorous Romances Ten Bourdes Serve it Forth website - You can still receive 25% off the ticket price using the code SERVE25 at the checkout! Serve it Forth Eventbrite page Previous pertinent podcast episodes a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/medieval-meals-manners-with-dani%C3%A8le-cybulskie/id1577849126?i=1000645829471"...

    43 min
  7. Housekeepers & Butlers with Peter Brears

    10/05/2025

    Housekeepers & Butlers with Peter Brears

    In today’s episode, I speak with Peter Brears, a world-leading food historian. He was director of both York and Leeds City Museums, and is a consultant to the National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces. He is the winner of the André Simon award for his book, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England, published in 2012, which is a must-have, as are his other books in the series that focus on upper-class cooking and dining in the Tudor and Early Stuart periods, and most recently in the Victorian country house. He is also a founding member of the Leeds Symposium of Food History and Traditions, which will have its 40th next year (2026) Our conversation was recorded in person at his home in Leeds. We talk about the roles of the housekeeper and butler first in the Victorian period, but then trace their histories back right to the Middle Ages in the case of the butler. Also covered: orchestrating big meals, the drinks prepared by the butler, the mysteries of the stillroom, and the pressures of preparing a baked Alaska – amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast can hear about French and Russian service, when housekeepers are definitely not subservient, the dos and don’ts of displaying porcelain and the contents of the housekeeper’s cupboard. Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast, and Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the podcast a unique special offer 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout at their online shop, www.fruitpig.co.uk. 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode Cooking & Dining in Medieval England by Peter Brears (2012) Cooking & Dining in Tudor & Early Stuart England by Peter Brears (2015) Cooking & Dining in the Victorian Country House by Peter Brears (2023) Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Rafflad, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper by Neil Buttery (2023) Everyday Life in Seventeenth Century Calderdale by Peter Brears (2025) Peter’s PPC article ‘What the housekeeper kept in her drawers’ (2015) PPC 103, 61-74 a href="https://neilcooksgrigson.com/2025/09/30/447-roast-saddle-of-lamb/"...

    43 min
  8. Worcester Porcelain with Paul Crane

    09/25/2025

    Worcester Porcelain with Paul Crane

    In this episode, I talk with ceramics expert Paul Crane FSA about the early years of Worcester porcelain. Paul is a consultant at the Brian Haughton Gallery, St James’s, London, and a specialist in Ceramics from the Medieval and Renaissance periods through to the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. He presently sits as a Trustee of the Museum of Royal Worcester and is also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, an independent historian and researcher and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars. Our conversation was recorded in person at the Museum of Royal Worcester. If you want to see the pieces we discuss, you should do one of two things: go to the website where I’ve added images of the majority of the items discussed to the accompanying blog post for this episode. OR go to the YouTube channel where I’ve lined up the images with our discussion. Paul and I really do our best to describe the pieces, but of course, it’s best if you can see them for yourself. We talk about Dr Wall and how he got the Worcester manufactory up and running, the importance of seeing porcelain by candlelight, asparagus servers, the first piece of porcelain you see when you walk into the museum, the Royal Lily service and how Worcester porcelain attained the Royal warrant, amongst any other things. Those listening to the secret podcast can hear more about the early blue and white pieces, including a rarebleeding bowl, the first commemorative coronation porcelain mug and the stunning Nelson tea service, plus much more. Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast, and Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the podcast a unique special offer 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout at their online shop, www.fruitpig.co.uk. 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode Accompanying blog post with images of the porcelain discussed YouTube video of the episode with images of the porcelain discussed Museum of Royal Worcester website Paul’s YouTube talk called ‘Nature, Porcelain and the Enlightenment’ Paul’s YouTube talk called ‘Early Worcester from Dr Wall to James Giles’ My museum talk...

    45 min
4.8
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

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? This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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