The British Food History Podcast

Neil Buttery
  • 4.8 (37)
  • Food
  • Updated Semiweekly

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. Children's Food with Deborah Albon & Amy Palmer

    May 29

    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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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
  2. Eating Out in Georgian London with Peter Ross

    May 15

    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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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 Mentioned in this episode: A is for Apple Season C has begun! Join Neil Buttery, Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino for their journey through the letter C on 'A is for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink'. Available wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    46 min
  3. British Fish & Seafood with CJ Jackson

    May 6

    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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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 Mentioned in this episode: A is for Apple Season C has begun! Join Neil Buttery, Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino for their journey through the letter C on 'A is for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink'. Available wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    39 min

  4. May 3 ·  Bonus

    Special Episode in Memory of Joanna Crosby: Apples & Orchards

    I received the sad news of the death Joanna Crosby when I was at the Leeds Symposium of Food History and Traditions in April. Joanna was a talented food historian specialising in the history of apples and orchards, and she came on the podcast in 2024 to talk about her research and excellent book Apples and Orchards since the Eighteenth Century. I thought I would put out the episode we recorded together, published in January 2024 as a special episode in her memory. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    40 min
  5. Retro Foods with Briony May Williams

    Apr 27

    Retro Foods with Briony May Williams

    Welcome back to the British Food History Podcast. In today’s episode, I am speaking with Great British Bake Off alumnus Briony May Williams about retro foods. She’s on a mission to bring back some of the foods of the 21st century that are maybe not being enjoyed as much as they should be in the 21st. I am very much in agreement with this – obvs. We talk about how Briony became interested in retro foods and historical cooking (we all have an origin story, don’t we?), memories of Bake Off, puddings as comfort food, Waldorf salads, our shared appreciation of frozen peas and Kitchen Aids, plus the infamous banana candle salad. The Retro Food Society by Briony May Williams is out now Follow Briony on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @brionymaybakes Briony’s 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 The BBC Travel Show episode featuring both Briony and me Great British Bake Off New Year special Delia Smith boils an egg Sam Bilton’s banana candle salad Car Fest 2026 Southport Flower Show 2026 My kedgeree blog post Previous pertinent podcast episodes Neil's accompanying blog post B is for Banana, Banting & Berries Previous pertinent blog posts Toad-in-the-hole 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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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 Mentioned in this episode: A is for Apple Season C has begun! Join Neil Buttery, Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino for their journey through the letter C on 'A is for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink'. Available wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    45 min
  6. Spun Iron Cookware with Netherton Foundry

    Apr 20

    Spun Iron Cookware with Netherton Foundry

    Today, we are going on an excursion to the Netherton Foundry workshop, nestled in the Shropshire countryside, to find out about spun iron cookware – something that was essentially extinct in this country until owners Neil and Sue Currie brought it back. Neil and Sue are very kindly sponsoring season 10 of The British Food History Podcast 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. We talk about designing the original range (and how the range increased), celebrity requests, why spun iron cookware lost out to aluminium cookware, croustade irons, and how Netherton Foundry cookware brings some extra authenticity to historical foods cooked at home, amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast will hear about the pros and cons of working with copper, how Netherton Foundry go about seeking out their vintage machinery, how their stockpots came to be, their outdoor range, plus more. Netherton Foundry website Follow Netherton Foundry on social media: Insta/threads @nethertonfoundry; BlueSky @nethertonfoundry.bsky.social; Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NethertonFoundry 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 NF Bread Pan with Cloche NF Prospector Pans NF Chef’s Pans Val Stones’ Baking Sheet NF Croustade Irons NF Flambadou NF Outdoor Cookery Range Video: spinning iron Video: Sue using the croustade iron Mana Restaurant From the Oven to the Table by Diana Henry Repast and the tiffin tin Jenny Linford Previous pertinent blog posts Toad-in-the-hole Yorkshire Curd Tart Four Scone Recipes 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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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 Mentioned in this episode: A is for Apple Season C has begun! Join Neil Buttery, Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino for their journey through the letter C on 'A is for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink'. Available wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    48 min
  7. Traditional Food of Derbyshire with Mark Dawson

    Apr 13

    Traditional Food of Derbyshire with Mark Dawson

    My guest on The British Food History Podcast today is Mark Dawson, a food historian specialising in the food and social history of the early modern period, but also on the regional food of the Midlands. Today we are talking about the traditional food and drink of his home county of Derbyshire. You may remember he was on last season talking about Derbyshire Oatcakes, well, since then he has written a fantastic book called Lumpy Tums: Derbyshire’s Food & Drink published by Amberley and out in the wild from the 15th April 2026. We talk about oat-based foods like thar cakes, which were traditionally eaten on All Souls Day, thin pudding and savoury pudding, the origins of the Bakewell pudding and Derbyshire’s very high proportion of drinking establishments per head, amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast get more than a quarter of an hour of bonus material where we talk about Derbyshire cheeses, the return of small-scale breweries to the county, wakes cakes and Ashbourne gingerbread. Lumpy Tums: Derbyshire’s Food & Drink by Mark Dawson and published by Amberley Mark’s website Mark’s Speakernet profile Follow Mark on Instagram @lumpytums Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, who make 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode County Recipes of Old England by Helen Edden (2008) Good Things in England by Florence White (1932) Tindall’s of Tideswell – purveyors of Thar Cakes The English Alehouse by Peter Clarke (1983) Bakewell Pudding Shop Knead to Know: A History of Baking by Neil Buttery (2024) The Rutland Arms Ivan Day’s blog post about the Bakewell pudding Vegetable Cookery by Martha Brotherton (1833): the page with the potato Bakewell pudding! Anne Lister of Shibden Hall Betty’s Vintage Tea Rooms Previous pertinent blog posts To Make a Bakewell Pudding To Make a Bakewell Tart Yorkshire Parkin Dock Pudding #321 Sweetmeat Cake Previous pertinent podcast episodes Derbyshire Oatcakes with Mark Dawson Traditional Food of Lincolnshire with Rachel Green Gingerbread with Sam Bilton Ormskirk Gingerbread with Anouska Lewis 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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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 Mentioned in this episode: A is for Apple Season C has begun! Join Neil Buttery, Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino for their journey through the letter C on 'A is for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink'. Available wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    51 min
  8. Healthy Eating in the Middle Ages with Katherine Harvey

    Apr 2

    Healthy Eating in the Middle Ages with Katherine Harvey

    Welcome to a brand new season of The British Food History Podcast! On the podcast today is medieval scholar Katherine Harvey, a scholar specialising in medieval and early modern history. Kathryn’s new book The Medieval Guide to Healthy Living is out now, published by Reaktion Books. We talk about humoral theory and health, the dangers of eating fresh fruit and fish, the importance of sauces, drinking and drunkenness, how obesity was viewed by medieval society and the importance of cleanliness amongst many other things. Those listening to the secret podcast get bonus material where we talk about the importance of mealtimes when thinking about health, and the poorer members of society who don’t necessarily have much of a choice when it comes to healthy eating. The Medieval Guide to Healthy Living by Katherine Harvey The Fires of Lust: Sex in the Middle Ages by Katherine Harvey Katherine’s website Follow Katherine on social media: Instagram @katherinee.harvey; X @keharvey2013; Bluesky @katherineharvey.bsky.social Season 10 of the podcast is sponsored by Netherton Foundry, who make 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. This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast. Things mentioned in today’s episode York Festival of Ideas Gerald of Wales The filthy peasants in Monty Python and the Holy Grail My recent toad-in-the-hole recipe My cabinet pudding recipe A is for Apple Season C, Episode 1 My recent appearance on BBC Breakfast Previous pertinent blog posts Mediæval Dining Medieval Blanc Mange To Make Frumenty/Furmenty Previous pertinent podcast episodes Subversive Feasting in Medieval King & Commoner Tales with Mark Truesdale Medieval Meals & Manners with Danièle Cybulskie Eel special: 2. Silver Eels with John Wyatt Greenlee Forme of Cury with Christopher Monk 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 neil@britishfoodhistory.com, 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 Mentioned in this episode: A is for Apple Season C has begun! Join Neil Buttery, Sam Bilton and Alessandra Pino for their journey through the letter C on 'A is for Apple: An Encyclopaedia of Food & Drink'. Available wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    38 min
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4.8
out of 5
37 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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