Tastes Of HistoryApr 196 minDispelling Some Myths: Romans in the AmericasThe mosaic floor pictured (right) is housed in a gallery dedicated to ancient Roman frescoes and mosaics on the second floor of the...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 194 minA Brief History of Foods: PineappleThe pineapple (Latin: Ananas comosus) [1] is a tropical plant with an edible fruit indigenous to South America, where it has been...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 66 minA Brief History of Foods: LeeksAccording to a BBC News tweet (see right), the ‘Welsh leek’ could be set for protected status [1], alongside foods including Cheddar...
Tastes Of HistoryMar 23 minDispelling Some Myths: Cooking in a Shield?Farinata (‘made of flour’), a classic Italian street food, apparently enjoys two provenance myths according to BBC History Magazine [1]....
Tastes Of HistoryDec 31, 20212 minOn This Day: Catherine of Braganza and teaDecember 31st, 1705: Catherine of Braganza, widow of Charles II whom she had married in 1662, died in Lisbon, Portugal. Most notably,...
Tastes Of HistoryDec 30, 20211 minOn This Day: Yes, we have bananasDecember 30th, 1945, a cold Sunday morning, saw the cargo ship Tilapa docked in Bristol. It was carrying the first bananas to be seen in...
Tastes Of HistoryDec 27, 20211 minOn This Day: London's coffee houses closedDecember 27th, 1675: A Royal Proclamation orders the closure of all coffee houses in London because they are seen as hotbeds of...
Tastes Of HistoryDec 17, 20213 minA Brief History of Foods: CoffeeOrigins Exactly how and when coffee was discovered is uncertain. A legend of its stimulating effects being identified in Ethiopia is...
Tastes Of HistoryOct 26, 20214 minA Brief History of Foods: SausagesThe humble sausage The humble sausage is popular the world over with many nations and individual regions having their own characteristic...
Tastes Of HistorySep 20, 20212 minCury or Curry?During a recent cookery demonstration at Berkhamsted Castle we were chatting to some visitors about the background and history of the...
Tastes Of HistorySep 17, 20214 minA Brief History of Foods: LemonsThe Lemon (Citrus limon) is a species of small evergreen tree in the flowering plant family Rutaceae. Believed to be native to South...
Tastes Of HistorySep 15, 20214 minEdible Tudor England at Berkhamsted CastleThe motte-and-bailey castle in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, was built to control a key route between London and the Midlands as part of...
Tastes Of HistorySep 1, 20213 minAn Ancient Greek Military Odyssey'Military Odyssey' is one of the largest multi-period re-enactment shows in the country. With over 4,000 re-enactors and living history...
Tastes Of HistoryAug 30, 20212 minThe Recipes: Marlborough Pie"The ACCOMPLISHT COOK, or, The whole Art and Mystery of COOKERY, fitted for all Degrees and Qualities" was first published in London in...
Tastes Of HistoryAug 26, 20214 minWhat did the Romans ever do for us? Roman FoodIn Britain, many of the foods we eat today, and perhaps take for granted, were actually introduced from further afield during the Roman...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 29, 20215 minDispelling Some Myths: Dirty water? Drink beer!For some reason it is often stated on popular television programmes that Mediæval Europeans drank lots of wine, ale or beer all day,...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 23, 20211 minCelebrating St George's DayToday marks the 457th birthday of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). As he is famously thought to have been born and died on the same date,...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 15, 20215 minDispelling Some Myths: Mediæval Peasants ate Bland FoodThe first thing to note is that what people ate was heavily dependent on where they lived and at what time. For example, Europe covers a...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 14, 20214 minRoman Fast FoodThe popular representation of Roman dining is that of reclining on benches enjoying a buffet style meal. This image, however, only really...
Tastes Of HistoryApr 9, 20216 minA Brief History of Foods: Roman WinesIt may be reassuring to know that the wine gods continue to flourish. While many narcotics are now illegal, the Roman god of wine Bacchus...