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hmalagisi's review against another edition
5.0
When we think about food during the Tudor dynasty, one of the first images that pop into our head is of Charles Laughton, who played King Henry VIII in “The Private Life of Henry VIII” from 1933. He is seen in a popular image online devouring a chicken at a Tudor feast. We assume that the Tudors were indulgent regarding their food, not caring about what they put in their bodies and their benefits. However, the recipes from this period, from the beginning of King Henry VII’s reign to the death of Queen Elizabeth I, tell a different story. In her debut nonfiction book, “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes,” Brigitte Webster shows how the political and religious changes during the Tudor dynasty affected how those living in England ate every day.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am always looking for a fresh approach to studying history, especially the Tudors, so when I heard Brigitte was writing a Tudor cookbook based on her research and culinary experiments, I knew I wanted to read it.
Webster begins by taking the time to explain the finer details of Galen’s 4 Humours Theory, how the body is divided into four humours; blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This theory was the roadmap for Tudor dieticians and physicians on what food they would recommend for people to eat to keep them healthy. They believed that certain foods would benefit different humours, and the goal was to keep the humours balanced. She explores what the Tudors thought about digestion, which dishes should be served first or last during a meal, and when the Tudors should eat during the day. We also get to see the who’s who in a Tudor market and the evolution of the Tudor cookbook from the beginning of King Henry VII’s reign to the death of Queen Elizabeth I.
After the incredibly detailed introduction, Webster divides her book into five sections: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Banqueting Food. Each section comprises recipes that would have been popular for a king and commoners alike, showing the diversity of the age. The recipes include the original recipe, the modern translation of the recipe (with measurements), and an interesting bit of information about how physicians viewed the selected dish and their nutritional value according to the Four Humours Theory.
I found this an insightful read with delicious-sounding delectables. Webster’s passion for finding and testing new recipes is prevalent on every page. It gives a deeper understanding of the Tudor world, from feasts and holidays to everyday meals. Suppose you want to try some authentic Tudor recipes or are just curious about the dietary habits of Tudor England. In that case, I highly suggest you read “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes” by Brigitte Webster.
I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am always looking for a fresh approach to studying history, especially the Tudors, so when I heard Brigitte was writing a Tudor cookbook based on her research and culinary experiments, I knew I wanted to read it.
Webster begins by taking the time to explain the finer details of Galen’s 4 Humours Theory, how the body is divided into four humours; blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This theory was the roadmap for Tudor dieticians and physicians on what food they would recommend for people to eat to keep them healthy. They believed that certain foods would benefit different humours, and the goal was to keep the humours balanced. She explores what the Tudors thought about digestion, which dishes should be served first or last during a meal, and when the Tudors should eat during the day. We also get to see the who’s who in a Tudor market and the evolution of the Tudor cookbook from the beginning of King Henry VII’s reign to the death of Queen Elizabeth I.
After the incredibly detailed introduction, Webster divides her book into five sections: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Banqueting Food. Each section comprises recipes that would have been popular for a king and commoners alike, showing the diversity of the age. The recipes include the original recipe, the modern translation of the recipe (with measurements), and an interesting bit of information about how physicians viewed the selected dish and their nutritional value according to the Four Humours Theory.
I found this an insightful read with delicious-sounding delectables. Webster’s passion for finding and testing new recipes is prevalent on every page. It gives a deeper understanding of the Tudor world, from feasts and holidays to everyday meals. Suppose you want to try some authentic Tudor recipes or are just curious about the dietary habits of Tudor England. In that case, I highly suggest you read “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes” by Brigitte Webster.
georgilvsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Brigitte provides us with Tudor recipes with the original and modern version as well as photos.
‘In Tudor England, food did not just maintain life and keep the body healthy and fit, it also signalled power, status and wealth to guests and the community by means of excess, pricey ingredients and rarity.’
Tudor recipes go with the seasonal changes - therefore this is a great book to keep coming back to!
It was interesting to read how people during the Tudor period kept their food fresh without the use of fridges, freezers etc.
A great book for Tudor lovers and cooking enthusiasts.
‘In Tudor England, food did not just maintain life and keep the body healthy and fit, it also signalled power, status and wealth to guests and the community by means of excess, pricey ingredients and rarity.’
Tudor recipes go with the seasonal changes - therefore this is a great book to keep coming back to!
It was interesting to read how people during the Tudor period kept their food fresh without the use of fridges, freezers etc.
A great book for Tudor lovers and cooking enthusiasts.
caidyn's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
3.75
Tudor diet was very interesting and such a science. I definitely saw a few recipes I might try!
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Eating with the Tudors is an extensive collection of authentic Tudor recipes that showcases the influence of religion, reformation, and politics on the dining tables of sixteenth-century England. Brigitte Webster skillfully weaves together a narrative that chronicles the changing world during Henry VII’s reign through Elizabeth I’s rule.
This book provides fascinating insights into Tudor society through meticulously researched household account books, manuscripts, letters, wills, diaries, and works by Tudor physicians, herbalists, and chronologists. Readers will discover the Tudors’ food obsession and explore the most popular ingredients of the time. The author also delves into both beloved classics, making a comeback in trendy restaurants and exotic foods that piqued Elizabethan curiosity but fell short of expectations.
Eating with the Tudors goes beyond recipes to explain the concept of a healthy balanced meal in Tudor England. It explores the significance of certain foods and their availability throughout the year, shedding light on how food played a role in establishing class, belonging, and status. With this book as a guide, readers are tempted to recreate iconic Tudor flavors and indulge in the diverse seasonal tastes that Tudor dishes offer. Whether impressing guests with a grand Tudor feast or preparing a New Year’s culinary gift fit for royalty, this book provides all the inspiration needed.
As someone who adores books about food history and enjoys trying out new recipes, eating with the Tudors was a perfect fit for me. This well-structured book presents interesting historical information alongside easy-to-read and follow recipes from Tudor times. Divided into five sections - Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, and Banqueting Food - it offers a comprehensive exploration of Tudor cuisine. While my copy had black-and-white photos (possibly due to reviewing an ARC copy), I hope that the final version will feature colorful visuals.
Overall, I highly recommend this captivating book to anyone interested in Tudor history and culinary adventures.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
Eating with the Tudors is an extensive collection of authentic Tudor recipes that showcases the influence of religion, reformation, and politics on the dining tables of sixteenth-century England. Brigitte Webster skillfully weaves together a narrative that chronicles the changing world during Henry VII’s reign through Elizabeth I’s rule.
This book provides fascinating insights into Tudor society through meticulously researched household account books, manuscripts, letters, wills, diaries, and works by Tudor physicians, herbalists, and chronologists. Readers will discover the Tudors’ food obsession and explore the most popular ingredients of the time. The author also delves into both beloved classics, making a comeback in trendy restaurants and exotic foods that piqued Elizabethan curiosity but fell short of expectations.
Eating with the Tudors goes beyond recipes to explain the concept of a healthy balanced meal in Tudor England. It explores the significance of certain foods and their availability throughout the year, shedding light on how food played a role in establishing class, belonging, and status. With this book as a guide, readers are tempted to recreate iconic Tudor flavors and indulge in the diverse seasonal tastes that Tudor dishes offer. Whether impressing guests with a grand Tudor feast or preparing a New Year’s culinary gift fit for royalty, this book provides all the inspiration needed.
As someone who adores books about food history and enjoys trying out new recipes, eating with the Tudors was a perfect fit for me. This well-structured book presents interesting historical information alongside easy-to-read and follow recipes from Tudor times. Divided into five sections - Spring, Summer, Fall Winter, and Banqueting Food - it offers a comprehensive exploration of Tudor cuisine. While my copy had black-and-white photos (possibly due to reviewing an ARC copy), I hope that the final version will feature colorful visuals.
Overall, I highly recommend this captivating book to anyone interested in Tudor history and culinary adventures.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
graypeape's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
Wow, what a fun and interesting read! I really enjoyed this book, it's fun to learn about everyday life in other times and/or other cultures, and there are so many recipes I want to try! I would recommend this to anyone who has even a passing interest in the Tudor period (obviously), British history, and culinary history. I enjoyed Webster's writing style, and she obviously knows her stuff. What took this down a bit for me was an understandable decision on Webster's part to assume that the reader is a very experienced cook, just as the cookbooks published in the 16th century assumed their readers knew just what to do and only needed a little bit of instruction. This decision worked better for me than I thought it would, but I'm still left a bit nervous about trying some of the recipes, though to be fair, my quibble is with not having oven temperatures listed (I *think* I can figure out what a medium oven is, but still...) or more precise cooking times (since my idea of medium might be different from her idea of medium, & that will affect cooking time). This is a very modern, first world problem, in my opinion, as cooks of the time wouldn't have had temperature settings on their ovens at all, would they? They'd have to keep an eye on the food like I'll have to haha!
Seriously, though, I highly recommend this, it's a very interesting read even if you have no intention of trying the recipes, though I'd bet you'll find several you want to try by the time you reach the end. I can't wait to get started! 4.5 stars out of 5.
#EatingwiththeTudors #NetGalley
Seriously, though, I highly recommend this, it's a very interesting read even if you have no intention of trying the recipes, though I'd bet you'll find several you want to try by the time you reach the end. I can't wait to get started! 4.5 stars out of 5.
#EatingwiththeTudors #NetGalley
bucolicbookshelf's review
5.0
Food history love is real and it's definitely a major interest of mine. I wanted very much to read this from the moment I read the title and was so glad for the opportunity to do so. Spoiler: it was even better than I had hoped for.
Reading over a gray and rainy summer weekend and just completely fascinated with all the research that Ms Webster obviously put into this title. The author is very knowledgeable and shares that in this treasure of a book.
The history, old recipes, and modernized recipes are made all the more intriguing by the photos accompanying the offerings. I really enjoyed learning how everyday people ate in addition to royalty.
Excellent excellent book. Definitely worthy of a spot on the bookshelf of any food history lovers or Tudor era buff.
Thank you to Pen & Sword History and NetGalley for the DRC!
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