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Downton Abbey fans love to share the show with their friends and family.  The fabulous food lends itself to themed parties.  In this post, I include a few specific ideas for planning a Downton party.  Come back regularly as I update links to this page.

Want more?  My new book, Abbey Cooks Entertain, is available for download here (click on the image in the right column), or you can order from Amazon.  I hope to provide inspiration for fans of all cooking ability who want to take a Downton twist on casual or formal gatherings.  It is pretty rare to get rich selling books, but every penny helps offset my food costs so I can continue to share new recipes with you every week.

Downton Abbey Entertaining Ideas

I have already posted over 100 recipes for foods which would have been served upstairs and down at Downton Abbey and other great English country houses from the Edwardian era through to the early 1920s.

At the end of Season 2, I gave an interview with an LA radio station looking for some advice on what to serve at a Downton Abbey finale party. Here is the posted interview, part of the fun Weekend Alibi segment of what to do this weekend in California, if you know what a weekend is, that is.

Below is a sample of what you could serve at your Downton themed event.  Many of these and other recipes will be featured in my ecookbook called Downton Abbey Cooks Entertain, to help you celebrate entertaining the Downton way.

Note: you will have to scroll down to the bottom of each post to get to the actual recipe. I do like to write about food history or what has been happening on the show before we eat.

Afternoon Tea

Not all parties have to take place after dark. Why not host an Afternoon Tea. It is the easiest way to entertain and impress your friends.  My Online Guide to Afternoon Tea provides you with an extensive collection of recipes as well as hosting tips.

Downton Servants Hall tribute

Pay tribute to the hard working servants with big dreams (photo ITV)

Many of our favorite characters live downstairs, so you may wish to invite family and friends over for a dinner of simple, hearty dishes which helped fuel our favorite downstairs team for their long 12+ hour days serving the needs of the Crawley family and the sprawling estate.  Convert your Abbey dining room into a servants hall.

Downton Formal Dining: Titanic Tribute

Pat Kelly, a co-winner of my period dinner contest, created a wonderful Downton Dinner to provide you with some inspiration

Downton Abbey launched with the sinking of Titanic and the For ambitious cooks or group of foodie friends who really want to put on a show, you may wish to invite an intimate group of friends for a formal dining experience to savour the upstairs experience. Earlier this year I did a great series, cooking my way through the last meals on Titanic. You can pick and choose items from the 1st and 2nd class menus to create your own tribute in as many courses as you can muster. You don’t have to be an experienced chef, just passion and lots of help. Pat Kelly, a follower, provided her account on how she pulled off her dinner earlier this year, describing how to staff, using a caterer, and setting a fabulous table. Susan Edwards was the other co-winner who set a fabulous outdoor Titanic tribute feast.

“Signature” Downton Dishes

The famous Raspberry Meringue Pudding (photo ITV)

If you aren’t prepared to do a great deal of cooking but still want to bring a little bit of Downton to your own viewing party, why not try making one memorable item from the show to share with fellow fans.

Tailor your Own Upstairs Menu

With over 100 recipes on my blog, just search for your own combinations of dishes to suit the particular tastes of your own Lords and Ladies.  King Edward VII introduced fine French Cuisine to England, and aristocracy enjoyed wonderful food influences from around the British Empire, so enjoy the culinary journey.

How about:

Cocktails and Appetizers

On the wild side. Wild white-fleshed salmon pinwheels, wild mushroom tartlets

Many savoury dishes served at Afternoon Tea (check out my Online Guide) are perfect for upscale entertaining. This list will grow over the coming weeks. See below for beverage suggestions.

Downton Beverages

Anna briefs Mr. Molesley on the wine service (video: ITV)

  • Non Alcoholic: fans of John Bates know that he has given up alcohol so you may make a conscious decision to serve non alcoholic drinks in his honor. Some Edwardian standards include:
    • Tea
    • Lemonade
    • Coffee
  • Alcoholic: while you may wish to serve cocktails, creating clever names for the characters, they were not served at Downton. You may recall that Mary warned Sir Richard: “I could ask Carson to make one for you, but I can’t guarantee the result.” So consider wines, spirits and liquors for your guests.
    • Champagne or sparkling wines would be a great celebratory drink to toast each of the 16 categories.
    • Madeira: Edwardians loved madeira, for any fortified wine (sherry, brandy) would be fitting tribute to the Dowager countess
    • Wine: a great choice. More details in the coming weeks.
    • Scotch: a favorite of the Crawley men, single malt for an upstairs crowd
    • Pimm’s: a popular drink in the UK (derived from gin), but might more suitable for the summer. If you do live in the lower states it might be suitable as thirst quencher. Check out my Pimm’s Punch recipe, my favorite.

Downton Desserts: English Favorites

*Biscuits shaped into a cake, brilliant

If dessert and coffee is more your cup of tea, you could serve traditional English dessert and tea favorites. I have also included a few recipes fancied by the Royal Family.

*Downton Reading Suggestions

I have reviewed a few Downton Abbey era books which you may enjoy:

In addition please do check out the great fiction written by Evangeline Holland, who blogs at Edwardian Promenade.  She has also just hosted a great Page on Facebook:  Books for Downton Abbey Fans

My Downton Entertaining Cookbook

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