Formal entertaining is like cooking on steroids. It can be stressful enough planning an informal gathering, but we can thank the Edwardians for setting the bar pretty high for formal dining, when we work particularly hard to impress. We can see from the dining scenes on Downton … [Read more...] about Entertaining was Serious Business At Downton Abbey
*About the Show
Titanic Mini-Series Serves up Disappointing 1st Course
I didn't sleep well last night. It must have been something I ate, more like something I watched. It appears that Canada is the first to view Titanic, perhaps in recognition of our involvement of rescue and recovery efforts. The first course of the four part Titanic mini-series … [Read more...] about Titanic Mini-Series Serves up Disappointing 1st Course
Celebrating Irish Cuisine and the Science of Cooking with Alcohol
Downton Abbey's most notable Irish character is Tom Branson, the chauffeur, played by Allen Leech who tweets @allenleech. Brendan Coyle (who plays Mr. Bates) is half Irish, as is his character. Branson was introduced in S1 E4, which aired this week in South Africa on BBC, and … [Read more...] about Celebrating Irish Cuisine and the Science of Cooking with Alcohol
The Downton Abbey Scandal: Pamuk & Turkish Delight
I love entertaining and grew up with horses so I was thrilled with the Fox hunt episode. But alas horse lovers, it is not the fox hunt which makes the episode memorable; rather it is the tragic consequences of a dangerous liasion. While the death of two heirs was tragic, the … [Read more...] about The Downton Abbey Scandal: Pamuk & Turkish Delight
Have a Cup of Tea and Eat it Too
If you have been following along on Twitter (@downtoncooks), Facebook or here at downtonabbeycooks.com,, you know by now that I celebrated my 50th birthday on Sunday. If you know me really well, you will understand that I stretch my birthdays into a month long excuse to … [Read more...] about Have a Cup of Tea and Eat it Too
