Tuna out of a tin has a reputation problem. It calls to mind sad desk lunches, not candlelit dining rooms. But here's the thing. The Edwardians were resourceful cooks. They knew how to take a modest ingredient and make it presentable. A little lemon zest, a handful of capers, … [Read more...] about Edwardian Tuna Cakes: The Upstairs Version of a Pantry Staple
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The Drink in Every Gilded Age Picnic Basket (And Why It Deserves a Comeback)
Before iced tea ruled the summer table, there was raspberry vinegar. If you've ever wondered what Gilded Age Americans sipped at their Decoration Day picnics, the answer is not lemonade. Well, not only lemonade. The drink that showed up on respectable middle-class picnic menus … [Read more...] about The Drink in Every Gilded Age Picnic Basket (And Why It Deserves a Comeback)
The Humble Raisin Pie: A History That Spans Continents and Centuries
Raisin pie doesn't get the credit it deserves. It has no glamorous origin story, no famous patron who made it fashionable. What it has is staying power. This pie shows up in medieval English kitchens, in the servants' hall at grand Edwardian country houses, and in the farmhouses … [Read more...] about The Humble Raisin Pie: A History That Spans Continents and Centuries
Claret Cup: The Victorian Drink for People Who Knew Better Than to Rush
Champagne cup was a gesture. Claret cup was a commitment. It was the drink of long summer afternoons, served cold and refilled without ceremony. If a champagne cup was what you served when you wanted to impress, a claret cup was what you served when you wanted your guests to … [Read more...] about Claret Cup: The Victorian Drink for People Who Knew Better Than to Rush
Champagne Cup: The Drink That Kept Edwardian Parties Going All Afternoon
Before the cocktail hour, there was the cup. A jug of champagne, cupped on a warm afternoon, was as essential to Edwardian entertaining as the guest list. If you have ever wondered what the guests at a Downton Abbey garden party were drinking while they stood on the lawn making … [Read more...] about Champagne Cup: The Drink That Kept Edwardian Parties Going All Afternoon
