Lobster was once so cheap it was fed to prisoners. A few decades later it was the showpiece of the richest tables in America. The lobster roll sits right in the middle of that story. Here is a fact that surprises most people. The lobster roll you pay a small fortune for at a … [Read more...] about The Lobster Roll: How a Poor Man’s Food Became a Summer Luxury
Fun Food History
Chive Blossom Compound Butter: Make It Once, Use It All Summer
There is a short list of things worth keeping in your freezer at all times. A log of compound butter is on it. Ten minutes of work in May and you have something useful through August. That is a trade-off worth making, especially when the ingredient that makes this version … [Read more...] about Chive Blossom Compound Butter: Make It Once, Use It All Summer
What Is a Pie Bird? The History Behind This Clever Baking Tool
Every year, my Aunt -- affectionately known around here as Lady M, who some of you will remember from the Downton Abbey VPT Launch Weekend -- has given me random kitchen gadgets for my birthday. One year, it was this pie bird. She had been keeping this little fellow safe for … [Read more...] about What Is a Pie Bird? The History Behind This Clever Baking Tool
The History of Mother’s Day and What to Serve Mom
It's Mother's Day. Do you know how we came to celebrate this treasured day to honour mom? Anna M. Jarvis is the founder of Mother's Day, who successfully campaigned to hold the first official Mother's Day celebration. It was a tribute to her mother, Julia Ward Howe, who … [Read more...] about The History of Mother’s Day and What to Serve Mom
Shrove Tuesday and the British Pancake Tradition: From Mrs. Patmore’s Kitchen to Your Table
Shrove Tuesday falls on February 17th in 2026, and across Britain, kitchens will fill with the smell of hot butter and the sound of sizzling batter. But this isn't merely about breakfast food—Pancake Day carries centuries of tradition, religious observance, and domestic ritual … [Read more...] about Shrove Tuesday and the British Pancake Tradition: From Mrs. Patmore’s Kitchen to Your Table
