Lemon ice, rum and Champagne, served halfway through dinner. Here's what Roman punch was, how it differs from the Titanic's punch Romaine, and how to make it in 10 minutes of work. The Gilded Age returns to HBO on November 1, and the most telling course at an 1880s New York … [Read more...] about Roman Punch: The Frozen Cocktail That Made a Gilded Age Dinner
Fun Food History
Apple Sponge Cake: The Victorian Tea Cake for a Full Apple Basket
Apple sponge cake is a butter-based sponge with diced apple folded through the batter, baked in one pan, and served warm with custard sauce poured over. It comes from the Victorian tea table, where cooks folded whatever fruit was on hand into a basic creamed batter. No layers. No … [Read more...] about Apple Sponge Cake: The Victorian Tea Cake for a Full Apple Basket
The History of Chili Sauce: America’s Frugal, Forgotten Condiment
Chili sauce is a spiced, tomato-based condiment that originated in the United States in the 1870s. It contains no chili peppers. The name refers to the old "chilli" spelling used by its earliest makers, not to heat. What Is Chili Sauce? Chili sauce is a thick, tomato-based … [Read more...] about The History of Chili Sauce: America’s Frugal, Forgotten Condiment
The Real History of Red Velvet Cake: Origins and Myths
Red velvet cake has spent over a century pretending to be one thing while actually being another. It started as a fix for bad flour, got mistaken for a Southern original, and somewhere along the way turned into the most argued-about cake in American baking. So when this recipe … [Read more...] about The Real History of Red Velvet Cake: Origins and Myths
Sole Meunière: The 20-Minute French Classic That Fooled a Nation
It sounds like a dish you need a chef for. It is really just fish, flour, butter, and lemon. Here is the story of sole meunière and how to make the Gilded Age's favourite fish course at home tonight. Here is the secret hiding inside one of the most elegant fish dishes in the … [Read more...] about Sole Meunière: The 20-Minute French Classic That Fooled a Nation
