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Your Online Guide to Hosting A Downton Abbey Themed Party

downtonabbeycooks · June 20, 2019 ·

DiningatDownton
Here’s a fun party game: Who in this picture is no longer with us? (photo ITV)

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.  A great idea if you are planning to see the new movie with a group of your closest Downton fans. Whether you are serving 2 or 200 there are plenty of recipe ideas to make in your own Abbey.

I have posted hundreds of recipes for foods that 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. All for the love of Downton and those who love the show.  For a full list of dishes by meal or occasion, check out the Menu dropdown.

Entertaining Was Much Simpler in the 1920s

While diners in earlier episodes endured 7 or even 8 courses at dinner, you will be relieved to know that family dinners during this period are now only 3 courses…unless you are entertaining your fellow aristocrats.  And the cocktail party finally came to Downton.

Check my Press Clippings

Don’t just take my word for It:  I have given several interviews in the national press, and my recipes have been posted in newspapers worldwide.  I even prepared Afternoon Tea for national TV. Check out my Press Page.

Why not buy the Book?

Want it all and more in a pretty package?  My ebook, Abbey Cooks Entertain, is available for download here (click on the image in the right column), or you can order from Amazon. I also include a cocktail section with authentic cocktails from the era. My 2nd Edition is now available with recipes from Season 1 – 5 with both imperial and metric measurements.

I hope to inspire fans of all cooking abilities who want to put 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 throughout the year.

Cocktails at Downton

The cocktail hour finally arrived in Season 5 of Downton. Here are recipes for canapes and drinks.

  •  Link to recipes

Downton Beverages

DowntonWineCellar

  • 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 honour. Some Edwardian standards include:
    • Tea
    • Lemonade
    • Coffee
  • Alcoholic:  You may recall that Mary warned Sir Richard, “I could ask Carson to make one for you, but I can’t guarantee the result.”  But after Lady Rose spiced things up at the Abbey, feel free to raise a toast to Season 5  with your favorite cocktails

If you don’t trust Carson to mix drinks, consider wines, spirits and liqueurs 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.
  • 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 be more suitable for the summer. If you do live in the lower states, it might be suitable as a thirst quencher. Check out my Pimm’s Punch recipe, my favorite.

“Signature” Downton Dishes

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

  •  Famous Downton Dishes

Downton Servants Hall tribute

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

Many of our favourite characters live downstairs, so you may wish to invite family and friends over for a dinner of simple, hearty dishes which helped fuel our favourite 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.

  • Hearty Downstairs Recipes

Tailor Your Own Upstairs Menu

dowton-abbey-season-2-dinning-room-x-500
Bring out the good china for a great party (photo ITV)

With over 250 recipes on my blog, just search for your combinations of dishes to suit the particular tastes of your own Lords and Ladies.  King Edward VII introduced fine French Cuisine to England, and the aristocracy enjoyed wonderful food influences from around the British Empire, so enjoy the culinary journey.  Now that we are in Season 5, the meals in the 1920s were now typically only 3 courses, unless, of course, they were hosting a large dinner party for guests.

How about:

  • Appetizers 
    • Appetizer Recipes
  • Salads
    • Salad Recipes
  • Soups
    •  Soup Recipes
  • Main Course
    • Main Course Recipes
  • Side Dishes
    • Side Dish Recipes

Downton Desserts

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

    • Dessert Recipes

Afternoon Tea

host a grand 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.  If you can make crustless sandwiches, you are off to a good start.  Home bakers will be able to master the sweets and my easy scone recipe.  Not so skilled in the kitchen? I am sure you are well known for finding the best bakeries in town.

My online book, Relaxing with Afternoon Tea, provides you with hosting tips and some of my favourite recipes.

My Downton Entertaining Cookbooks

Signed copies are available for download on this site:

  • Abbey Cooks Entertain
  • Relaxing Over Afternoon Tea

OR from Amazon

  • Abbey Cooks Entertain
  • Relaxing Over Afternoon Tea

 


Filed Under: *About the Show, Blog, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4 Tagged With: apple charlotte, Colcannon, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey Food, Downton Abbey Foods, Downton Abbey Party Food, Downton Abbey recipes, Downton Abbey S4 Launch Party ideas, Downton Abbey viewing party, healthy desserts, manchester pudding, online guide to Downton Abbey themed Emmy party, raspberry meringue pudding recipe, truffles, Waldorf Pudding, What to serve at a Downton Abbey party

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I am Pamela Foster. Food historian. Wife. Downton and Gilded Age fan. Foodie.

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