A neat little booklet that I recently ordered just arrived
the other day. It wasn’t too expensive, but since it came
all the way from jolly ol’ England, the shipping was, gulp,
high. Extremely so!
In any event, I received my copy of The Taste of the Fire,
The Story of the Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court Palace.
It’s full of all sorts of facts, figures, and other information
regarding the daily activities
revolving around food and its
preparation, cooking, and
serving at Court, particularly
during Henry VIII’s reign. There
are some cool historic illustrations,
as well as diagrams of the Palace
layout. Assorted photos show
the kitchen rooms today, complete
with a few appropriately-dressed cooks demonstrating
the “how-to’s” of Tudor-era cooking. A few period
receipts (recipes), with accompanying modern
adaptations, are also included.
Yes, it is the wrong time period (at least for me), but I
think it’s always good to know the story of what came
before. Besides, it’s proving to be an informative and
fun book. And since it’s not too lengthy, I’ll be able
to read it cover to cover. HUZZAH!
