The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook by Emily Ansara Baines

The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook by Emily Ansara Baines is not only a really instructive cookery book, but is also an interesting and entertaining read as it contains lots of fun historical facts and handy hints on early 1900s etiquette.   

The book is divided into two parts: Part One contains the recipes for Upstairs and Part Two contains the recipes for Downstairs. Each part is then sub-divided by chapter, each one covering a different course. Looking at the suggested menus from today's perspective, it seems unimagineable that those dining upstairs were able to consume such large meals, whereas it is entirely understandable that the servants ate large, hearty meals to sustain them during long working days.  At the end of The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook there is also a useful section with conversion tables as all the measurements given are American measure rather than metric.

Some of the recipes included, particularly in Part One, were purely for interest and to provide period feel, as I don't think too many of us would cook Green Turtle soup or, indeed, be able to source the right ingredients, nor did I think that the "recipe" for cucumber sandwiches in the Afternoon Tea Chapter was required. It was, however, fascinating to see chicken tikka masala included and the final product tasted not too unlike the chicken tikka masala that we eat today. The Lancashire Hot Pot was also very well received on a recent frosty evening.   

I did feel that some of the recipes, such as Spicy Pub Fish & Chips, deviated from the time period and wondered whether ingredients such as pecorino cheese would have been readily available. These are, however, only very minor criticisms of what was a thoroughly enjoyable book – a fantastic point of reference if you're planning a 1900s dinner party!

PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

The Unofficial Downtown Abbey Cookbook: From Lady Mary's Crab Canapes to Mrs. Patmore's Christmas Pudding - More Than 150 Recipes from Upstairs and Downstairsis available from Amazon.