The British Food History Podcast

The British Food History Podcast

Author: Neil Buttery Language: English Episodes: 90
Dr. Neil Buttery hosts The British Food History Podcast, a journey into the stories on our plates. This isn't just a catalogue of dishes; it's an exploration of how food intertwines with culture, society, and the arts across Britain's long history. Each episode digs into the substance behind our sustenance, whether that means reviving forgotten recipes, examining hyper-regional specialties, or getting hands-on with traditional techniques that have nearly vanished. Neil often brings along special guests for insightful interviews, and he isn't afraid to get involved with historical re-enactments or a bit of foraging to better understand the past. The central, curious thread running through the series is a quest to understand what truly defines this cuisine-what makes British food distinctly itself, with all its celebrated and sometimes surprising characteristics. Listeners will find a rich, engaging mix of narrative, practical experiment, and thoughtful conversation, all served with a genuine appreciation for the subject's depth. Tune in for a podcast that proves history is best understood through the flavors, efforts, and traditions of everyday life.
Episodes
Apples & Orchards with Joanna Crosby [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:09
S07E03Apples & Orchards shownotesHappy New Year and welcome to episode 50 of the British Food History Podcast! I talk to Joanna Crosby about the history of apples and orchards in England. I saved this episode specially f…
Christmas Special 2023: Mince Pies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:55
Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!Leaving a mince pie out for Santa this year? I do hope so. This year’s Christmas Special is all about mince pies: the history and baking, as well as the confusion surrounding the fact that the…
Special Postbag Edition #3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:26
It’s the end of the current run so that means it is time for the now traditional end-of-season special postbag edition. Thank you to everyone who has listened, downloaded, donated and spread the good word. I’ll be back i…
English Food, a People's History with Diane Purkiss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:37
Neil’s guest is Diane Purkiss and they talk about just some of the topics covered in her book English Food a People’s History published by William Collins. Diane is Professor of English Literature at Oxford University, a…
The School Meals Service with Heather Ellis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:30
S06E09 The SchoolMeals Service with Heather Ellis: shownotesNeil’s guest today is Heather Ellis from Sheffield University. Helen is a historian of Education and she, along with academics from the University of Wolverhamp…
Early Television Cookbooks & Tie-ins with Kevin Geddes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:08
Neil talks to returning guest Kevin Geddes. He told us all about the wonderful, fabulous Fanny Cradock, but today he is talking to me about Television Cookery Shows and their cookbook tie-ins. Kevin wrote a very interest…
18th Century Tavern Cooking with Marc Meltonville (& Richard Briggs) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:41
Esteemed food historian Marc Meltonville returns to the podcast to talk about taverns, 18th century dining and the cook and author Richard Briggs, the focus of his new book The Tavern Cook: Eighteenth Century Dining Thro…
Tudor Cooking & Cuisine with Brigitte Webster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:13
Today Neil talks with Brigitte Webster about her new book Eating with the Tudors which has just been published by Pen & Sword History.We talked about how she came to live in her Tudor house; how the food changed going in…
Tinned Food with Lindsay Middleton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:27
Today Neil talks to food historian and returning guest Lindsay Middleton about the history of tinned food –something one doesn’t really think about, tinned food being just so every day.We talked about what led her to tak…