Gingerbread with Sam Bilton

Gingerbread with Sam Bilton

Author: Neil Buttery July 25, 2021 Duration: 38:13

Gingerbread with Sam Bilton

In the first episode of the second season Neil chats to food historian, cook and chef, Sam Bilton, author of gingerbread cookbook ‘First Catch Your Gingerbread’. We talked about – amongst other things – the origins of gingerbread, gingerbreads that do not contain ginger, gingerbread’s close ties with Victorian fairgrounds and the difficulties surrounding cooking historical foods. Then, Neil talks a little bit more on the best of all the gingerbreads: parkin (this is not an opinion, but a true fact).

Sam’s book ‘First Catch Your Gingerbread’ is published by Prospect Books: https://prospectbooks.co.uk/products-page/current-titles/first-catch-your-gingerbread/

Sam Bilton’s excellent website and blog: http://www.sambilton.com/

Sam’s twitter handle: @sjfbilton; Sam’s Instagram: @mrssbilton

Neil’s parkin recipe: https://britishfoodhistory.com/2011/11/04/yorkshire-parkin/

Neil’s blog post about Golden Syrup: https://britishfoodhistory.com/2012/02/01/golden_syrup/

Gingerbread recipes can be found on both of Neil’s blogs: ‘British Food: a History’ (www.britishfoodhistory.com) & ‘Neil Cooks Grigson’ (www.neilcooksgrigson.com)

Also, don’t forget if you have any questions or queries about today’s episode, or indeed any episode, or have a question about the history of British food please email me at neil@britishfoodhistory.com, or find me on twitter @neilbuttery, or Instagram dr_neil_buttery.

If you like my blog posts and podcast episodes, please consider a monthly subscription or buying me a virtual coffee or a pint? Go to https://britishfoodhistory.com/support-the-blog-podcast/ for more details.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fruit Pig are currently sponsoring The British Food History Podcast

Visit fruitpig.co.uk for more details of their products and journey, and to access their shop. Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the BFHP a unique special offer: 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout. Time to fill your boots.



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 90

The British Food History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Historical Cookery with Jay Reifel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:19
Today I am talking with chef Jay Reifel who specialises in cooking historical food. He has co-written a beautiful book with collaborator Victoria Flexner called The History of the World in 10 Dinners.We talk about the in…
Ormskirk Gingerbread with Anouska Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:20
Niche topic alert! Today I amtalking to Anouska Lewis about Ormskirk Gingerbread.Anouska is the writer and presenterof the BBC Sounds podcast Hometown Boring? The first episodebeing all about Ormskirk gingerbreadWetalk a…
The History of Food Waste & Preservation with Eleanor Barnett [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:59
Today I am talking to Eleanor Barnett about the history of food waste and preservation.Eleanor has written a fantastic book about the history of how we as a society have (and sometimes have not) dealt with eliminating wa…
Stuffed with Pen Vogler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:18
In today’s episode, I am talking with author and food historian Pen Vogler about her book Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain which was published toward the end of last year 2023.We discuss how prec…
The Leeds Symposium on Food History & Traditions with Ivan Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
In today’s episode, I am talking with renowned food historian, chef and confectioner Ivan Day.The 38th Leeds Food Symposium of Food History and Traditions is coming up – 27 April 2024 to be exact – Ivan is the Chair of t…
Medieval Meals & Manners with Danièle Cybulskie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:53
In today’s episode, I am talking with medieval historian Danièle Cybulskie – also known as the 5-Minute Medievalist – about table manners in the Middle Ages.Danièle’s excellent new book Chivalry and Courtesy: Medieval Ma…
Spices with Ian Anderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:36
In today’s episode, I am talking with Ian Anderson who has written a fantastic book published by the History Press called The History and Natural History of Spices.We discuss what a spice is – the definition changes thro…
The Philosophy of Chocolate with Sam Bilton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:39
In today’s episode I am talking to returning guest and friend of the show food historian and writer Sam Bilton about her new book The Philosophy of Chocolate published by the British Library. Today Sam and I talk about h…