The British Food History Podcast
History
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 waste and preserving precious food resources. It is called Leftovers: A History of Food Waste & Preservation, and it is out now published by Bloomsbury.
We talk about the fabulously wasteful food of 17th century cook Robert May, whose responsibility it was to preserve food in the home (hint: not the man of the house), pies as preservation method, the food waste used in agriculture and industry, food preservation in wartime, and Hannah Glasse’s dubious method for preserving very rank potted birds, plus many other things – we fit a lot into today’s episode.
Support the podcast and blogs by becoming, if you can, a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.
Leftovers: A History of Food Waste & Preservation is out now.
Books mentioned in today’s episode:
Robert May’s The Accomplisht Cook
Sir Hugh Platt’s Delights for Ladies
Hannah Glasse’s The Art of Cookery
Previous podcast episodes pertinent to today’s episode:
London’s Street Food Sellers with Charlie Taverner
Christmas Special 2023: Mince Pies
Upcoming events:
The Leeds Symposium of Food History & Traditions, York, 27 April 2024.
British Library Food Season 2024, 25 May at 2pm. Tickets and info to come soon!
Ludlow Food Festival, Friday 13th September.
Warwick Words History Festival, Thursday 3rd October at 4.30pm.
Neil’s blogs:
‘British Food: a History’
‘Neil Cooks Grigson’
Neil’s books:
Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald, England’s Most Influential Housekeeper
A Dark History of Sugar
Both are published by Pen & Sword and available from all good bookshops.
Don’t forget, there will be postbag episodes in the future, so 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 Neil at neil@britishfoodhistory.com, or on twitter and BlueSky @neilbuttery, or Instagram and Threads dr_neil_buttery. His DMs are open.
You can also join the British Food: a History Facebook discussion page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishfoodhistory
A Dark History of Sugar with Neil Buttery & Emma Kay Part 2
A Dark History of Sugar with Neil Buttery & Emma Kay Part 1
Cheddar & the Cheese Industry with Peter J. Atkins
Fanny Cradock with Kevin Geddes
Food in Gothic Literature with Alessandra Pino
Christmas Special 2021: Christmas Pudding
A Dark History of Chocolate with Emma Kay
Eel special: 3. The Plight of the Eel with Andrew Kerr
Eel special: 2. Silver Eels with John Wyatt Greenlee
Eel special: 1. Elvers with 'Elver' Dave
Savouries
Forme of Cury with Christopher Monk
Gingerbread with Sam Bilton
Lent episode 7: Lent Comes to an End
Lent episode 6: Social Evolution & Lent
Lent episode 5: Lent & Health
Lent episode 4: The Natural History of Lent
Lent episode 3: Pagan Lent & Easter
Lent episode 2: The History of Lent
Lent episode 1: Preparing for Lent
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Everything Everywhere Daily