The British Food History Podcast
History
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 precarious our food supply was and is, the Enclosure Acts and their effect upon our relationship with food, allotments, havercakes, adulteration and malnutrition, school dinners and Hannah Woolley’s pumpkin pie, amongst many other things.
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Pen’s book Stuffed: A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain is out now.
Oxford Literary Festival
Hexham Book Festival
Hay Festival
Find Pen on social media: Twitter & Instagram @PenVogler
Books and other things mentioned in today’s episode:
Scoff: A History of Food and Class in Britain by Pen Vogler
My interpretation of Hannah Woolley/W.M.’s pumpkin pie recipe
Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken
Previous podcast episodes pertinent to today’s episode:
The School Meals Service with Heather Ellis
English Food, a People's History with Diane Purkiss
A History of Herbalism with Emma Kay
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
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