Cooking & Dining in England

Peter Brears' unique series comprises four volumes covering cooking and dining in England from the medieval period up to the ascension of Queen Victoria. Publication began in 2008 with Cookiing & Dining in Medieval England.Together they represent nearly 50 years of research into the records, buildings, artefacts and manners of the each of these periods which allows the author to follow foods from their arrival in the kitchen through to serving and consumption at the table. Each book does this by describing each of these stages in turn, including specially-prepared measured drawings and illustrations of their structures, equipment, products and staffs. Moving on into the dining room table settings, meals and manners are all then detailed in a similar way.

The most recent book, Cooking & Dining in the Victorian Country House was published in 2023 and Cooking & Dining in Georgian England is forthcoming for 2027.