Cooking Medieval Food From England's Oldest Cookbook | Clarissa and the King's Cookbook | Chronicle

[@Getpojke]

Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright as The Two Fat Ladies were two of my favourite chefs. Their programs & books are excellent & have fuelled my journey into food history for years. This solo program from Clarissa is one of my favourites & I've cooked a fair few recipes from my copy of The Forme of Cury over time. Sad that neither of these wonderful ladies are with us anymore - they're of a type that's irreplaceable.

[@raymondjoebarwick8995]

This American agrees with you

[@annieclaire2348]

This Australian loved the Two Fat Ladies! Truly wonderful. Absolutely unique. Completely delightful!

[@FoxyJohn]

Absolutely I recently bought the two fat ladies collection on dvd and have thoroughly enjoyed every second of their banter wit cheekiness and cooking. Very enjoyable again.

[@johannebaker9730]

Wonderful to see her again. Even if by accidental scrolling 😂❤❤

[@Heedy770]

what is this series called? are there more episodes?

[@nbenefiel]

I used to cook for the volunteers at our local Renn faire, for years. We had occasional feasts. I used A Forme of Currye and To the King’s Taste. I remember there was a place online where one could acquire Mediaeval spices. I used a lot of herbs. I and my helpers cooked for days. We had Mediaeval musicians and did Mediaeval dances. The food was wonderful. It broke my heart when it all ended.

[@mjean6762]

Shame it had to end for you, it sounds magnificent.

[@rachelc5135]

reading this brought a lil tear to my eye.. sounds like it was so fun. thanks for sharing the memory with us commenters haha

[@amandapittar9398]

Clarissa was a Treasure. You have to try her Rice Pudding. You’ll never eat another again. Her food recipes are excellent. I’m such a fan of hers, so sad she’s gone, we are lucky we have videos like this.

[@seanleafgreen135]

I so enjoyed watching 'Two fat Ladies'. Honestly though the recipes weren't all that healthy. Immensely delicious but one shouldn't eat them daily.

[@joy-to7dx]

My mom use to make rice pudding. This my first time watching her what happened to her?

[@melissanelson2592]

I would love to try her rice pudding. Do you know which of her books it is from? A search is showing both Potty and Comfort Food as having rice pudding recipes. Thanks!

[@waynethomas4728]

Recipe please Amanda?

[@rlt9492]

@@joy-to7dxShe died in 2014.

[@100yojimbo]

Clarissa was amazing at presenting a program, miss her and Jennifer Patterson. Enjoyed watching this

[@troglodytehunter]

Clarissa was such a treasure, her voice is sorely missed and I'm so grateful to you for making these videos available!! Two Fat Ladies is one of my favorite shows of all time 😅😅

[@danalynbegin6991]

I knew it was Clarissa as soon as I heard that voice!

[@anncbower5564]

Agreed!! I remember watching her & Jennifer Patterson potter around in the kitchens from manor houses to royal arm force base to a school cooking up a scrumptious menus.

[@purplebutterfly7257]

Yes me too and I was actually surprised that I recognized it right away.

[@avariceseven9443]

Sorry, i dont mean to be rude or anything but i really thought she’s a he cause of her voice! I had to google if she’s a member of lgbtq+ (which im a member of lol.) Having videos on x2 speed did not helped, made her voice more male-like.

[@joy-to7dx]

Im a lesbian stud but i have a hard time getting a girlfriend 😢

[@Heyoudummy]

Who is she? I like her already, but have never seen her before.

[@patricial.6758]

I watched this more than 10 years ago. But, I am still thrilled to watch it again. History and food!!!!😂

[@JeffTheJoker-ci1iq]

"The King is dead! Long live the cook!" 😏 She's entertaining....I like her.

[@Heyoudummy]

Same!!

[@FutureMythology]

What an intriguing glimpse into medieval English cuisine! Exploring King Richard II's 700-year-old cookbook is a true culinary adventure. Thanks for sharing this historical journey!" 🍽🏰📜

[@kaylizzie7890]

I think Clarissa would have gotten along really well with Max Miller of Tasting History.

[@Angelicwings1]

Oh most definitely

[@lynnsenger9950]

And Jon Townsend of Townsends.

[@troglodytehunter]

I've tried asking Max if he's aware of TFL just because I know he'd love it, and all of CDW's Richard II cooking episodes, because I don't recall hearing him mention them before and tbh I'd have expected to, but I have to believe he's already a fan, I just couldn't get a reply to my comment (understandable).

[@EarlyMusicDiva]

And Mrs Crocombe (Kathy Hipperson) of The Victorian Way.

[@lawdogattorneyatlaw4886]

Max Miller is annoying

[@mistyaqua]

I would love to have seen the whole dinner conversation from all those interesting folks at the table. Extraordinary.

[@Angelicwings1]

I know right?!

[@KC-gy5xw]

Oh, Clarissa was a great, wonderful foodie, full on, marvellous. great great stuff.

[@jonijoni1145]

My mom taught me to always wash dried fruits in warm water 2 or 3 times. You'd be amazed what comes off - bits of straw or sticks, etc.

[@idontevenknow9758]

what's so cool to me is how much at least in what herbs could be good for you, they were not completely off. Garlic is still seen today as really good for heart health and blood pressure.

[@preciouseureka625]

As soon as I realized it was her I was glued! I've watched this 3 times already, pure joy and so much real information. She was, and is, a treasure!

[@Cory_Dora]

This was a fun new take on history and I love it! Give me more!

[@Pedro8k]

I remember taking part in the filming of this at Gainsborough old hall many years ago along with most of the group I was in at the time all the food cooked was cooked in the medieval kitchen by members of our group and was excellent

[@mjean6762]

What an experience!

[@Foggy_Til_Noon]

The way they have Richard watching the angry citizens on a TV is hilarious. This was an excellent production, educational, yet fun.

[@glorialange6446]

I have eaten poached pears... and so similar to that recipe also, with the addition of lemon or orange and raspberries instead of black.

[@13c11a]

How wonderful that Clarissa sat beside the sign that said "For Your Safety DO NOT CLIMB." I miss both Jennifer and Clarissa. This was a delightful documentary.

[@MossCoveredBonez]

the kitchen scene reenactment is fantastic. Especially the saucer

[@gregmunro1137]

Clarissa has such a distinctive voice and rhythm . I loved her and Jennifer show

[@Heyoudummy]

I loved the sense of humor thrown into this documentary!

[@warmweeniesdoxiesweaters2884]

American here. Some of us have been educated lol. I remember taking my mother to a Medieval Christmas Dinner cooked and served by University students on Michigan State University campus. A few dozen of us privileged (paying participants) sat at trestle tables arranged in a giant U shape and were served wonderful (unrecognizable) foods. I remember that there was a boars head (with apple) paraded around the room on a huge platter. All our servers were dressed and served us appropriate to the age. It was marvelous! I'm so glad I didn't have to clean up afterwards.

[@missanne2908]

Did they sing the Boar's Head Carol while parading around?

[@snazzybean]

This was a very enjoyable and soothing video to watch. Thank you!

[@mlewis8579]

I LOVE things and histories like this! Thank you very much.

[@RupaRishima]

This was wonderful. I need to watch more things like this. I really love her little quips here and there throughout the program.

[@arkable4]

This would have been a video I would have eagerly consumed the year it came out. It's a shame that even educational/edutainment media is so much about profit, ownership, borders and control. Feels a bit like lost opportunities waiting for the media to age out of profitable relevance. But glad it is now shared of course!

[@andreweden9405]

As a huge fan of Medieval cooking, this was a great treat!

[@msme2400]

Love the table manners! The least anyone could do if eating such a beautiful meal.!!!

[@excession3076]

The YT channel "Tasting History" has been using "The Forme of Curry" on and off for years and following the recipes. If anybody is interested in historical cookery (that also covers the rest of the world and a broader time scale), that's a wonderful channel to watch. And of course, try out the recipes. They really are managable and who knew that I would end up not only knowing about Hyssop and Savory, but actually use them both in my cooking nowadays. Plus Roman Garum... (if you know, you know).

[@BlackAcePlays]

Oh yes, great channel indeed. Not only does he cook the stuff, but always comes up with historical facts. 😊

[@Angelicwings1]

Gotta love Max

[@patriciamorgan6545]

Yes, he had us at garum.😉

[@christinaclark9754]

I love that channel and watch it all of the time!. I have the grains of paradise that she mentioned. I got it because of that channel along with some other spices.

[@Angela-382]

Have you used Max's recipe and made your own garum?

[@flygirlfly]

There's a lot of scolding and pearl-clutching in the comments about the lack of glove wearing. Archivists DO NOT advocate the wearing of gloves. Clean and dried hands (no lotion) are preferred. Cotton gloves can snag on the brittle fibers of fragile items. Bare fingers are more sensitive to the surface of items being handled, reducing the risks of damage.

[@frankwerner6355]

Very true. I am an antiquarian book seller of over 40 years standing, and I would absolutely forbid anyone wearing gloves to even touch my books let alone turn the pages.

[@mjean6762]

Such an interesting look into not only the food served at the time but also into King Richard ll. I loved the presentation, the effort to detail and also the little bits of humor sprinkled in.

[@purplebutterfly7257]

I love the reenactments and surprising information.

[@sablewright8053]

I Love ❤️ This. Medieval Cookery is the best. I mean isn't it? 😊 I could look at this all day. ❤

[@JudithHaworth-yu6oz]

I have enjoyed this presentation and, of course, Clarissa.

[@gojes22]

Thrilled to hear and see Clarissa!

[@Heyoudummy]

Ohhhh, how i would LOVE to try an authentic medieval meal!!!!

[@1withtheforce]

She was an absolutely brilliant cook and personality!

[@CFinch360]

Charming and interesting, thanks for posting

[@wralford]

That fish dressing with onions, sugar, raisins cooked in vinegar looks very interesting! I have no idea what that would taste like, but am going to have to try it.

[@chiusacan18754]

I haven't seeing Clarissa for ages. She is a great Chef. Thank you for the documentary and the historical part of Food and the life of King Richard (in my opinion,a very closeted gay man, unhappy to be living in a time like that. RIP....Long Live the Cook!

[@lisabudd5979]

This is amazing there was a combook ,and i absolutely adore Clarissa and her knowledgeable pasdion for cooking .this is so insightful 🇦🇺😊

[@irenedebruyn2796]

The novel 'La cuisiniere de Castamar ' by Fernando Munez takes place in the early 18th C and is full of this sort of food! First written in Spanish.

[@Richard-me2pq]

My favorite dish is a trencher of vixen tallow burnish upon bruised grouse innards, followed by groundroot figgy and washed down with mead! My name is Richard, so I think its genetic.

[@dennwren]

Brilliant, wish I could give it multiple thumbs up!

[@jonathanbailey1810]

To all those comments about wearing gloves. "Before handling any collection item, thoroughly wash and dry hands. Contrary to widespread belief, gloves are not necessarily recommended to handle rare or valuable books." This is because touch and dexterity are reduced so more likely to cause damage.

[@deendrew36]

The way the guy looked when she said “boners”…😂

[@mariemorgan7759]

Love this history cooking series, does open a window to the lives of the people of the past.💕🇬🇧

[@SierraNovemberKilo]

Truly loved Clarissa, she"s greatly missed.

[@goldenscales]

Oh, god that I AM, I love the English sense of humour! Lol. What a great series!

[@kennapace3869]

King Richard has been established in my heart forever. I am not British but became aware of him through a friend that is. I'm ecstatic having found your channel to add to my knowledge of his life. It is so heartwarming. Do you have a cookbook with these recipes? I am definitely interested in acquiring one

[@chriscaughey1103]

I love this video and would love to taste this meal myself!

[@Azazel2024]

I would not want to be behind the king after he ate all that. Talk about savage winds 🤣. Great show very well done

[@AlfredY-uf2ue]

We also have hand washing, I used to recommend using soap for a pleasant fragrance and to prevent bacteria and then wipe with a soft paper towel, at the end of a meal my mother said they would leave some food for the angels and cover with a thin cloth

[@marieboutin9054]

this is a good video. Very entertaining and instructive; thank you

[@msprettykawaii950]

The king must be excited every mealtime

[@joy-to7dx]

He likes to watch people boycott though his old TV 😅

[@rbu2136]

Lovely show. Enjoyed this and the host did great.

[@QuizVortex.1]

Hello I'm a big fan of your channel. The content and video are such impressive! Great

[@AlfredY-uf2ue]

Middle school days in England are so fascinating, interesting stories and such a varied way of life, I think the Scots and Irish complain about their oppression, but as a Balkan person I see very similar things in their way of life

[@HannibalFan52]

The first book of medieval recipes I ever bought was 'To the King's Taste', by Lorna J. Sass, published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. It was a collection of recipes from 'The Forme of Cury' adapted for modern cooks. Among my favorites were Tartlettes (pork ravioli), Roo Broth (venison stew), and Blank Mang (White Dish, chicken cooked with rice and almonds). That last can be seen when Clariss'a's looking at the original manuscript. The only one I didn't like was the Muskels in Brewet (mussels in broth), but that was more down to the bright orange color of the mussels than anything else.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks for a lovely presentation.👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@henryanderson7533]

I knew Clarissa very well I remember when she had the book shop in West Bow in Edinburgh which was run by her friend Isabel Rutherford both ladies with a wealth of culinary knowledge.

[@laurentlavigne1851]

Thanks from France!

[@ravenhill_of_midsummer_1968]

this is making me hungry, yum yum.

[@tetianab4613]

Absolutely love this show!

[@Marinapaxvobis]

Very interesting to learn of a medieval cooking-recipe-scroll and replicate food preparation in our times. Thank you! The ingredients in cooking-scroll and recipes invite wondering the history of how the ingredients from places on the mainland of Europe and more distant from England / Britannia were adopted along with how perishables were prevented from spoiling during transport?

[@lonniehubbard2302]

Clarissa always the master...Brava!

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

Simply marvellous, to come upon you again Clarissa. Was a great fan of Jenifer & Clarissa, 'the Two Fat Ladies". You I am happy to see, are still in full culinary stride. Thanks for this delightfully entertaining exposé of Medieval culinary arts. All very yummy too. Thanks for this video.

[@roberttelarket4934]

I love the way the English pronounce luxurious!

[@catzkeet4860]

How else can one pronounce it?

[@roberttelarket4934]

@@catzkeet4860: In the U.S. we say luxjurious(as in a court jury) but the English in Britain say luxzurious(with the z sound).

[@verenamaharajah6082]

I think someone is ‘ Pulling our legs’ ! I have never in my long life heard anyone, least of all an American, pronounce’ luxurious’ as ‘ lux~jurious’!

[@lnbjr7]

What a great video. I have always enjoyed Clarissa, she is one of the Jewel’s in the King’s Crown! Hope she hosts more of these videos!

[@trevorwills3356]

Sadly Clatissa is now deceased.

[@joy-to7dx]

​@@trevorwills3356 what happened?

[@trevorwills3356]

She developed pneumonia while in hospital for an undisclosed illness and passed away a number of years ago.

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

More show's like this please

[@KeithWF]

Excellent show!

[@havingalook2]

Brilliant, I would eat any of those dishes happily. Well done.

[@brandonrohrbaugh59]

Clarissa Knows It All!!

[@pskully57]

Oh man, that was great! I learned a lot there.

[@stevenbest6408]

Ah, so one of "The Fat Ladies" has taken up time travel. Excellent. I wish her well on retrieving culinary treats for the rest of us to enjoy. Just delightful to watch, but I'm again wishing that I possessed a smell-o-vision monitor so as to enjoy the whole experience. Cheers from Texas.

[@robnewman6101]

Wow. Some interesting.

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

Are they looking at the original roll, or is this a facsimile? No matter what I love the way it is carefully handled. I own a copy of this cookbook with modern attempts at recreation and it is wonderful!

[@RandomGuy33369]

If it's an original. Then it should've been handled with gloves.

[@wandapease-gi8yo]

@@RandomGuy33369 No they should not be using gloves. Ask at your local museum. The original roll is made of parchment, I.e. animal skin scraped very thin and smooth. The answer is to Wash your hands thoroughly! Clean hands (and dirty for that matter) have safely handled this roll for centuries. Now days the answer to handling old paper and parchment is CLEAN, FRESHLY WASHED AND THOROUGHLY DRIED HANDS!

[@ladyjusticesusan]

Clarissa! I love her so much!!!!!

[@dustincaso6781]

I absolutely love this woman!

[@philip4588]

Is it a english translated pdf/book?

[@Serai3]

As a fan of Max Miller, I am well acquainted with this book. I'm planning on getting a copy so I can play around with the recipes. :)

[@ValerieAnnHorn-Ross-mx4cv]

🇬🇧 Oh I love dear Clarissa Dickson Wright, those rich plummy vowels are so distinct, Yet such a down to earth lady. Clarissa was very lovely as a young woman, tall & willowy, blonde & classic English looks She was once a High Court Judge Maybe this is where her down to Earth character came from but also very eccentric too. Clarissa knew everyone in High Society including royalty I loved her cooking show with her best & life long friend Jennifer & Their mode of travel was a motor bike & side car, with Jennifer as the driver & Clarissa stuffed into the side car & their cookery show was called The Two Fat Ladies They laughed all the time & shared a cracking good humour. Sadly Jennifer died a long while before Clarissa but she carried on alone, as in this wonderful cooking

[@Goddess-of-Beer]

Haha, such a nice and witty presenter

[@joannkennedy3563]

That was a great documentary

[@hollywilson738]

Clarissa! What a great surprise!

[@merindahthornton5080]

I wouldn’t have used the grains of paradise whole, I and have never put salt in my powder douce… but it was a lovely video.

[@purplebutterfly7257]

Oh the roach turned out to be a type of fish wow I was thinking they meant the actual bug.

[@Cricket2731]

Roach (fish) are distantly related to carp.

[@purplebutterfly7257]

@@Cricket2731 oh I learn something new.

[@EmeraldsFire]

​@@Cricket2731I still would not want to eat it with that name 😅

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

A very common caught fish.

[@richardhausig9493]

You could open a great restaurant with that cookbook

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Unfortunately Europe lacked many fruits & vegetables. Back then that are reliably available (2024).

[@phillipdodds7860]

That was great. I want to make those three dishes now. ❤

[@dzetagamma4287]

I would die from hunger without potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, rice, chili........

[@Ann65.]

I was a fan of the “Two Fat Ladies” series with Clarissa and Jennifer. Sadly, Jennifer passed away I believe. It’s good to see Clarissa still going strong. The Medieval Cookbook is fascinating. Look at the beautiful text! 👩‍🍳 🧑‍🍳

[@hetrodoxlysonov-wh9oo]

Clarissa died 10 years ago on the on 15 March 2014.

[@dennisgrubbs1929]

Awesome video Thanks 👍

[@cekuhnen]

This is one of my most famous food topics - how did food in the past taste. Already in Germany just the food 60 years ago is so different to the factory food people eat.

[@mr.gentlemansir3151]

I wonder what happened, aye. :/

[@LLBP.]

That was fun 😊

[@johannahidalgo7738]

I love these shows where ancient and old cooking recipes are done nowadays but one thing that I believe that they missed ( in regards to the flavor) the fact that the original recipe called for the goose to be cooked over fire, the wood used for this does impart flavor to the meat that I personally find important if I’m going to eat it!!!!👍😻😻😻. She just say he bathed him stone a eeek!!! Ughhh, yak!!! He must have stank horribly 🙀

[@dgreene051]

To me, Richard II wroted that cookbook himself, and it became widely famous😊😊😊

[@erezklein5769]

The only difference back then is the smokey flavor produced when cooking over a wooden flame. Every day BBQ :)