The Day the Viking Age Began

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LINKS TO SOURCES**
An Early Meal by Daniel Serra & Hanna Tunberg: amzn.to/3MOJSNb
Anglo Saxon Chronicle: amzn.to/3tBBoCx
The Oxford History of the Vikings by Peter Sawyer: amzn.to/3zElwml
RECIPE
1 pound (½ kg) pork meat
Salt for seasoning
2 tablespoons (25g) Lard or another oil for cooking
1 ½ cups (125g) chopped spring onion, or leek
2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds, roughly crushed
1 teaspoon chopped mint
1 pound (½ kg) fresh berries
½ cup (120ml) water
½ cup (120ml) mead
1. Season the meat, then heat the lard/oil in a pot on the stove. Sear the meat for 5-7 minutes until well browned. Then remove it and set aside.
2. Add the onion to the pot and cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the water and mead and bring to a simmer. Add the mustard seed and mint and return the pork to the pot. Return to a simmer then cover the pot and place it in an oven at 325°F/160°C for 15-25 minutes or until the pork reaches 145°F. Then remove the pot from the oven and remove the pork to let it rest.
3. Add the berries into the pot with the braising liquid and cook on the stove for 7-10 minutes or until very soft. Mash the berries, then pour everything through a strainer. Return the liquid to the pot and simmer for several minutes or until the sauce reduces down. The sauce will not become too thick without the addition of starch (optional).
4. Slice the pork and serve with the sauce, extra berries, and mint.
**Some of the links and other products that appear on this video are from companies which Tasting History will earn an affiliate commission or referral bonus. Each purchase made from these links will help to support this channel with no additional cost to you. The content in this video is accurate as of the posting date. Some of the offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Subtitles: Jose Mendoza | IG @worldagainstjose
PHOTO
Lindisfarne Priory: Mstanyauk, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Disneyland: Sean MacEntee via Flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
France Relics: Dennis Jarvis via Flickr, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Holy Island Sunrise (again): By Chris Combe from York, UK - CC BY 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Viking Age Map: By en:User:Bogdangiusca - Earth map by NASA; Data based on w:File:Viking Age.png (now: File:Vikingen tijd.png), which is in turn based on home.online.no/~anlun/tipi/vro... and other maps., CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Lindisfarne Priory Ruins: Nilfanion, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Statue of Rollo: By Delusion23 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
MUSIC
Battle of the Creek by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
#tastinghistory #viking

[@aslandus]

Another interesting note about Vikings is that (much like misconceptions about their cleanliness) their clothes were often quite colorful for the time as a show of wealth, though modern depictions no doubt discard that notion in part because audiences would be confused by a bunch of well-groomed noblemen in technicolor dreamcoats sailing around raiding and pillaging...

[@sarahwatts7152]

I've also heard of accounts of Saxon men complaining because the Viking studs were seducing away their women :D

[@WateringCan]

That's true of all aristocrats but Scandinavia wasn't a particularly wealthy place so is unlikely to be true of the average person. Undyed clothing was probably the norm for peasants, just like everywhere else in Europe.

[@katarinawikholm5873]

@@WateringCan yes. But There are cultural differences in the attitudes to sauna, bathing and general cleanliness. Personally I think this reflects more on the English than on lower class Scandinavia

[@axelhopfinger533]

@@sarahwatts7152 By sheer virtue of being tall, masculine and exceedingly well groomed and generally cleanlier than the Saxons nonetheless! For Saxon women, being taken as booty by such handsome Vikings was like being in one of those cheesy erotic novels for women where the ultramasculine conqueror whisks away the fair maiden to enslave and ravage her, but falls in true love with her by virtue of her loveliness, which tames him in the end. Wonder if such steamy stories existed back in the times among the womanfolk of Britain?

[@meinelust]

@@sarahwatts7152 imagine an army of Chris Hemsworth and Kyle Hill.

[@NotMeButAnother]

Fun fact: in Germany, viking blood (Wikingerblut) is slang for mead mixed with cherry juice. Tasty, but very sweet.

[@Burning_Dwarf]

I frickin love that stuff Cherry vanilla mead esp drives me nuts

[@PhoenixLyon]

Sheesh! Like honey Mead isn't sweet enough? I'll have to add cherry to my next batch.✌️😺

[@richardneal4616]

So instead of actual Vikings do they use some kind of Viking substitute to get the same flavor?

[@Burning_Dwarf]

@@richardneal4616 yea the cherries

[@ragnkja]

@@Burning_Dwarf Is it made with vanilla or with the more traditional meadowsweet?

[@privatelyplaylisted]

One thing about the wateriness of the sauce - modern berries have been selectively bred and grown to be much plumper and juicier, so it's quite likely that in the original recipe there was a lot less water per berry, making for a thicker sauce

[@taylorben4038]

Also the original was probably far less sweet, and more tart

[@mostlypeacefulguntraining]

@@taylorben4038 but the vikings werent drinking pounds of sugar a day, so it was still probably very sweet to them

[@stephenschenider4007]

@@mostlypeacefulguntraining So glad I never enjoyed sweets. Cant remember the last time I had a candy bar or desert.

[@MadSwedishGamer]

@@mostlypeacefulguntraining They did have honey, and probably made really sweet honey treats with things like nuts, berries, and flatbread, so maybe not *very* sweet, but yeah.

[@rockmcdwayne1710]

It wouldnt have made any difference as you discard the flesh part of the berries and squeeze out the juices. Besides, wild berries can be quite juicy and sweet, often sweeter than most berries that are commercially grown that you buy from store! Not sure where you are located in and how often you have access to wilderness but, trust me, wild berries are often better than those sold at the store!

[@Nik2555]

I remember at school learning that they absolutely loved eating oysters. In the gardens of Viking homes in york they found huge piles of oyster shells as they disposed of them by just chucking them outside.

[@paulinelarson465]

They may have been storing them for use as - My 74 yr old brain is drawing a blank- they ground them up for use in/as, building mateial. AND oysters, clams and mussels were easy proteins to gather on the coasts.

[@Senriam]

So did most Native Americans who had access to water. Or any group that engaged heavily with gathering

[@Neophoia]

I wonder if lingonberries, which is super common to have as a condiment in sweden, might have been used for the berry sauce. Lingonberries contain a lot of natural pektin (at least that's what my grandma always told me when making jam) so it could be sort of used as a stabiliser. It would also add a tartness to the sauce.

[@jamescheddar4896]

im guessing their recipes were all adaptable given their nomad lifestyles. i bet they would have used saskatoon berries if they got all they way out to western canada

[@ragnkja]

Is there any kind of tradition for using lingonberries anywhere in Great Britain? (The fact that the English name for them is borrowed from Swedish does seem to indicate otherwise.)

[@Hiltok]

@@ragnkja Lingonberry is called many other names such as cowberry and foxberry but isn't native in UK. It's from boreal forests of Eurasia and North America (slight difference between American and Eurasian varieties).

[@fredmidtgaard5487]

The Swedes never got to Lindisfarne. I find it more likely that sour apples were used. They are common in Norway and can be stored.

[@kellysouter4381]

I was thinking that. The Hairy Bikers went and toured Scandinavia and there were lingonberries in pretty much everything.

[@jeremychoo934]

Whoever came up with the phrase “… has the patience of a saint…”, clearly didn’t have St Cuthbert in mind 🤣

[@jayhom5385]

He was right, those birds must have been Hugin and Munin scouting things out.

[@roseg1333]

Yeah lol There is a phrase in the Catholic church that goes every sinner has a future and every Saint has a past.

[@graham-kirby]

It is great to hear Lindasfarn being mentioned, being a resident of Northumberland this place is quite special to most of us. I had the privilege of living on the island for a short while during the winter 1978 when all the tourist had gone and life moved with the ebb and flow of the tides. One thing holds true now as it did then, it’s still a tourist trap, but there are a few special places where you can hide away, watch the seals, gannets and other wildlife, in those moments you feel part of all that has gone before. If that’s too poetic for you, you can alway go and purchase plastic Viking helmets from the village shops then go and sample some Lindasfarn mead . Then go off in search for the millions of places that claim Cuthbert’s bones were hidden when running from the Vikings, by the way, they are in Durham Cathedral 😉

[@jennybodin3710]

When is NOT Lindisfarn mentioned? 😉 Anything ever about vikings- Liiiiiindisfarn. 😄❤️

[@pagan-walker]

@@jennybodin3710 or bede, despite his predilection to edit his historical text in order to show those not of the cross as heathen savages, which any basic research into will show to be factually biased

[@Cara-39]

@@pagan-walker Bede died abt 70 years before the raid on Lindisfarne

[@pagan-walker]

@@Cara-39 yep, he did, but he is claimed as a historical source with regard to the norse peoples,

[@honeybadger1847]

Xq ópo

[@StitchOtter]

I made this dish tonight, and I must say that it turned out delicious. Pan-seared two pork tenderloins, then sautéed chopped leeks and deglazed with a sweet white wine (my local mart didn't have mead). For berries I did a blend of strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and blueberry, then double-strained and thickened with a bit of corn starch. Everyone was a bit taken aback when I told them it was a Viking recipe, but dinner was still quite a hit!

[@IRosamelia]

Congratulations! I'm planning it for next week and I'm wondering if it will go well accompanied with sauerkraut.

[@mowerds33]

Max, I found your show after my dad told me about your channel. He really loved your videos, especially the humor. He passed away Saturday. Thank you for your videos, they mean more than you think, and can really give people joy when they need it.

[@debrathornley2974]

💕

[@jonesnori]

Condolences from an internet stranger.

[@PinkSwan146]

I’m very sorry for your loss 🙏🙏🙏

[@Seerykins]

Sorry for your loss

[@dahliaforbes]

My condolences to you and your family💕

[@Lauren.E.O]

The mention of dolphin (thankfully not today’s recipe) reminded me of Ask a Mortician’s video about porpoises and what people were and weren’t allowed to consume based on older laws, particularly for monks. Now THAT would be a cool collaboration if you’re ever interested!

[@Burning_Dwarf]

Yasss Love to see that colab

[@catd5307]

It’d also be cool if they did a video on a funeral feast (aka what people ate during a funeral or around that time)

[@bearo8]

The collaboration I didn't know I needed.... until now. That would be glorious!

[@ursulajoni15]

I never thought about that but now I NEED them to collab on an episode about funerary food

[@drinkbooks]

Oooooo ooooo Yes yes yes!!!

[@nuns8126]

Scandinavians still serve roasted pork with lingonberry sauce or Swedish Americans use Cranberry sauce. Another sauce is made from cloud berries or Mayberries.

[@Lukes50Eggs]

Max, just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your channel. It’s right up my alley. I love old cookbooks to find unusual and long-forgotten recipes. Your work goes back a lot further than mine, but I’m inspired! Thanks for doing what you do.

[@TastingHistory]

Thank you, Michael!

[@stevejohnson3357]

This has to be in the top 10 of Max Miller quotes: "June is a great time to start off the raiding season." I ought to try this sometime when blackberries are ripe. But they are very dark and they would make any white meat look interesting.

[@persnikitty3570]

Would love some blackberries in milk, with a dash of sugar, about now. Used to pick those as a child along the rail line, as they were wild there, filling up several coffee cans slung across my shoulders with heavy twine. This was in the 70's, and I'm still a bit rural. :)

[@stevejohnson3357]

@@loke6664 End of August where I am. Earlier if there's a heat dome like last year. They are in bloom now.

[@loke6664]

@@stevejohnson3357 Yeah, here you can usually find them the last week of July and most of august (I live in Kalmar) but as soon as you get a bit up north they are ready later but often can be found in greater numbers. It is a pretty interesting berry since it grows wild in such large part of the world. I mean we have blueberries and so does America but those are not the same berries, ours are smaller but taste more and the plants looks nowhere the same. Blackberries seems more or less the same everywhere and unlike things like apples they were not brought to America by humans (possibly by birds though).

[@loke6664]

@@gwennorthcutt421 We have a weird blue raspberry like berry called "Salmberry" here (not to be confused with salmonberry or domesticad raspberries like Jewel) but it is very rare. Makes an amazing jam though, And of course cloudberries which is also pretty hard to find, each plant only makes a single berry but it's worst problem is that it's get mushy really fast. I really need to plant more berry bushes in my garden. :)

[@kirstenpaff8946]

Could you imagine the reaction of the Lindisfarne monks when they read the letter blaming the Viking raid on them? I am guessing some very unholy words were uttered that day.

[@TastingHistory]

The nerve right

[@dragongrazer7620]

Christian victim shaming never gets old.

[@stephanewantiez164]

it's funny to think that in the French of Quebec, the usual bad words and insults are actually "sacred" words - it's even called "sacrer" in Canadian French like "tabarnak!!" for "tabernacle", "osti!" for "hostie" (communion wafer), etc. ^^

[@cameronmccoy5051]

@@stephanewantiez164 sacre bleu!

[@paulinelarson465]

@@cameronmccoy5051 Sacred Blood !

[@deniellepalmer6738]

Love the line "One of my favorite stories about St. Cuthbert is.." I laughed and laughed because i love that you have more than one St. Cuthbert story that you love! Adorable!! My maternal grandmother came from Norway. I adore pork with sweet..e.g., apples, etc. I am riveted already!

[@Cara-39]

I'm a Medievalist and reading about the raid on Lindisfarne in high school is what led me to specialize in post-Roman Northumbria. St Cuthbert is still popular today in Northern England and the leather binding on St Cuthbert's Gospel, found inside his coffin, is oldest Western bookbinding known to survive.

[@ivorlongshot]

We have a very old St Cuthbert's Church in Bedlington can be dated back to the 10th Century and was built on the site of an earlier church. The remains of St. Cuthbert was rested here in 1069, when they were temporarily removed from Durham Cathedral for sanctuary following the Norman Conquest.

[@jebemkeveu3023]

"medievalist" thats a new term for a person who got no education just his curiosity

[@LukasNse]

@@jebemkeveu3023 Why are you being a jerk? You can know history well without a formal education.

[@ultimapanzer]

I was so into the viking history on this one, that when he brought it back around to the recipe, I was like “oh yeah, it’s a cooking video too” lol.

[@yudithcaron8053]

I didn't know that Spam with strawberries was a viking recipe.

[@baulderos1950]

My mom made something like this in the past. Instead of pork, she used chicken, which she marinates in a strawberry sauce. And instead of baking, she fried the chicken. Turns out, it tasted better than I expected 😳 (Update) I asked my mom for the recipe, and here it is: First, prepare your strawberry sauce. Blend some strawberries until smooth. For some flavor, add a bit of salt, pepper, sugar, and minced garlic to your liking. (I was told not to add any water to the mixture) Cut up a whole chicken (don't remove the skin) and boil it in the strawberry mixture on low heat. When it's almost cooked, try it out to see if you need more seasoning (add a bit of salt/sugar if it does) When it is fully cooked, take it out of the pot. Heat up some butter on a pan, and fry your chicken one by one. You can also use an air fryer. Don't use too much oil when frying, since it will get rid of that strawberry flavor. Fry until its crispy and golden brown on the outside. Apologies for the lack of exact measurements, my mom usually relies on 'feeling' when it comes to cooking 😅

[@TastingHistory]

Sounds good to me

[@azuromesser849]

@@TastingHistory to me too

[@niseplank4527]

Mmmm, I may have to try that next chicken and waffle extravaganza.

[@dwaynezilla]

@@niseplank4527 Just need a historical waffle recipe. Wait, the history of waffles? Sounds like a Tasting History idea to me.

[@azuromesser849]

@@dwaynezilla it is !

[@PlummSojuuuu]

It's kind of insane that this video was recommended, and I clicked purely for the interest in the dish, yet hearing someone speak about the history of my home (North East England) is really cool. When I was in school I was even in "House Cuthbert" so it's kinda fun to see how others actually learn about this and view this neat piece of history.

[@funwithfrank7522]

Found this channel on a hungry mission. Now im excited about learning history and maybe getting an idea for a meal haha. Earned a subscriber my friend x

[@knightofendor8384]

Now I can’t get the image of a group of period appropriate Vikings raiding Disneyworld out of my head.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

And I can't stop seeing them wearing Mickey Mouse Ears instead of the mythical horned helmets! Thanks for that

[@johnroberts4456]

Like we need more ideas

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

The Vikings raid and plunder all the Mickey-shaped desserts. A frightened onlooker holds on to her small children and wonders, how did they sail to Orlando? The camera cuts to a longboat displacing several cars in the parking lot.

[@sarabrown6022]

My grandparents live on Lindisfarne and it is bad luck to say pig (they say "guffie"). I wonder when that became a thing.

[@davidlemos1136]

All the research you do for your episodes is greatly appreaciated, so many different sources for the recipes.

[@wolfsbane1991]

As a Dane it made me SO happy to see you use Danish mead! I love this exact mead as well, I can get it at the viking and medieval festivals that are happening during summer here in Denmark. Love seeing my little country represented, thank you!

[@boesvig2258]

As a Dane, I'm incredibly saddened by this vile slandering of our proud ancestors. It's important to remember that what we're told here is only the Anglo-Saxon side of the story. What actually happened was this: At Lindisfarne, there was a very sudden and terrible epidemic of axetotheface-itis, to which all the monks succumbed. Luckily, some Norse traders were sailing nearby. Noticing the calamity they tried to help, but alas, the monks were beyond saving. What could be saved were the monastery's treasures, which the noble and heroic Vikings did. Just imagine, if they hadn't taken the treasures under their protection, someone could have stolen them.

[@historyish7873]

No phones in sight either! Just people enjoying the moment

[@hjalfi]

Axetotheface-itis is a terrible disease, and just won't go away. Why, only a few hundred years ago there was a major outbreak of a related disease, bayonettotheface-itis, which ravaged many countries in the world. The British Empire of the time did what they could but to no avail...

[@ericdpeerik3928]

👆 That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

[@giwilreker]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@SimuLord]

I like the cut of your jib, sir.

[@ADastardlyBastard]

Another great episode man!! I've been following this channel since 30k subs and it's been wonderful seeing how much it's grown, definitely my favourite on KZbin

[@TastingHistory]

Thank you 🙏

[@brandonrico1601]

OMG the channel has grown so much I began watching it with around 150k subs good job Max for educating and entraining people all while teaching them to cook.

[@claradaniels1472]

Just recently discovered your channel and I love it! I'm currently working on getting a history degree and I love food so this channel is like the perfect combination. Can't wait to see what's next, but in the mean time I'll be catching up on your older videos!

[@Eye_Make]

So strange hearing Max talk about places I've visited often. Lindisfarne is an amazing place to visit if you ever get the chance.

[@TeaRex12]

I love An Early Meal! So glad you're using a recipe from that cookbook. It is very well researched, a lot of my re-enactment groups use this as THE source for anything viking food related.

[@terrybull1534]

Give your group a Huzzah! From me

[@WorldWarTwo]

We made the mistake of making a video dispelling myths about the term 'Viking…' We're still getting heated pedantic comments about it 6 months later. Great episode, love the show Max. Keep up the good work!

[@TastingHistory]

Sometimes, it’s nice to have those pedants though. Each angry comment helps the video performance 🤣

[@WorldWarTwo]

@@TastingHistory Amen!

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

Honestly, I take my pride about how much I know about Vikings. This Colchonera knows more about actual Vikings than all the o Idiots in plastic horned helmets every two weeks at the Bernabeu

[@HroduuulfSonOfHrodger]

What myths did you dispel that are making people grumpy?

[@spencergellsworth]

Of course Timeghost loves Tasting History. Now I want Max to do a special segment of Between 2 Wars

[@albaenriquezmakeup]

Thanks to your channel and your titanic recipes, i got inspired to cook! I hate cooking! I did the chicken lyonesse and omg it was incredibly tasty! Please continue to do this because your videos are so entertaining and easy to follow and listen to. You are amazing and your channel is pure perfection! Much love from Spain!

[@nobodyslive4298]

I just wanted to tell you how much i absolutely love this channel i have not missed a single episode since i started watching Amazing Work !

[@harrytodhunter5078]

In my hometown, there was a weird obsession with Lindisfarne. At the end of Primary School, you went on a trip to Lindisfarne, and at my secondary school, Our three houses were called Aidens, Bedes and Cuthberts. Super religious schools.

[@kimberc813]

What is your hometown? I think that is really cool!

[@sheenachristina2385]

I was looking for something to bring to our next Viking reenactment feast- going to try this for Saturday!

[@terrybull1534]

Huzzah!

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

Come back and tell us how it went, I want to know now.

[@zhiracs]

Well, how'd it go?

[@terrybull1534]

@@zhiracs the English Vanguard surprised them and defeated them before the meal began

[@sheenachristina2385]

Did it with lamb- super tasty. The mustard and mint are really nice on it. The berry sauce is good too…but the guys ended up using it on the cheesecake instead. 🤣

[@Sothpawable]

I'm in a viking reenactment group and just shared this to all our members. I'm hungry now!!! We will absolutely be trying this!

[@Mara-of-the-Acoma]

always fun and informative to watch, thanks Max!

[@jaredwright5644]

I love hearing more about British history, especially before the Norman period. Other than the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and individual monks, we don't know much about the history between the Roman days and the Norman Conquest. The main theme is that the Vikings were a menace, many Danes and Norse settled and built/rebuilt towns and cities, the raids were only quelled when Alfred the Great, his son Edward the Elder, and grandson Athelstan (who's considered the first king of unified England) invested in the Saxon military and tactics, and the raids came back in force when Athelstan's progeny proved much weaker than their forebears. This is an extreme oversimplification, but hopefully these Cliff Notes help the curious. This dish looks delicious, btw 😊😊

[@aidanclark196]

If you haven't read it already, I recommend Geoffrey Hindley's book 'A Brief History of the Anglo Saxons' It's a super interesting read that covers the period between the germanic raids of the British isles to the Norman conquest. and discusses a lot of the political turmoil between kings and the church, while also trying to give some insight into how the people lived.

[@jaredwright5644]

@@aidanclark196 Thanks, will take a look 😊

[@Fortepiano666]

For a fictionalized account but based on actual events is the book series by Robert Cornwell and the television series of the same name which is The Last Kingdom - which starts at the Anglo-Saxon garrison of Bamburgh.

[@neilog747]

Take a look at Survive The Jive channel here on KZbin. It covers much of the culture, touching often on archaelogy. There are also The English Companions.

[@pazdivina965]

You should give a listen to the British history podcast!

[@m.p8917]

All different kinds of Nordic berries go well with any food. Forests are full of lovely ones to pick and also mushrooms etc. I would think viking era they would have fully utilised nature and it's free food.

[@carminecalo5151]

Excellent video as always. Thanks man

[@msuzanne7740]

I stumbled across this channel accidentally on one of the titanic episodes and was a instant fan/subscriber. Thank you so very much for this unique, educational, and entertaining channel!!

[@CynBH]

Max: Will you please consider a collaboration with The Sioux Chef (Sean Sherman)? He does pre-Columbian Native American recipes. He also has a cookbook available.

[@saynotop2w]

underrated channel

[@beatrixthegreat1138]

Ooh new channel to watch, cheers.

[@M50A1]

Yeah!

[@tktyga77]

Speaking of Precolumbian, I notice a distinct lack of Inca or pre-Inca dishes from you, especially siwichi (from where ceviche truly comes from) & other such dishes from the older times of Peru & nearby.

[@chloeedmund4350]

Thank you for this comment!

[@lhfirex]

You know, now I'm imagining Viking raids are more like a large group comes into a restaurant very aggressively after an exhausting road trip.

[@downtowncoolsville.8958]

I'm pretty sure that if Restaurants existed back then vikings would do exactly that.

[@tachiebillano6244]

Hee hee... there's a popular eat-all-you-can buffet franchise in my country (the Philippines) called Vikings that serves dishes you would see in a 3-4 star hotel restaurant rather than the usual family buffets you see in most of North America. They serve authentic Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Thai, and French dishes for all 3 meals and snacks / tea time / desserts, plus the usual stuff you'd expect in an American breakfast buffet (pancakes, waffles, sausages, cheeses, etc.). Yes, it's a crazy setup and perfect for families the size of a Viking raiding party (hahaha!) who are hungry yet can't make up their damn minds what they want to eat.

[@PooNinja]

Sounds like a Rock tour crew at a Dennys at 4am.

[@MrStonelion63]

Once in Bromley they assembled in the Green Midget cafe and spam selecting a spam particular spam item from the spam menu would spam, spam, spam, spam, spam ...Monty Python

[@lhfirex]

@@tachiebillano6244 Yeah, a lot of the buffets in Japan when I went there were called " viking," like a free drinks bar was "drink viking," a pizza buffet was called "pizza viking." Made me laugh the first time I heard it.

[@raven_of_zoso455]

Hi Max! Nice to see you're still making the occasional video. Much appreciated and as always very educational. Cheers!

[@donny0742]

Two of my favorite subjects, history and cooking. This is the best channel out there doing these kinds of videos. Thank you so much. Hello from Las vegas Nv USA

[@eazy8579]

This video is as fire as Lindesfarne itself

[@jonesnori]

I've visited there. It was just a day or so, but my late husband and I found it beautiful and meaningful.

[@StuartHetzler]

We had a vikings exhibit come to our local museum (denver) a few years ago and it was really fascinating seeing their cookware, utensils, jewelry, and whatnot. We focus so much on the raiding and pillaging that we miss some wonderful culture from the ones that never left their homelands

[@DaintyMacroHobbit]

It's very true, moat raiders were farmers at home growing crops and raising cattle. Like with most things in history, there a whole 3 dimensional and complex culture behind what we read.

[@dt_grey4521]

Viking is a seasonal occupation, their culture and society was great. They just fucked up saxon christians so nobody bothered to remember the culture. They tried to do the same thing with Scotland and William Wallace. Britian is bitch made.

[@andersjjensen]

They did more trade than pillaging. Not necessarily the same party, that is. But in the years where the local harvest was good, more parties set out to trade, while in bleak years, more parties set out to... "make up the deficit". Fortunately for everyone around Scandinavia, most years the harvest was good.

[@Grabbael]

The way you speak is so conversational! i love your videos for that. i will definitely be trying this recipe!

[@deniseferron3397]

I introduced my family to your channel, and they’re4 now hooked!

[@nenenindonu]

I always imagined Viking food to be something like salmon locked in a huge ice cube

[@tissuepaper9962]

You're really not far off, a very common technique for preservation at the time (and still seen today) was to hang up all your fish in a sunny place in the winter so that they get naturally freeze dried, quite a lot like chuño but with fish instead of potatoes. It's called harðfiskur.

[@edman1357]

Right? Not pork with a BERRY sauce lol oh well. Always fun to learn new things.

[@satyakisil9711]

Back then ice was much more difficult to get. You mostly had snow.

[@WrenTheFaelock93]

@@tissuepaper9962 that's really cool!! The name I feel like I have heard b4 it's vaugly familiar but never knew thats what it was! Gotta love seasonal foods of different cultures!!

[@jamescheddar4896]

they ate a lot of salty fish on the voyage

[@StylisticSongstress]

I lost it with the “yay” insert from the Simpson’s. 😂😂😂 soooo fascinating that was the big tourist attraction!! 😮

[@pierre6625]

Hi Max, I love the way you present and explain your videos. Great work and thank you for sharing your stories and recipes. And this recipe looks good

[@ProjectThunderclaw]

Many of the berries and fruits native to northern Europe like currants, lingonberries and gooseberries have a naturally high pectin content. If you made the sauce with those and let it set for a while, you might get a texture more like a jam or even jelly . Which is generally how meat with berried is served in Sweden today; with a neutral cream sauce and lingonberry jam. Or if you're really cool, blackcurrant jelly.

[@m.dilitto5488]

First video that's been uploaded since I subscribed. I'm the nerd student sitting at their desk 15 minutes before the bell.

[@TastingHistory]

Welcome to the channel 😁

[@richardbeebe8398]

I always come for Max's video feasts, but I also like to come back later to check out the comments. It's a tribute to Max that his posts inspire viewers' observations and questions that often share additional facts and insights on Max's subject matter (both historical and culinary) that, in turn, generate further sidebar discussions. Max (with Jose's help and support) has really fostered an engaging social media community. My compliments to the chef!

[@Marty4650]

Max.... you have one of the most interesting and informative channels on KZbin. And you really do a good job creating and presenting it. Thanks.

[@arispett5046]

Hi Max, it’s possible that the berry sauce wasn’t as sweet in the Middle Ages as it is now because the strawberry as we know it today is really only a hybrid created in the 18th Century. In the Middle Ages, European strawberries were very small, completely round, and very sour.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

Wild strawberries are small and very sweet with an intense flavour. They grow in the woods just behind my house here in Lincolnshire, England.

[@tessjuel]

I clicked on this video to see if somebody had commented on exactly that. I'd love to find a YT channel that actually makes a serious effort to reproduce historical recipes but this channel clearly isn't it. Any recommendations?

[@theAverageJoe25]

@@tessjuelclearly you’ve not watched this channel very long, he’s literally gone to other countries to learn how they make their dishes and orders uncommon ingredients from other countries at great cost. This guy even cooked and ate a damn heart

[@tessjuel]

@@theAverageJoe25 That doesn't change the fact that he's claiming to reproduce an early medieval dish using an ingredient that didn't actually exist back then. As the OP says, the garden strawberry is a hybrid between a North American and a South American species and was created by accident as late as the 1750s. The woodland strawberry native to Northern Europe is a different species with a different flavour. It's unlikely they would have used strawberries for such a dish anyway. Woodland strawberries aren't exactly the kind of berries you find in abundance anywhere. --- In the video Max Miller says he is making a berry sauce "using ingredients that probably would have been available on the isle of Lindisfarne in 793". I know it can be difficult to find reliable information about ingredients of the past; that's true even for recipes only a few decades old. But in this case, all he had to do was check wikipedia. If he couldn't even be bothered to do that, he has no credibility whatsoever when it comes to reproducing historical recipes.

[@TwlightDutch]

Max must have never visited Italy if he thinks waiting in line to visit a church on your holiday no longer happens in modern times

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

What about the thousands who trudge the Camino de Santiago every year and hope to watch a bunch of priests swinging a big smoky conker about?(They have to pay for it! and it ain't cheap) Or the busloads who turn up at Lourdes Of course the real reason for the smoky conker (incense burner) was if you have a Cathedral full of unwashed pilgrims who have been walking for weeks you need a better aroma than the one you will have!

[@clothar23]

Man as a former servicemember of the CAF and veteran of the Afghanistan war I have more than most to thank God for...But queuing up on a holiday to get into a Church to be in awe of some dead guy's thighbone isn't how I'd go about it. ...People need to get a hobby. And Churches need to stop dabbling in necromancy.

[@vilena5308]

Yeah, if you are going to visit some old city in Europe, churches are a big part of it. If you are at least a bit interested in architecture and history. Speaking of Italy, a friend of mine went to a wedding in Rome a few months ago. Her pictures were basically: ruins and churches. She specifically mentioned being quite happy that there were not so many tourists and lines yet.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

@@clothar23 very few of them actually believe it, it has just become Something to Do. i suspect it Alway was.

[@vinq8621]

This channel is ridiculously great. The way Max can launch into history in such an entertaining and engaging way, and contextualize it to the contemporary viewer. Never stiff, never snooty or hoity toity- just a lesson in history by a true lover of history. And constantly funny! These videos are far and above better than any textbook or wiki article- I wish I had these videos back in school and I pray that teachers are playing them now in classrooms. Learning is like a vegetable- kids don’t want it unless you disguise it in something palatable. Mr. Miller excels in disguising a hefty chunk of information in an entertaining package. I could’ve worded this better but I’m in a rush so I’ll end with this- Someone get this man a TV show!

[@syysky]

Great video as always!

[@natbvm1880]

So glad I finally got to watch this, it was a really good one!

[@MrsSiri-ts4fd]

Omg!! your video popped up just in time when I finished watching some viking documentary. I'm so cheeful a lot!! Thank you so much for viking contents like this.

[@TastingHistory]

Good timing!

[@Lauren.E.O]

I love when there’s fruit in a savory dish! I bet this is going to be good.

[@CODDE117]

Exactly what I'm thinking!

[@arnox4554]

Ugh... I actually hate sweet and salty mixed together. >_> This recipe may not be the grossest we've seen thus far at all, but it certainly doesn't look good for me.

[@damianmares5338]

@@arnox4554 oh god it is an abomination to my taste

[@mollyscozykitchen4693]

Me too! Such a good flavor balance. I have a great recipe for pork tenderloin with cherry&wine sauce on my channel if you want to check it out.

[@jonesnori]

I remember my mom used to cook pork chops with a slice of apple or orange. Far more basic, but still has the fruit/pork idea.

[@treyowen9213]

It's always a pleasure seeing your videos Max.

[@Daleymop]

Convenient timing with your posting! I was planning on slow cooking then roasting a whole pork knuckle tomorrow.. I might pick some berries up after work for the sauce.

[@mrbeast85]

Hmmm 2 ravens, sounds like an allusion to Huginn and Muninn the two raven spies of Woden. Cuthbert symbolically banishing and then subduing the old religion?

[@Swishy_Blue]

I thought the same thing! Monks: Ew, Ravens are pests! Vikings: they're cute little gossips, be careful.

[@thomaslobitz8710]

Unlikely, theres no evidence that ravens were as symbolically important to Anglo-Saxons as they were to the Norse saga stories (which in turn were not necessarily relevant to pre conversion beliefs)

[@Vampwatch1462]

I can totally see that.

[@Arjibi]

Hunor and Magor

[@MotoHikes]

Shouldn't have banished those ravens. That was likely Hugin and Munin, Odin's raven's, and so the fury of the vikings was eventually brought upon Lindisfarne.

[@attiasprouse682]

The one raven apologized, though, because they were in the wrong.

[@MotoHikes]

@@attiasprouse682 To gain his trust

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

@@MotoHikes The ravens were in for the long game. They would get their revenge in due time.

[@loke6664]

Phew, Saint Cuthbert were pretty famous for his weird stories, he also fought a lake monster, demons and a lot more. I think the good saint hit the sacred wine a bit too hard.

[@Arjibi]

Hunor and Magor

[@varaffxiv2219]

I actually found the mead you had in my local liqour store chain! Going to be giving it a try next time I go.

[@mastathrash5609]

Great recipe as always! LOVE all of your content! I've been looking for ANY historical and or traditional Asian recipes for Venison. Obviously one could always use beef, but I cannot find anything that involves old traditional recorded recipes specifically for Venison from many cultures let alone Asian ones.

[@EzekielDeLaCroix]

When you boil pork, do it for a long time and use the cheaper cuts if you don't want to ruin a tenderloin.

[@00muinamir]

Yeah, I think this really is one for the cheaper cuts, even for the braising method. More collagen and fat in the braising liquid would thicken the sauce.

[@EzekielDeLaCroix]

@@00muinamir I don't know why this guy always goes for Pork Tenderloin. Like, damn... Is this guy expecting to be royalty in the past or what? His surname literally means "Miller".

[@kylepaup]

I have that book on my Amazon wish list... Didn't get it for my birthday or father's day, so it looks like I'll be treating myself haha

[@davidharwell3580]

Love the channel also love the Easter eggs on purpose or not of random pokemon in the background of the vids.

[@hamneggwich]

Aww, it's a shame you couldn't get some Lindisfarne Mead for this recipe. It's actually made on the island, all the varieties are very tasty, and they also make a bunch of wines. They do a mead blended with their cherry wine called Blod, and another blended with blackcurrant wine(forgot the name, something to do with Odin), and either would be amazing for a fruit sauce like that.

[@jaredwright5644]

It would be pretty cool if you could also find a way to work the traveling Irish monks, and their efforts to bring literacy back to Western Europe, in a future episode. Maybe on the next St. Paddy's Day 😁

[@wolfgangkranek376]

Must be one of those Irish folklore stories that the Irish monks brought literacy back to Western Europe. They had a notable influence on Britain for some time, but only little on the continent. Where in many places already a rich monastic life existed. And they didn't bring back literacy, they just Christianized people.

[@rcrawford42]

There is an actual fish confusingly called "dolphin" as well. It's known now as mahi-mahi, so maybe it wasn't available in Northumbria.

[@erikjohnson9223]

I think it prefers warm waters.

[@nancyreid8729]

In my family (we used to vacation at the beach in the summer), we would speak of “dolphin-the-fish” or “dolphin-the-mammal” to differentiate them; it was many years ago before the fish was commonly known as mahi-mahi. We’d catch them off the Atlantic coast of North Carolina.

[@erikjohnson9223]

@@nancyreid8729 North Carolina has the same fish as the Florida Panhandle. Far, far warmer water than Scandinavia & the northern British Isles. I have never heard of locally caught grouper and snapper in Northern Europe (nor of medieval Norsemen south of New England on this side of the Atlantic).

[@nancyreid8729]

@@erikjohnson9223, yes, I know that. I was merely pointing out that in places where both existed, there were ways of differentiating them.

[@shrink0001]

Your story telling is great!

[@Jordy-927]

Still swooning over your range. Awesome vid as always.

[@xionmemoria]

Friendly reminder that the modern Norwegian slang term for "crazy and unpredictable" is Texas. Yep. "Texas". "That party was Texas", and "He's a bit Texas but he means well" are both acceptable sentences. Even the vikings think Texas is too crazy to bother with!

[@rebeccaburrow7199]

As a born and bred Texan i find this hilarious 😂

[@ladylark10884]

moved to texas when i was 7, i can confirm. these mf's are insane 💀

[@dolphinboi-playmonsterranc9668]

Hint of Mint sounds like a good mint based cookbook

[@Mark-nh2hs]

I'm surprised no Dill.

[@BlackHeart9XX]

Made this a few months back. Absolutely liked and finished the whole thing. I didn't find it really weird cause I generally like to experiment with different ingredients that might seem bizarre if combined together and I know of other similar recipes (as I'm a historian myself). It's definitely an acquired taste, but I believe that it should be given a try. For me, I really enjoyed the sweet and savoury combination aspect of it and berries with pork, lamb or chicken tend to go well together. There are even recipes that use jam or conserve in making gravy for roast beef (made that too and it was amazing). Thank you very much for your hard work! You and this channel are an absolute gift! For me, the best channel that combines interesting historical facts, great historical recipes with wellput humour sprinkled here and there! I wish I can meet you up close one day! Take care! P.S. I also adhere to your opinion of bringing BEDIGHT back! Let's do it!

[@bigglypuff0420]

I just love seeing his Channel growth. I've been watching his channel, since the beginning

[@freyashipley6556]

Another excellent episode! It's also interesting to think about the Norse influence on names for foods in Britain. (Like "egg" replacing the English word "ei".)

[@jonesnori]

Apparently it had been "egg" (more or less) in Old English, too, so we gave up that "g" in Middle English, then got it back through Norse influence. (Apparently the "egg" in "to egg on" is a different word altogether, with a different history.) Ooh, I love etymology.

[@GringatTheRepugnant]

I've had the pleasure of performing with my choir on Lindisfarne and also volunteering on Iona, which was the site of Lindisfarne's parent church and where St. Aidan was trained. Iona itself would see the vikings appear on their shores 2 years later. Never expected to see this part of history in an episode!

[@TastingHistory]

I’ve always wanted to visit. I sang with a choir who had gone there just the year before I joined. JUST missed it.

[@GringatTheRepugnant]

@@TastingHistory Ohh, that's a blow. Funny thing, the choir I went to Lindisfarne with also went to Iona while I was volunteering there - but they didn't tell me and I missed them! Definitely recommend going to both. As you say Lindisfarne still is something of a tourist trap but if you go there make sure to also head to the nearby town of Alnwick and check out the poison garden and Barter Books! Iona on the other hand has the restored abbey and the ecumenical community active there. While I was there it was still heavy restrictions and masks and rotating the chairs and books. It should be a lot easier to get to now.

[@peterott-tn6pf]

Yes that Vikings blod is amazing...and potent🤪 awesome content as always Max!!!

[@arianagugora6811]

"...whereas when I offer to spread pig fat on people's Converse, I get weird looks." That line made me laugh for a long time. The food and concept piqued my interest in this channel, but your humor and (on-screen) personality kept me here. Another awesome episode!

[@shysensei2348]

𝒍𝒎𝒂𝒐𝒐 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒐.

[@rashkavar]

A tip for you with cooking pork tenderloin: if you have a meat sauce that uses vinegar or water and want it to have a bit more of that carmelized meaty flavour from the pork, swish that vinegar or water (or anything else that won't burn) around the pan just after you've browned the pork, and get some of those browns dissolved into the sauce. I used to make a superb pork tenderloin and peach sauce recipe that used canned peach pie filling as a main ingredient, and getting the browns from the meat really takes the sauce to the next level. If you have access to peach pie filling, here's the recipe 1-3 Pork Tenderloins (depending on how much you like your spices, the recipe originally called for 3, I'd make the whole spice rub for one) a dry spice rub consisting of: 2 tsp seasoning salt, 1/4 tsp curry powder, 1/4 tsp chilli powder, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper. Rub this onto the meat and cook at 425 Fahrenheit for 20-30 minutes (to an internal temperature of 160, though as long as it's above 145 it should be safe and just a personal preference thing - I grew up in a household that remembers the days of the scourge of trichinosis, so pork was always quite thoroughly cooked) In a saucepan mix up 21 oz can of peach pie filling (we always used ED Smith's Peach Passionfruit filling, but that was discontinued. If you can make your own peach pie filling, great.), 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp ground cloves. Heat to a good serving temperature, and set aside 2 tbsp of water and 2 tbsp of vinegar. Once the pork is ready, remove from the pan and pour water and vinegar into the baking dish to collect the browns from the pork, then pour into peach sauce. Stir sauce, ensure it's sufficiently heated. Cut pork into medallions and spoon peach sauce over it. Serves ~3 per pork tenderloin. (The peach sauce recipe is for 3 tenderloins, still makes lots with a half recipe if you only did one tenderloin. If you like the spices, don't halve the nutmeg and cloves.) This is a superb dish for dinner parties because it's extremely low effort and allows the cook long periods of being able to come out of the kitchen to talk, while also looking and tasting like a fairly fancy meal that took a lot of work. (And these days, if you have to make your own peach pie filling, it kinda does!) I keep hoping to see an adequate substitute for the canned peach pie filling on the market - I miss my easy, low effort, delicious result pork tenderloin recipe. But if it exists in your area, or you're just a dedicated enough chef to be willing to make peach pie filling to try this, now you have the recipe too! Enjoy!

[@SchoolRumble4ever22]

Thank you for taking the time to share a detailed recipe😊

[@rashkavar]

I am most pleased to report a new peach pie filling is back in stores locally. It's not quite as good as the previous one (which was peach - passionfruit), but I get one of my favourite dinner recipes back!

[@SchoolRumble4ever22]

@@rashkavar Yay!

[@Burning_Dwarf]

The history i knew, the recipe i did not. Amazing episode about the start of my favourite timeperiod. Edit; you dont mess with Ravens

[@buffster948]

Don't mess with the corvids! I, for one, welcome our bird overlords. 😅 😂

[@Tigerheart01]

Your new kitchen looks awesome!

[@Magick25]

Having friends and family over tomorrow. Gonna make this with some homemade "Vikings Blood Mead". Thanks for all your great vids. Love your channel.

[@sigrid129]

I’ve learned in school that Viking was something you did. Going Viking means travelling by sea. But what do I know, I’m only danish. 🇩🇰

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

Going a-viking.

[@ericdpeerik3928]

No one understands what you're saying, you shouldn't speak with your mouth full.

[@mattBLACKpunk]

It's about the journey, not the destination I guess^^

[@JesperRoos]

Language evolves

[@sigrid129]

@@JesperRoos yes it does, but we’re not calling people from England traveler’s , we call them English.

[@jenniferblazek290]

My hoosbond and I created a Viking feast for a medieval re enactment in 80s and served many courses including unusual lingonberry jelly, dishes made esp. with cardamom, pickled herring, cranberry fruit soup, as well as fermented lemonade ( hey, the Vikings got to Mikkelgaard right, which had lemons, no? Great videos Max, so great!!!!

[@Waywren]

What fun to hear about Lindisfarne! and that pork looked AMAZING

[@historystudent3985]

This looks so good! I love Nordic history and culture, and I’m very thankful to be able to watch these educational and informative videos!

[@rennie5693]

You should make a list of all the books you use/recommend if you haven’t already! That would be pretty cool :]

[@psalm91rdwlkfpgrl]

yes!!

[@ItKnowsYou]

I’m starting my Archaeology masters in the fall and I am super excited. And I guess you could say Tasting History inspired my course selection because I’m taking paleo dietary reconstruction in the winter semester!

[@MattDaviesStockton]

Looks so good!

[@leeirwin6239]

I LOVE history and also food.....LOVE this channel

[@alexcue6509]

There is also a word “Vikingr”. The practice of adding er to the end of words to be a noun describing a person who does a verb came from Norse languages. A vikingr is a person the does the verb Viking.

[@kellysouter4381]

So a vikingr goes a Viking?

[@alexcue6509]

@@kellysouter4381 yup. The way that someone who plays a game or sport now is a player of that activity.

[@petriew2018]

@@kellysouter4381 the closest actual translation for 'viking' to modern english is 'camping'.. 'vyk' being a term for a kind of fortified camp the 'vikingr (campers)' would build around their makeshift landing sites.

[@swinhelm389]

That isn't true at all. The -r ending in Old Norse is a grammatical suffix, like -us in Latin. The words víking and víkingr are both nouns, the former meaning a voyage or expedition to raid or trade, the latter meaning a person who goes on such voyages.

[@VikingGruntpa]

Swinhelm... "viking" is a verb.

[@jvlovesk]

I just watched the Northman and now I am obsessed with researching the actual viking experience lol

[@TastingHistory]

Loved that movie

[@HroduuulfSonOfHrodger]

The Northman is amazing! Much was very historically accurate. So nice to see a movie like this in 2022. It's so rare these days. No agenda or any of that BS inserted. We need more movies like this about Africa, Asia, Arabia, and the Americas. I remember growing up in the 80s watching Shaka Zulu on TV. We need a modern remake of Shaka's history on the big screen. It's always been one of my favs!

[@blanchequizno7306]

Max's videos never fail to make me smile.

[@KaitenKenbu]

Great recipe, great story, and great channel.