Comments on: Food in season in 1861 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/ A piecemeal investigation into the origins of our food Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:27:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Nick http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-66 Nick Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:21:08 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-66 Paula - I hadn't thought that the plums might be preserved, though they're not in Mrs Beeton's list for April but for later in the year. As for the hunger for forced out of season food, I suppose it's only natural to crave the tastes of summer in the depths of winter. But you're right that so much of the out of season food available so cheaply today is ultimately unsatisfying. And while it may be cheap to the supermarket shopper, there are hidden costs to the environment etc. Paula - I hadn’t thought that the plums might be preserved, though they’re not in Mrs Beeton’s list for April but for later in the year.
As for the hunger for forced out of season food, I suppose it’s only natural to crave the tastes of summer in the depths of winter. But you’re right that so much of the out of season food available so cheaply today is ultimately unsatisfying. And while it may be cheap to the supermarket shopper, there are hidden costs to the environment etc.

]]> By: Nick http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-65 Nick Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:20:32 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-65 Richard - I think you must be right about the rabbits and leverets being farmed. And asparagus has been early this year, partly because of the weather but also because of increasing efforts to extend the season, by covering the crop etc. Richard - I think you must be right about the rabbits and leverets being farmed. And asparagus has been early this year, partly because of the weather but also because of increasing efforts to extend the season, by covering the crop etc.

]]> By: Paula http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-63 Paula Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:01:13 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-63 It is a fantastic book. It is interesting how little has changed in terms of what we think of as being seasonal, despite the fact that many of us don't buy seasonally at all. I wonder if french and spanish plums refers to fresh plums, or to the sweet crystalised ones. It seems rather early for plums, even in France and Spain... The refernce to forcing suggests people then were just as impatient for soft fruit as we are now. I wonder how much that was due to it being a status symbol to be able to afford or cultivate forced, rather than seasonal, food? I suppose the irony is that now it is sometimes cheaper to eat out of season food, however tasteless it may be, than local seasonal food. It is a fantastic book. It is interesting how little has changed in terms of what we think of as being seasonal, despite the fact that many of us don’t buy seasonally at all. I wonder if french and spanish plums refers to fresh plums, or to the sweet crystalised ones. It seems rather early for plums, even in France and Spain…

The refernce to forcing suggests people then were just as impatient for soft fruit as we are now. I wonder how much that was due to it being a status symbol to be able to afford or cultivate forced, rather than seasonal, food? I suppose the irony is that now it is sometimes cheaper to eat out of season food, however tasteless it may be, than local seasonal food.

]]> By: Richard http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-62 Richard Mon, 23 Apr 2007 07:48:15 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-62 Interesting that she lists 'rabbits' and 'leverets' under Poultry, but 'hares' under game - I'd guess that the rabbits and leverets were farmed, rather than wild? Things don't seem to have changed that much - except my two local greengrocers had local asparagus this weekend (partly due to the unseasonable weather I would imagine) which when paired with the traditionally in-season crab for a salad was terrific... Interesting that she lists ‘rabbits’ and ‘leverets’ under Poultry, but ‘hares’ under game - I’d guess that the rabbits and leverets were farmed, rather than wild?

Things don’t seem to have changed that much - except my two local greengrocers had local asparagus this weekend (partly due to the unseasonable weather I would imagine) which when paired with the traditionally in-season crab for a salad was terrific…

]]> By: Freya http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-61 Freya Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:10:13 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-61 I have spent hours reading Mrs Beeton and many other cooks from past centuries and it's seems somehow sad to read about how some foods have just slipped from fashion. Some foods are probably best left there though... I have spent hours reading Mrs Beeton and many other cooks from past centuries and it’s seems somehow sad to read about how some foods have just slipped from fashion. Some foods are probably best left there though…

]]> By: Trig http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-58 Trig Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:04:52 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-58 What an informative post. I know about the book, of course, but I've never actually seen it. I might put in a bid for a copy as a birthday present or something. It's a very different world from the one that Isabella Beeton knew in her short life, but some things don't change very much! What an informative post. I know about the book, of course, but I’ve never actually seen it. I might put in a bid for a copy as a birthday present or something. It’s a very different world from the one that Isabella Beeton knew in her short life, but some things don’t change very much!

]]> By: Julia http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-56 Julia Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:39:59 +0000 http://www.tracingpaper.org.uk/2007/04/21/food-in-season-in-1861/#comment-56 Fantastic post, how interesting! I recently bought that book, I must to get round to reading it. Fantastic post, how interesting! I recently bought that book, I must to get round to reading it.

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