Medieval foodie Clarissa Dickson Wright tracks down Britain's oldest known cookbook, King Richard II's 700-year-old scroll "The Forme of Cury", and compares its contents with the way we eat today, as well as re-creating some of the dishes for a group of food and medieval history experts. The king's kitchens were highly organized, with up to 300 staff working in various roles, and the cookbook reflects the culinary techniques and terminology of the time. Some of the recipes, such as a luxurious sweet and sour fish dish and pears poached in red wine, highlight the use of exotic spices and ingredients in medieval English cooking.

Welcome to Chronicle; your home for all things medieval history! With documentaries covering everything from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the beginnings of the Renaissance, from Hastings to Charlemagne, we'll be exploring everything the Middle Ages have to offer.

Subscribe now so you don't miss out!

Chronicle is part of the History Hit Network. To get in touch please email [email protected].

📺 Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world-renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Matt Lewis, and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code CHRONICLE 👉 https://access.historyhit.com/