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Discovering Medieval
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Old cook in French

Medieval gastronomy

European cultural heritage


The cooks, manuscripts and cookery books of Medieval Europe. The garden and the spices in the Middle Ages. The Medieval cookery.
Having read some ancient cookbooks, and countless works by historians, botanists, sociologists and gastronomes, a handful of enthusiasts of ancient gastronomy wish to use the magic of Internet in a European perspective, to :
list facilitate access to knowledge of Medieval gastronomy and European cultural heritage, and contribute to the circulation of ideas,
list pass on some of their research work and promote dialogue between specialists and informed amateurs, on the subject of Medieval gastronomy,
list incite interested gourmets to experiment in their kitchens, to discover forgotten tastes and savours, and inspire them to use certain ancient techniques and blends of ingredients to delight our modern-day palates.
For this reason, we propose 5 courses to lead you through Medieval Europe :
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Oldcook : Medieval gastronomy in Europe, cooks, books, garden, cuisine - cook and sauces (BnF)

Cook and sauces, detail
Barthélémy l'Anglais. Livre des Propriétés des choses. XVe
(site Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms fr 9140 fol 361v)

1 - Master cooks of Medieval Europe :

We have little information about them, but 11 of them are better known to us, through their books.
list Discovering 11 Medieval cooks.
list Bartolomeo Scappi, book published in 1570

In French :
list Taillevent, manuscript around 1380
list Maistre Chiquart, manuscript from 1420
list Jean de Bockenheim, manuscript from around 1430
list Meister Eberhards, 1st half of the 15th century
list Maestro Martino, manuscript written around 1450
list Roberto de Nola, book written around 1477
list Antonio Camuria, manuscript from 1524
list Cristoforo da Messisbugo, book published in 1549
list Marx Rumpolt, book edited in 1581
list Lancelot de Casteau, book in 1604.
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2 - Manuscripts and cookery books
in the Middle Ages :

In Europe from the 13th to the 16th century, the elite classes shared a common culinary culture, which gave rise to a hundred or so manuscripts and cookery books in Europe. There are Medieval cookery books in English. We also provide a timescale.
list Discovering some Medieval cookery books.

We explain words (in French) in Medieval cookery, which help to understand recipes in Old French or Old English.

We give a list of digitized ancien texts (in French), in their own langage. The Platine en français and the Livre des confitures by Nostradamus have been published in Lyon (France).

Liber de coquina, Tracatatus ... et Enseignements ... (in French) have been found in a manuscript of the BN (Bnf, Bibliothèque nationale de France).
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Oldcook : Medieval gastronomy in Europe, cooks, books, garden, cuisine - wedding, North of France ~1250 (Pierpont Morgan Library)

The wedding of David and Michol, detail
cardinal Maciejowski bible, North of France ~1250
(New-York, Pierpont Morgan Library, Ms. 638 ff 29v)

3 - Medieval cookery :

Being at the origin of numerous local and regional specialities (in French), Medieval gastronomy is an astounding source of inspiration and innovation.

Rediscovering tart, sweet-and-sour tastes, light sauces and the flavours of harmonious blends of spices takes us back to the source of our European culinary heritage.
list Medieval dietetics.
list Medieval cookery.
list Kentish recipes from Medieval cooking.
list Product : Hippocras.

In French :
list The dessert in the Middle Ages.
list Recipes.
list A contemporary bibliography.
list Products : Mustard - Sapa - Verjuice.
list The cook in his kitchen.
list Dishes and kitchen utensils : The fork.
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4 - Maistre Chiquart's virtual garden :

In the Middle Ages, this astonishing, rich cuisine was concocted with ingredients from Europe, Asia or Africa. Hence it is cookery from before the advent of the tomato, potato, courgette or cocoa, which are the American heritage. It is interesting to review the list of ingredients known at the time : The garden and the spices.

list Discovering Medieval gardens
.

5 - Maistre Chiquart's stories and marvels

list Two stories to help you understand Medieval Europe (in French) : Spice merchants and Meals.

list Curiosities related to Medieval cookery ...
Marvels (in French).

Translator : Ian Bailey
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