College by Candlelight: 500 Years of Festive Food

A large collection of ancient recipes are held at the unlikely venue of the Royal College of Physicians and this event celebrates the methods found within those pages, with the College's team on hand to provide demos, tastings and explanations of the flavours that chart five centuries of festive food and drink. Fare of London will be armed with delicious samples of cheese and wine, while food scholar and broadcaster Ivan Day will be sharing his favourite recipes found within the archives. Silverware expert Christopher Hartop who worked with Ivan on the staging of the Netherfield Ball scene for the BBC's adaption of 'Pride and Prejudice' will be explaining the art of table top and food ornament, and cook, lecturer and food historian Annie Gray will be exploring how chocolate became a Christmas staple as well as providing information on the special forms of mid-winter sustenance that have accompanied celebrations from Henry VIII's reign onwards. Advance booking is essential via the Royal College of Physicians website.