Learn about gentle folk and their meals. Make and taste examples of their food. Join the poor in their "mess of pottage".

Make some of the following:

Pottage,

the basic ingredients are roots (e.g. yellow or purple carrots), worts (e.g. cabbage), pulses (e.g. beans and peas) and grains (e.g. wheat, barley, rye or oats). If you were fortunate there might be a little meat - but don't let the master know.

Farts

Yes! Flesh, cheese, fungi and dried fruit were all ingredients in these tasty fried pastry balls.

Sallats

Thomas Tusser lists the following for herbs for sallats or sauce: Alexanders, at all times, Artichoke, Blessed thistles, or Carduus benedictus R, Cucumbers in April and May, Cresies, sowe with lettice in the spring, Endive, Mustard seede, sowe in the spring and Mihelmas. Musk million, in April & May, Mints Navewes sowe in June, Purslane, Radish, Rampions, Rokat, in April. Sage. Rapes sowe in June.Our seasonal choice might be more limited

Sweetmeats

Sugar and honey were the main ingredients of these "banqueting" treats. They were flavoured with mint, rose water and ground almonds and then decorated with flower petals, edible colours or in the case of the very wealthy with gold leaf.

Sodd eggs

Boiled eggs cut in half and the yolk mixed with oil, vinegar and flavourings and replaced.

Grinding

Grinding almonds and spices with a pestle and mortar.

We bring enough equipment for 10 people to participate at any one time. There is an extra charge of £10 for ingredients.