The History of English Podcast Episode 132: Food for Thought
Dec 19, 2019
Exploring the origins of culinary terminology and food-related terms in medieval England, including the first English cookbook known as 'The Forme of Cury.' It also examines the opulent court of King Richard II, the evolution of words like 'mince,' 'sauce,' 'gravy,' and 'salad,' and the presence of Mediterranean-inspired recipes in a 1300s English cookbook.
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Language Mirrors Social Food Divisions
- Norman French heavily influenced culinary vocabulary for the elite, producing food/meat pairs like cow/beef and swine/pork.
- This reflects social divisions between Anglo-Saxon peasants and Norman nobles.
Salt Shaped Preservation And Vocabulary
- Salt was central as both seasoning and preservative, shaping words like salary and sauce.
- Preservation methods (salt, smoke, dry) defined diet and language in medieval England.
Garbage Began As Animal Entrails
- 'Garbage' originally referred to low-quality animal parts like entrails in elite kitchens.
- Over time the term generalized to mean anything thrown away.