A Dinner at Downton

Dining before fast food was invented

          Isabella Beeton published an expansive book in 1861 and wrote: "Man, it has been said, is a dining animal.  Creatures of the inferior race eat and drink; man only dines" (page 363 of Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management).  A staple for many, many  years as the resource for the lady of the house in managing everything, nothing but Julia Child's cook book could replace Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management for more detailed and intimidating recipes and household tips.  None the less, browsing through it is rather like getting a behind-the-scenes personal tour of a Victorian home, and how could I possibly say no to that?
       As there appears to be ten people dining at Downton in the scene pictured, I have borrowed a December menu from Mrs. Beeton as an example of the reason why dining would take hours back then.

First Course

Mulligatawny Soup (a soup of chicken, curry, rice and apple)

Fried slices of Codfish

Soles a la Creme

Entrees

Croquettes of Fowl (which sounds like chicken playing croquet) 

Pork Cutlets and Tomata Sauce

Second Course

Roast Ribs of Beef

Boiled Turkey and Celery Sauce

Tongue, garnished (honestly, I am rather glad this dish has gone out of fashion)

Lark Pudding (note, yes this does refer to the song bird which 150 years ago was commonly available at the market.  Do not go to your local grocery store in search of it in modern times)

Vegetables

Third Course

Roast Hare

Grouse

Plum-pudding

Mince Pies

Charlotte a la Parisienne (sponge cake, almonds and lots of sugar)

Cheesecakes

Apple Tart

Nesselrode Pudding (a chestnut and maraschino dessert-very popular in Victorian times)

Desserts and Ices

Three thoughts on this menu

1) If I were Mrs Patmore, I would definitely insist on putting my feet up at the end of a meal.

2) How did ladies fit into their corsets at the end of the meal?

3) If I were the cook, I may be tempted to call for takeout.

For a behind-the-scenes look at dining at Downton, please read Mail Online's article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2038720/Downton-Abbey-How-dine-style--salt.html

Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management is published by Oxford University Press, 2000.