Welcome to my first episode all about the history of Lent in Britain. There will be a new episode every Sunday throughout Lent, and over the weeks we will be looking at it from every direction possible.
I’m having great fun making it and it has been amazing to get help and support from Beena Khetani at the amazing Sonder Radio.
A huge thanks to David Walker, Bishop of Manchester for giving up his time to talk to me, and to my pals Kate and Pete for letting me take over their kitchen.
Most of all, thanks to you for listening – if you have anything to add about anything you hear, feel free to post a comment, tweet me (@neilbuttery) or email me at neil@britishfoodhistory.com.
Scroll down for a more description of the episode as well as some useful links and photos.
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In episode one we start our historical journey through Lent, the Sunday before it begins by finding out what Lent (and indeed Easter) is with the help from the Very Reverend David Walker Bishop of Manchester, where we discuss what Lent and Easter means in the Christian Church, the benefits of fasting, how Lent has changed over the centuries, and how eating world’s largest rodent during Lent is absolutely fine (if you live in Venezuela).
Neil then tell us all about Shrovetide. Shrove Tuesday, aka Pancake Day, is the best-known day of Shrovetide of course, but what about its forgotten partner Shrove Monday, aka Collop Monday? You’ll have to listen to find out.
Neil then cooks two different pancakes: ‘Pancakes for the Rich’ and ‘Pancakes for the Poor’ for a couple of his friends Kate and Pete who are used to him shoving historical food under their noses all the time. They discuss the correct way to eat a pancake, what the best toppings and reminisce about that classic Jif Lemon advert from days long gone as well as Yvette Fielding’s massive pancake fail on Blue Peter.
Once well and truly shriven, we gather ourselves and head on to the first day of the 40-day fast Ash Wednesday.
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Useful links:
David Walker’s webpage on the Manchester Diocese website: https://www.manchester.anglican.org/bishop-manchester/
An Atlas Obscura post all about eating the honorary fish capybara: https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/capybara-venezuela
‘Jif Lemon Day’ ad:
Yvette Fielding’s pancake fail:
‘Pancakes for the Poor’ recipe: https://neilcooksgrigson.com/2008/02/06/25-harvest-pancakes-for-the-poor/
‘Pancakes for the Rich’ recipe: https://neilcooksgrigson.com/2007/12/07/13-pancakes-for-the-rich/
Follow Neil Buttery on twitter @neilbuttery
Neil and the Very Reverend David Walker 
Frying for the rich! 
Pancake tossing 
Neil’s Yvette pancake
British Food a History: Lent was produced by Beena Khetani and is a Sonder Radio production
British Food: A History 
Excellent! I was born late at night on Shrove Tuesday.
I’ve wanted to try caybara for some time, but I’ve never indulged in fasting.
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Thanks man.
I do a full on fast for a later episode…there are mixed results!
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The hallucinatory side sounds interesting, but lack of interesting food would make me depressed. I don’t think I would have done well as a serf in the Middle Ages.
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Luckily we can do interesting food in the modern day and still fast
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That sounds like cheating 😉
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