FOOD | the-middle-ages

FOOD AND DINING

A TYPICAL MEAL

The Lords ate very well in the Middle Ages. His diet would consist of fresh vegetables, fruit and exquisite meats. The vegetables were usually cooked in a stew, soup or porridge. Fruits were commonly served in pies or tarts and were preserved in honey. An average meal were generally heavily spiced, with common spices such as pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg. Along with the meal, there would usually be wine or ale.

Breakfast was usually eaten between 6am and 7am. A Lord would typically have white bread along with three meat or fish dishes. Dinner (now known as lunch) would be eaten between 11am and 2pm, depending on the family or person. This meal would generally consist of 4-6 courses. Supper (now known as dinner), was eaten between 6pm and 7pm. The food eaten was very similar to what would've been eaten during dinner, but the meat generally would've been of a more exotic animal such as pigeon, woodcock or sturgeon.

THE LORD'S KITCHEN

The kitchen would usually be located on the ground floor. Underneath that would generally be a well and a storeroom where all the food would be kept.

Inside the kitchens, the would be large cooking ovens for baking, a large fireplace for roasting or smoking, a sink with running water and a drainage system. Arond the kitchens, there would be several smaller storerooms. Things like wine were kept in the Bottlery. Ale was kept in the Buttery. The Pantry was where more durable foods were stored.

DID YOU KNOW...

The Lords would eat white bread whereas the peasants would be stuck with brown bread
Meats had to be salted in large vats in order to stay fresh
Most people of the Middle Ages ate with their fingers as forks, spoons and other cutlery were not introduced until the late Middle Ages
It was only common to see meat on a Nobel or King's dinner table
A Lord would usually have a variety of different foreign foods on his table