Mrs Crocombe is the breakout star of English Heritage's wildly popular
YouTube series, The Victorian Way. Millions of fans around the globe
devour her historical cookery videos, and their hunger for her content
shows no sign of abating. In delightful contrast to the high-octane
hijinks of many YouTube celebrities, The Victorian Way offers viewers a
gentle glimpse into a simpler time - an age when tea was sipped from
porcelain, not from plastic cups; when mince pies were meaty and nothing
was wasted; when puddings were in their pomp and no kitchen was complete
without a cupboard full of copper pots and pans. Avis Crocombe really
did exist - she was head cook at Audley End House in Essex from about
1878 to 1884. Although only a little is known about her life, her
handwritten cookery book was passed down through her family for
generations and rediscovered by a distant relative in 2009. It's a
remarkable read, and from the familiar (ginger beer, custard and
Christmas cake) to the fantastical (roast swan, preserved lettuce and
fried tongue sandwiches), her recipes give us a wonderful window into a
world of flavour from 140 years ago. How to Cook: The Victorian Way with
Mrs Crocombe is the definitive guide to the life, times and tastes of
the world's favourite Victorian cook. It features authentic
do-it-yourself recipes chosen and tested by Dr Annie Gray alongside
insights into daily life at Audley End from Andrew Hann, beautiful food
photography and a foreword by the 'face' of Mrs Crocombe, Kathy
Hipperson. It showcases the best recipes from Mrs Crocombe's own book,
alongside others of the time, brought together so that every reader can
put on their own Victorian meal. It's a moreish smorgasbord of social
history - an absolute must for fans, foodies and anyone with an appetite
for the past.
