The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook, Expanded Edition

October 24, 2019 by A Bailey

I have a fun suggestion for the Downton Abbey superfan on your gift list, a cookbook they’ll love to read as well as cook from. It’s The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook, Expanded Edition: From Lady Mary’s Crab Canapés to Christmas Plum Pudding—More Than 150 Recipes from Upstairs and Downstairs, by Emily Ansara Baines (Adams Media, August 2019).

* Complimentary book received. This feature is part of the TwoClassyChics 10th Annual Holiday Gift Guide. Affiliate Links in the post.

Just like the Downton Abbey series, The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook centers around two groups of people whose lives are intertwined, the privileged family and the staff who takes care of them. And although there are glimpses of their lives and times throughout the book, the focus here is on the food.

But it’s not just straight recipes; you’ll also find a lot of fun discussions of the food and how the residents and guests of Downton Abbey would have enjoyed it. Each recipe is accompanied by a header that describes how the dish was created, for what occasion it might have been served, or how it relates to the Downton characters. The “Etiquette Lessons” sidebars explain the customs surrounding the meals, from proper place settings to when the ladies would retire to the drawing room. Likewise, the “Times Gone By” sidebars give a historical context and a fascinating glimpse into the period.

There are two main sections in the book, with the main portion all about the opulent foods served and consumed upstairs, and a smaller but just as interesting part about the homier foods enjoyed downstairs. Even the photographs help to convey the differences, with the upstairs meals shown in gorgeous silver serving dishes or on fancy dinnerware, while the downstairs meals are more rustic, with wood serving pieces and plain plates. But it all looks delicious!

In Part 1, Dining with the Crawleys, the chapters are divided by course with an additional chapter on afternoon tea. The elegant banquets at Downton Abbey could feature seven courses, plus refreshers and dessert!

Here’s a sampling from Part 1:

• The Crawley Sisters’ Stuffed Mushrooms
• Lobster Thermador
• Classic Beef Wellington
• Mrs. Patmore’s Dropped Roasted Chicken
• Potatoes Lyonnaise
• Fancy French Meringues
• A Custard Tart for Isobel’s Tea

As you might expect, Part 2, Sustenance for the Staff, includes more hearty dishes that would have been enjoyed downstairs, such as:

• Breakfast Baked Beans
• Yorkshire Pudding
• Pub Grub Bangers and Mash
• Tom Branson’s Colcannon
• Classic Steak and Kidney Pie
• Mr. Bates’s Bread and Butter Pudding

Whether you’re creating a menu for a Downton Abbey viewing party, looking for something different to cook for your family, or just flipping through the pages reminiscing about the show and its memorable characters, you’ll love The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook. And if you’re looking for a gift for your favorite Downton Abbey fan, look no further than this beautiful book!

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* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!

Giveaway: One lucky winner (US-only) is going to win a copy of The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook, Expanded Edition, thanks to Adams Media (an imprint of Simon & Schuster publishing)!

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the US ONLY age 18 and over. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering. This giveaway will close on November 14th, 2019 at 11:59 pm EST time. No purchase necessary to enter or win.

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Disclaimer: A. Bailey received a complimentary product for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. Please read the blog’s terms of service policy before entering any giveaways. The Classy Chics are NOT responsible for prize fulfillment or shipping of any items won from this blog. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we may or may not make a small commission which helps to support this website. Thank you!!!

The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook, Expanded Edition

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