tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post610592423790152967..comments2024-03-22T02:23:53.494-07:00Comments on Food History Jottings: A Christmas MedleyIvan Dayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03500437663759868535noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-75782552869941425522015-12-17T00:12:28.519-08:002015-12-17T00:12:28.519-08:00Hello. How lovely to get this holiday post. But ge...Hello. How lovely to get this holiday post. But gee, that's one scary looking dessert! That would have sent me scurrying for cover when I was a child. And those eyes....YIKES! Smile. Happy Holidays.JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04543087898365241498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-75246983087779430412015-12-16T13:02:30.570-08:002015-12-16T13:02:30.570-08:00What a wonderful post, thank you. And I'm so e...What a wonderful post, thank you. And I'm so excited for your visit to the Getty next month! Have booked my tickets. :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08224478787331399237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-71749911448858139262015-12-16T04:30:23.938-08:002015-12-16T04:30:23.938-08:00I was filmed while making this and there is a sequ...I was filmed while making this and there is a sequence of me putting the strawberry and vanilla ice cream into the boar's head. But I did not have an opportunity to photograph it. If you are in the UK, you will be able to watch it on BBC iplayer at this link, at least for a week or two - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06sdqlz/home-comforts-at-christmas-6-christmas-presents<br /><br />The boar's head sequence starts at 28.45<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />IvanIvan Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500437663759868535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-62364581562299133042015-12-15T23:27:30.917-08:002015-12-15T23:27:30.917-08:00Ivan, how interesting and intriguing does that lit...Ivan, how interesting and intriguing does that little book sound! I have even ordered a Gale Ecco reprint of it to be able to read it over christmas!Regulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14031160958652107131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-41872626721649893722015-12-15T18:04:55.558-08:002015-12-15T18:04:55.558-08:00So the inside of the boar was meant to look like a...So the inside of the boar was meant to look like actual meat? If so, do you have any pictures of it cut?S. S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17922340554746740866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-747146346154221452015-12-15T13:27:58.135-08:002015-12-15T13:27:58.135-08:00Hi Sue, It is all edible, that is if you have a sw...Hi Sue, It is all edible, that is if you have a sweet tooth. The ornaments are all made of sugar.Ivan Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500437663759868535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-82940488169163390152015-12-15T13:26:41.382-08:002015-12-15T13:26:41.382-08:00Brilliant information Regula! I have a little book...Brilliant information Regula! I have a little book called 'Round about our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments' London 1740. Chapter II is entitled 'Of Hobgoblins, Rawheads and Bloody-bones, Buggybows, Tom-Pokers, Bull-beggars, and such like horrible Bodies'. These are the English equivalents of Krampus and his friends. Children would be told frightening tales around the Christmas fire about these dark creatures. You are right - good and evil was the underlying theme.Ivan Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500437663759868535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-18229563980079214202015-12-15T13:09:08.930-08:002015-12-15T13:09:08.930-08:00Ah, pfeffernusse! Yum! The ones you buy in the sup...Ah, pfeffernusse! Yum! The ones you buy in the supermarket, year round, are not like the homemade ones, as I discovered when I baked some. I've heard of the Odin as gift giver thing, and I'm guessing you really, really wouldn't want to be on HIS naughty list! <br /><br /> Chocolate Boar's Head! Goodness! But am I right in thinking some of those decorations aren't edible?Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-79479581776268034702015-12-15T12:39:02.171-08:002015-12-15T12:39:02.171-08:00That chocolate boars head looks terribly scary! Bu...That chocolate boars head looks terribly scary! But how skilfully made, as usual! I'm Flemish and it has been years since I heard the story of Sinterklaas saving those children from the butcher. Gosh it was so far in the back of my head I think I haven't heard it since I was a toddler in the 80's. It got a bit forgotten. Probably for being too gruesome. I seem to remember those weren't the first children the butcher had caught to be turned into ham. It goes to show that not only christmas changes through the ages, but how we portray ancient myths and legends too. Now discarded for being to scary, those stories are changed and childhoods altered. I remember how scared I was about the evil surrounding us in the world in winter, you heard about it in all the fairytales. But luckily when Sinterklaas or St. Nickolas came, we would all be safe. And then he's actually most likely Wodan or Odin in a much more ancient time. Accompanied by his two black ravens instead of black men like he is today.The history of this childrens feast has always intrigued me. In slavic countries, Sinterklaas is accompanied by a black devilish figure called Krampus. In Holland the black figure eventually became the helper of the holy man, or the slave. In Flanders they are chimney sweepers who go down the chimneys with gifts for children, hence their black appearance. But bottom line it is all about good and evil, night and day. The oldest story in the book. But I'm drifting of topic now. Foodwise we have indeed our gingerbread, but also pepper nuts (tiny spiced cookies) which are thrown in the corner of the room by the black creatures, to keep away evil that is lurking. Lovely seeing you on the telly saturday! Regulahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14031160958652107131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-328324657443197192015-12-15T04:08:38.416-08:002015-12-15T04:08:38.416-08:00Hi Wendy,
the programme is called Home Comforts a...Hi Wendy,<br /><br />the programme is called Home Comforts at Christmas and is headed up by British chef James Martin. I just have a short slot in each programme. There are 10 in the series. The chocolate boar's head is in programme 6. A Merry Christmas to you too. best wishes Ivan.Ivan Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500437663759868535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-73622456114058542522015-12-15T03:57:22.995-08:002015-12-15T03:57:22.995-08:00What a spectacular chocolate piggy! One could envi...What a spectacular chocolate piggy! One could envision the excitement upon viewing such a magical beast, perhaps only surpassed by the jubilation of the chef! <br />I'm intrigue as to the name of the television food series you mentioned at the beginning of this entry?<br />Happy Christmas to you Mr.Day, and a prosperous New Year!<br />Wendy from Canadahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859820930314628839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-20579414152858498612015-12-14T09:22:01.589-08:002015-12-14T09:22:01.589-08:00Well Happy Birthday Donna!! Have a lovely day. I w...Well Happy Birthday Donna!! Have a lovely day. I will toast you with a glass of bishop! Never mind those miserable puritans - eat, drink and be merry I say!<br /><br />IvanIvan Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03500437663759868535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8745493398948198755.post-67270962658035276162015-12-14T09:10:46.640-08:002015-12-14T09:10:46.640-08:00If the lady you mentioned is a food history prodig...If the lady you mentioned is a food history prodigy, what must I call you? That wassail piece you had commissioned is fabulous as is this post. So nice to see a post from you for the holidays and on my birthday. Tis a gift.donna bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507579686738843451noreply@blogger.com