Dine Like Jane Austen
“We four sweet Brothers & Sisters dine today at the Great House. Is that not quite natural?”, my fifth great aunt Jane Austen wrote on 3rd March 1815, about Chawton House, my childhood home.
Taste history through recipes Jane Austen would have eaten, recreated from my family's 18th-century cookbook with authentic ingredients and techniques. From our ancestral table to yours.
In this exclusive monthly series for my paid subscribers, I share the menu, recipes, photographs, and behind-the-scenes details of Dine Like Jane Austen, a unique and authentic Regency culinary experience created to celebrate my family's heritage.
Click here for the first instalment of Dine Like Jane Austen:
A menu more than two centuries in the making. Inspired by dishes Jane enjoyed and those mentioned in her novels and letters, I've crafted a menu of 24 exquisite dishes using recipes and flavour profiles from my family's 18th-century cookbook, The Knight Family Cookbook, recipes Jane herself would have been familiar with.
From my family's recipe for Bath Caraway Cakes, also known as Bath Buns (which Jane mentioned in her correspondence) to Miss Bates Baked Apples, Mrs Bennet’s Partridge with Lavender Stuffing and Rice Pudding for Young Caroline Austen, each dish tells a story of Jane’s work and family, and the culinary traditions that Jane knew so well.
Unlike today's three-course structure, Regency dining was an elaborate affair featuring two courses, each presenting 6 to 12 sweet and savoury dishes arranged simultaneously in the centre of the table, a symphony of flavours meant to delight both the eye and palate.
It took months of historical research, referencing Jane’s novels and letters, understanding the finer details of Regency dining and cooking methods. I spent days testing recipes from The Knight Family Cookbook, perfecting techniques, and sampling flavour combinations. Six months went into developing the full menu, planning preparation methods, and sourcing specialist ingredients that would authentically represent Jane's era.
Having personally prepared many dishes from the Knight Family Cookbook, it was an absolute pleasure to recreate an entire Regency dinner menu that Jane would have recognized, connecting centuries of family history and I can’t wait to share them with you.
Creating the recipes sparked an idea which, with the help of my family, became a reality. For one magical and historic night, my family and I welcomed 14 guests from around the world to Dine Like Jane Austen, at my childhood home, Chawton House, on our ancestral estate where my fifth great aunt Jane lived, wrote, and published her most celebrated works.
Our guests were greeted with champagne in the Great Hall, where I spoke about our family home and heritage, before proceeding to the Dining Room, where Jane herself dined with our ancestors.
A Michelin-starred chef cooked my menu on the night, while my father Jeremy contributed home-grown edible flowers to garnish the dishes. We prioritized local suppliers where possible and even arranged for the same variety of strawberries Jane would have enjoyed to be flown in from France.
Between courses, our guests enjoyed a viewing of private family heirlooms and after the final course, we played my family’s favourite after-dinner game. Much fun and merriment were had by all.
After the event, guests were presented with a Dine Like Jane Austen commemorative book that preserved the magic of our historic gathering, complete with recipes, photographs, and personal reflections on this once-in-a-lifetime experience at Jane's former home.
Join me each month for "Dine Like Jane Austen" here on my Substack, where I will share my authentic menu and recipes, the stories behind them, and exclusive photographs from our extraordinary evening at Chawton House. Step into my kitchen as I reveal:
The research behind each dish and its connection to Jane's world
The art of adapting centuries-old cooking techniques for modern kitchens
Family anecdotes and traditions associated with special meals
Behind-the-scenes preparations that brought Jane's culinary world back to life
Through food, experience a tangible connection to Jane's everyday life that brings you closer to her world than any biography could. As we approach Jane's 250th birthday in 2025, there's no better time to experience the flavours that were part of her life and family traditions.
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Upgrade to a paid subscription today and savour a uniquely authentic taste of Austen family history. Discover what it truly means to Dine Like Jane Austen.
Click here for the first instalment of Dine Like Jane Austen:
