Quail and Watercress

Until the twentieth century, it was common for birds to be served with their feet on, and this is something we see in the Downton kitchen on a number of occasions. One typical dish is quail served with watercress, which appears in both the kitchen and upstairs. Quail were very popular among the aristocracy, as not only were they tasty and delicate but they were also easy to portion out. One bird per person was normal as part of the sevenor eight-course menus that characterized the prewar pe