Foreword

For Kier, Saskia and Sam

‘Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are’ said the famous French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826). On the evidence of the pages in this book, we humans are, among other things, experimental (‘A cockatrice’), resourceful (‘Candied sea-holly’), whimsical (‘A dishfull of snow’), ingenious (‘A cucumber stuffed with barley to attract flies’), crude (‘Whore’s farts’), exotic (‘Peacock roasted and served in its skin’), playful (‘An artificial jug or pitcher made of pork, cheese and bread’) and seriously omnivorous: there are recipes here for barbecued otter, viper soup, porpoise with wheat porridge, chopped brain fritters, pottage of tortoise and stewed sparrows on toast!