February 2026

Feb 2

Victorian workhouses & Cookbook photography

Hello Tastorians,

January started off with one of my favorite events: photography for the new cookbook! I love seeing the recipes finally come to life and I really love that I only have to stand and watch other people cook, style, and photograph the food. In addition, just as with the first cookbook, I left the shoot with boxes and bags of new props to use in future episodes. Here are a few photos from the six day shoot.

One of my favorite parts of Tasting History is that, every week, I'm able to share my passion and teach thousands of people something new about food history. What I enjoy even more is when they teach me something new! Two weeks ago, I released a video about the workhouses of Victorian England. In it, I quoted the British politician George Lansbury, a social reformer and advocate of women’s rights and world disarmament. Well, after that episode aired, several viewers brought it to my attention that George Lansbury was the grandfather of one of my favorite actresses, Angela Lansbury! It seems obvious that I would have made that connection, but in my haste to write the script, it eluded me. Thank you to those who continue to teach me new things every day.

Also from that Workhouse video, I promised to share the complete article from the 1838 newspapers. This article used a variation on Act IV, Scene i of Macbeth to illustrate the horrendous state of the food served to inmates. Here it is:

Now, here are a few things that I think you'll enjoy.

Allegri : Miserere -Tallis Scholars ( Legendary 1980 recording) - This is my favorite recording of Allegri's Miserere, which Mozart supposedly transcribed after hearing it once in the Sistine Chapel.

107 Year Old Irish Farmer Reflects on Change, 1965 - Fascinating, but watch with subtitles.
How Victorians Thought We Would Dress - This video discusses an 1893 article that predicted how people would dress over the next 1000 years.