The correct way to eat your roast dinner according to a historian

Virgin Radio

20 Apr 2022, 10:41

A good roast dinner is a staple in the diets of many Brits, and most have their own traditions around eating the classic dish.

Different people have different ideas about what to include in their roast dinner, how it should be served and the best order to enjoy the hearty meal.

However, according to this historian, there is actually a correct way to eat your roast dinner, and the Yorkshire pudding plays a crucial role.

Expert Seren Charrington-Hollis has revealed on a Channel 5 documentary titled Toby Carvery: How Do They Do It? that there is a long standing history surrounding the roast, which could inform how we eat it.

In the documentary they go deeper into the day-to-day life of one of the UK’s most popular carvery restaurants but also into the legacy of the roast dinner.

As it turns out, the Yorkshire pudding was originally served a starter to the popular meal back in the 15th century as diners had to wait for the meat (most commonly beef) to be spit roasted above an open fire.

As the meat would roast the drippings would be used alongside batter to make the puddings (which sounds heavenly).

Charrington-Hollis explained: “Originally, your Yorkshire pudding would be called a dripping pudding.

“It was originally a batter pudding that the meat juices on the spit would drop into underneath, and then you would cook this batter.

"Not quite like today’s modern fluffy Yorkshire pud, but very filling nonetheless.

“The idea was that you would eat it before your roast beef because it would fill you up.

"Beef was expensive – any meat was expensive – so you needed to fill up your guests on the batter pudding so they would eat less of the expensive meat."

We’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

The roast dinner might be enjoyed by all in society now, but back then it was saved for only the richest of people who could afford it.

The historian added: "When you look at the 15th century, the type of people that would be eating that would be really at the top of society.

"Just like today, if the royals do something, or those with money do something, it gradually works down the social scale because we all want to mimic and copy what’s in fashion."

Well we’re glad it did because life without a roast dinner and Yorkshire puddings would be a miserable one indeed.

You can watch Toby Carvery: How Do They Do It? on catch up here.