The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook (A Giveaway)

I kind of wish I was living in England right now. You see if I were, I would've already bared witness to the season 3 premier of the incomparable Downton Abbey, one of the best TV shows to hit the airwaves in recent years. But since I live here, in Canada, I still have another four months to wait until I can see what happens with Mr. Bates and Anna, not too mention Matthew, Mary and the rest of Lord Grantham’s girls.

There is some good news, though, which is that The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cooking: From Lady Mary’s Crab Canapés to Mrs. Patmore’s Christmas Pudding – More Than 150 Recipes from Upstairs and Downstairs  (F+M Media, September 2012) is being published today. So, while we may not know how things are going to turn out for the Crawley clan and their servants, we can certainly try to eat like them while we impatiently wait for January to come around.

I was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of this new release earlier this month, and if you watch the show you know that the dining room scenes are heavy on the eye candy for us foodies, making it easy to see how an entire book can be filled with ideas and inspiration taken from the show.  In fact, one episode in particular was the inspiration the apple charlotte recipe I shared last winter, and I’m certain there will be many more Downton-esque dishes to cook in the coming months. I already know I will have a hard time choosing whether I want to eat from the “Dining with the Crawleys” or “Sustenance For the Staff” sections of this fun book, and I love how the author (Emily Ansara Baines) divided her recipes between the fine food of the upper class and the more humble, yet comforting, fare of those who live downstairs. 

One of my favourite features from this book, in addition to the many lip-snacking good titles that fill the 200-plus pages, is the punchy little pockets of text that are full of tips and valuable information for the reader. For example, in a recipe for Lady Mary's Spicy Mulligatawny Soup, there is a small etiquette lesson on how to properly hold, and eat from, a soup spoon. At the bottom of the recipe for Mrs. Patmore’s Madeira Pound Cake there is a neat anecdote about the history of using wine in pound cake. Fascinating stuff, I tell you!

Thanks to kind folks at F+W Media I have a copy of The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook to give away to one lucky reader! In order to enter, leave a comment letting me know if you watch the show and which storyline you like best.

Contest closes at midnight on Thursday September 20, 2012. Good luck!

 

Comments

[Mama B]

Oh my yes, I watch. And I adore Mary & Matthew. I also love, love, love Anna & Mr. Bates as well as the developing character of Daisy.

[Nicole]

I've just started to watch and am really enjoying it! Still a bit early for me to have a favourite storyline! Thanks!

[Karin cuconato]

I love the series and am so looking forward to season three. My favorite story line is John Bates/Anne Smith however it was hard to pick just one because the story lines are all so interesting. I would love to see the cookbook and duplicate some recipes..

[Karin cuconato]

To add to my previous comment I like the series so much that I purchased both 1st and 2nd seasons.

[Cameron]

I was partial to the Sybil and chauffeur storyline, and now that they're married and all, I really want to see Mary and Matthew tie the knot! But if they do then I suppose the central conflict will be resolved..

[Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom]

I don't watch the show but would love to try some of the recipes in this cookbook! :)

[MaryB]

I missed Season One. I love the series and have more than one favorite story line but maybe I will go with Anna and John Bates. Of course, I want Matthew and Mary to marry.

[Andrea]

LOVE the show! My Mum showed me Season 1 and I had to purchase Season 2 I was so enthralled. All the characters are superb but I do especially love the Matthew and Mary storyline. What 4 months for Season 3...that's cruel!!

[ColleenB.]

Looks like a pretty Awesome cookbook and would love to win this.
Have to admit, no, don't watch the show and in fact, never even heard of it in our area. I really don't watch that much TV.
Thank you for this opportunity
ColleenB.

[barbara n]

Unfortunately I did not watch the show but my daughter was obsessed with it so I would love to win this cookbook for her!

[Sharon]

Ooh you've no idea I dvr-ed and devoured that show greedily
I'm a scot married to an American - expat for 15 years
As a student living in Edinburgh my sister and I used to love visiting grand old houses and reliving history maybe because our granny was a lady's maid who travelled with her mistress in the 1920s and spent 6 years in Ottawa Canada with her family
What a treat this would be to linger over whilst having tea :))))

[Elizabeth]

Oh! How to pick! My two daughters and I are huge "Downton"fans, and we love all the storylines. We are enjoying watching Edith develop into a more likable woman,and thrill to the ups and downs of Mary and Matthew's dramatic attachment. But like most others commenting here,WE LOVE MR. BATES AND ANNA! So much. We were already big fans of Brendan Coyle from the wonderful and too short series "Lark Rise to Candleford." Can't wait for Season 3 of Downton!

[Jessica Hackman]

Matthew and Mary - so love those two - but will they be happy together?

[Marissa]

I don't watch the show - but my parents do and absolutely love it. This would be a great gift for them! And if I don't win the giveaway, I'll definitely purchase it for them for Christmas.

[Judy in CA]

I am quite smitten with Downton Abbey, and my favorite parts are every moment Maggie Smith is in a scene!!! I would so adore this cookbook!!

[Anne]

I'm sorry I missed the contest, but I just read "The World of Downton Abbey" from the library. It has beautiful pictures from the show and has chapters about clothes, food and historical information. It is a must read for any Downton fan!

[Shannon]

People commenting don't watch the show???? My favorite storyline - that's so tough. I loved the first season of Mary and Matthew. Actually the scene where they were flirting at the table is one of my all-time favorites. But I also love the head housemaid and the head footman's stories - how she went to the fair with a long lost love, how he used to be a stage performer. And let's not get started on Maggie smith. Anyway I look forward to following your blog- thanks for the family food ideas!!