Summer School 2023

Eat Medieval Summer School

4th-8th September 2023

Delighted that our second Eat Medieval Summer School is taking place in less than a month – places are all fully booked. We’ll be exploring food and recipes from medieval France including significant recipe collections Viandier and Menagier. With trips to Raby Castle, Durham University Special Collections, and Durham Cathedral, and a banquet at the end, what a way to spend a week!

Medieval Banquet – 8th September 2023

Join us for a medieval banquet, which coincides with the end of the summer school. A feast for all.

WHERE: Blackfriars Banquet Hall

TIMES: Arrivals from 7pm – until 10pm

COST: £85 per person including welcome drink, medieval banquet, and wine.

Booking Open Here

Medieval Food. Modern Chefs. Online.

Medieval food was one of the great cuisines of the world. Uncover the roots of modern culinary tastes in the company of chefs and scholars and be inspired to try something old to create something new.

Welcome

The north east of England is home to a rich medieval heritage and a lively food scene. Combine the two and something very special happens. Eat Medieval is a flourishing partnership between Blackfriars Restaurant, Newcastle, and Durham University, UK.

Modern food concerns have much more in common with medieval culture than we might think: seasonality, sustainability, and provenance were as important in the 12th century as they are in the 21st.

Our partnership seeks to explore the medieval culinary past – its traditions, its sources, and its broader cultural messages – through a modern lens. Together, we’ll re-discover old flavours, re-trace ancient trade routes, and re-vivify centuries-old dishes for modern palates.

Scholarship and Gastronomy

Combining the expertise of a restaurant and a university is exactly what Andy Hook, owner of Blackfriars Restaurant and Giles Gasper, Professor of Medieval History at Durham University have done.

With chefs and scholars from both places, and friends from further afield, we’ve been working together for the last ten years, supported by Durham’s Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. .

Join us in our passion for food, history, culture, and sharing stories.

What we do, and what you can do with us

Website

The website will tell you about the nature of the partnership. The unusual combination of academic research and practical application provides a creative edge. Knowing what medieval recipes say is one thing, knowing how they might have worked, needs the practical experience of professional chefs.

Talks, Tastings, and Advice

When life runs as normal we hold a twice-yearly lecture and lunch at Blackfriars. We also run food tastings and experience days for university students and the public, in the UK and abroad. Andy and Giles also offer advice on events that you might want to hold.

Our project is built on new ideas. Scholars, chefs, and anyone with a taste for the past, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch if you’d like to know more.