Food During The Middle Ages

Feasting and enjoying food was an important part of the medieval life. During the middle ages foods available changed as shortages occurred. What people could and could not eat depended on their religion. In the medieval times, there were different foods and customs for the nobles, peasants, and for celebrations. Nobles were the richest and lived the most lavish lifestyles of the middle ages. “They made laws for the towns as well as the countryside they controlled” (Dawson 16). The kitchen of the nobles’ home or castle “had stone floors and walls with great wide fireplaces where most of the cooking was done” (Dawson 17). Rich people had utensils made out of glass and metal and sometimes silver and gold, although people preferred to eat with their fingers. “The wealthier people in society could afford a wider
“White bread was normally eaten at feast and banquets, because it was a symbol of wealth” (Bhote 21). There were mixtures of sweet and spicy dishes at each course called soteltes. Sotelts were pastries, jellies and sweets molded or made into different shapes. “Once guests were seated, a procession of servants began serving food with the planter in the lead” (Kallen 33). He was followed by his assistants pouring wine and ale. “Roast meats were served first, before the fish” (Dawson 19). “Feast and Banquets happened at important times of the year, such as religious festivals of Christmas and Easter” (Bhote 42). Lent ended at Easter, and since eggs were denied during lent the Swinfield party consumed fourteen hundred boiled eggs. Shrine Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, is a day known for roasting, toasting, baking and frying foods. Lammas day is when celebrates bake loaves from the new wheat, and farmers blessed wheat loaves by breaking them into four pieces and each quarter was places in the corner of the