If you are hooked on the rise and fall of Lord Grantham and his family, you may want to try your chances at winning this book.
The popular show, Downton Abbey, follows the saga of a well off English family, specifically focusing on their estate and the management of their household. The juxtaposition of the servants lives and those who they care for is not a new angle but it is always filled with juicy tensions and hierarchies that I enjoy watching unfold. Some gorgeous period piece costumes, the propriety of a bygone era, a passionate English romance (is “passionate English” an oxymoron?), and Maggie Smith – this is the recipe for the show’s success.
I barely have time to watch TV or read news and even I have not escaped the Downton Abbey hype. Last year, I was offered a copy of this cookbook and accepted because I was humored by the title. Everything at Downton Abbey is so terribly official that the idea of “unofficial” cookbook tickled me.
This cookbook seems to be the product of an entrepreneurial chef that identified a trend and went after it. I don’t know much about British food but it seems to have all the basics as well as some period favorites. Recipes are identified with character names such as “Daisy’s Noisette Potatoes” and “Thomas’s Salted Cod Cakes” or they are separated by the class who would have eaten the dishes for example, “Working-Class Porridge” or “Decadent Duchess Potatoes.”
After leafing through the book, I saw that the ingredients in the recipes don’t exactly stay as true to the period as the costumes and sets of the show. Frozen puff pastry and pudding mix probably weren’t present in Mrs. Patmore’s kitchen. Never-the-less, I think this book is meant to be fun and playful rather than a serious lesson in early 20th century culinary techniques.
I can’t help but feel slightly bothered with the note at the bottom of the book reminding us that the book is unofficial and unauthorized, not endorsed by creators of the show, its writers or producers. It doesn’t seem entirely right to profit so obviously on the coattails of another’s creation without their collaboration. Though, I guess they say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
If you would like to win this book, leave a comment on this post before the end of day Wednesday, Jan. 30. At that time, I will randomly choose a winner and will mail him or her my very own copy of The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook. By next Sunday, you could be eating Tom Branson’s Corned Beef while you watch the fiery Irishman try to take down the English aristocracy.
Giveaway closed: A winner has been chosen. Thank you for reading!
January 28th, 2013 at 12:40 am
OMG!!!! Just finished watching Season 1….
better late than never….
& I am HOOKED!!!!
Love, love, love this show!!!
January 28th, 2013 at 12:57 am
LOVE Downton Abbey!! What a cool book :)
January 28th, 2013 at 1:07 am
Would absolutely love to have this cookbook.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
January 28th, 2013 at 1:34 am
Love Downton Abbey. WWTDCD :)
January 28th, 2013 at 2:10 am
Would love to add this book to my collecton. Just rece
ntly got hooked on watching Downton Abbey. Love your blog!!!
January 28th, 2013 at 2:51 am
Thanks for the giveaway – even my DH loves Downton!!
January 28th, 2013 at 6:45 am
Oh my! I just began watching Downton Abbey this past week and am… shall we say, working through addiction issues. I just can’t tear myself away.
January 28th, 2013 at 6:46 am
Love Downton, very excited to see the cookbook!
January 28th, 2013 at 8:10 am
My friend loves that show so if I win, I’d give it to her.
January 28th, 2013 at 8:38 am
I love Downton Abbey!
January 28th, 2013 at 8:50 am
I really love this show so much! Thank you for the chance to win!
January 28th, 2013 at 9:05 am
Love Downton Abbey!!
January 28th, 2013 at 9:40 am
Greetings Lady Caroline. Grab a tissue as you will need it for this episode.
January 28th, 2013 at 9:50 am
Such a great show! It gets better each week!
January 28th, 2013 at 9:58 am
Thanks for the cookbook giveaway! I would love to win it.
January 28th, 2013 at 10:04 am
OMG! This would be perfect for the Downton Abbey DVD marathon party I’m having with a friend! We were winging the food, coming up with our own ideas, but just imagine if we were using legit DA recipes!
January 28th, 2013 at 10:08 am
This is fantastic! My two favorites. Thank you!
January 28th, 2013 at 10:26 am
love this show…thanks for the chance to win…x
January 28th, 2013 at 10:57 am
like the show and LOVE your blog. I found it while looking for Liege waffle recipes (I am living in Belgium now and am totally addicted to them, was researching for when I have to go back to the US and can’t get them as easily :). Thanks so much for all the wonderful recipes and fantastic pictures
January 28th, 2013 at 11:27 am
I finally caught up through the seasons and am enjoying the program “on time”! I am so hooked. Thanks for the chance to win such a fun book!
January 28th, 2013 at 11:28 am
Love Downton Abbey and cooking for my friends. This looks like it would be fun. Thanks so much for offering this giveaway.
January 28th, 2013 at 12:42 pm
My husband is from England and yes there is such a thing a “passionate English” :-) We love the show and I like English food–they are not known for their food like the French, but when they do something good it is really good–think trifle or yorkshire puddings…mmmm!
January 28th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
If you mail me your very own copy, you can borrow it back!
January 28th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
gotta be honest never watched to program but my mom is huge fan and would love the cookbook!
January 28th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Be still my heart! Downton Abbey!! I’ve even got my fiancé hooked!
January 28th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
This is brilliant!
January 28th, 2013 at 3:37 pm
I love Downton Abbey!!
January 28th, 2013 at 3:45 pm
This is awesome! I love Downton Abbey.
January 28th, 2013 at 4:14 pm
I love Downton Abbey!! I would love the cookbook,
January 28th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
would love this cookbook here’s my favorite Downton Abbey drawing: http://mattink.com/?tag=downtonabbey
January 28th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
What a great giveaway, I love Downton Abbey!
January 28th, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Would love to cook up some of Daisy and Mrs. Patmore’s recipes! Huge fan of Downton.
January 28th, 2013 at 7:59 pm
I love Downton Abbey! It would be so fun to cook from the show!
January 28th, 2013 at 8:20 pm
I just made a mulligatawny based loosely on one that I saw in there … I’d love to leaf through the whole thing! (And I have a cooking friend who just discovered Downtown Abbey, and would probably love to share it!)
January 28th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Does the cookbook feature the kidney souffle that was featured last night?
January 28th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
I am so glad that I don’t have to dress for dinner-sweatpants are much more comfortable than evening dresses.
January 28th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
My son and DIL are hooked on Downton Abbey! I think I’ll have to see what it’s all about soon! I want the cookbook!! :-)
Thanks in advance!
Barb :-)
January 28th, 2013 at 10:37 pm
Oh, what a fun cookbook! I hadn’t heard of it, but I would be delighted to win a copy and host a themed dinner.
January 29th, 2013 at 1:12 am
I love Downton and hope this cook book would do Mrs Patmore proud!
January 29th, 2013 at 10:44 am
“I’m so sorry. I thought you were a waiter.”
January 29th, 2013 at 10:54 am
Love it! Pick me!
January 29th, 2013 at 11:25 am
Dear Whipped: I’ve been hooked on seeing Downton Abby since the very first second of the series. It’s the highlight of my week. It beats Mardi Gras and the Superbowl. I would love to host a Downton Abbey theme party for your honored presence in New Orleans, Louisiana. Picture a Plantation House with Downton Abbey servants (Mrs. Patmore, Daisy, Carlton, etc.) with a full 12 course menu from the Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbbok. Lord & Lady Grantham, Matthew & Mary plus all the characters will be present via locals looking the part. New Orleans is now Hollywood South for films. Let’s film it: “Downton Abbey Southern Style”. Oh, please pick me for the COOKBOOK! Love the blog!! It would be such FUN !! This would be a GREAT TRIBUTE to Downton Abbey’s continuing popularity. Lynn
January 29th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Thanks for the chance to win. I just love cookbooks and British tv AND your blog.
January 29th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Pleae enter me in your giveaway-The unofficial book sounds great
January 29th, 2013 at 9:18 pm
I’d love to try some recipes from this book. Thanks for the chance!
January 29th, 2013 at 10:27 pm
I was wondering when someone would publish a cookbook. Mrs. Patmore is an awesome cook :-)
January 30th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Your vegan pumpkin-chocolate-chip muffins are total man bait. Proven fact.
January 30th, 2013 at 9:25 am
Such a big fan of downton! Still recovering from Lady S. death
January 30th, 2013 at 11:54 am
Oh my goodness, I love Downton Abbey!
January 30th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
Love Downton Abbey!!
January 30th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
I absolutely love this show, I would love to try some of the receipes in the cook book. I sat a whole weekend to get caught up on Season 1 and Season 2 so that I could start this year in the appropriate place. I have watched so much that I feel like I should be speaking with that english accent that I love. What an awesome show, but please “Free Bates”!!
January 30th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
Awesome!
January 30th, 2013 at 7:54 pm
Love, the show… mostly just love Maggie Smith.
January 30th, 2013 at 10:43 pm
My daughter in law is a serious foodie and a huge Downtown Abbey fan! If I don’t enter for her, I should be ashamed. :) Thank you so much for the opportunity! ~Debbi
January 30th, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Big fan of the show and love to watch the crazy kitchen scenes and get a taste of what it took to run a kitchen back in those days! Would be so neat to own a cookbook from the show!
January 30th, 2013 at 11:38 pm
I would love this! The food on the show always looks amazing, I’d love to see recipes based on it!