Book Giveaway: The Unofficial Downton Abbey Cookbook
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!
OMG!!!! Just finished watching Season 1….
better late than never….
& I am HOOKED!!!!
Love, love, love this show!!!
LOVE Downton Abbey!! What a cool book :)
Would absolutely love to have this cookbook.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
Love Downton Abbey. WWTDCD :)
Would love to add this book to my collecton. Just rece
ntly got hooked on watching Downton Abbey. Love your blog!!!
Thanks for the giveaway – even my DH loves Downton!!
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.
Love Downton, very excited to see the cookbook!
My friend loves that show so if I win, I’d give it to her.
I love Downton Abbey!
I really love this show so much! Thank you for the chance to win!
Love Downton Abbey!!
Greetings Lady Caroline. Grab a tissue as you will need it for this episode.
Such a great show! It gets better each week!
Thanks for the cookbook giveaway! I would love to win it.
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!
This is fantastic! My two favorites. Thank you!
love this show…thanks for the chance to win…x
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
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!
Love Downton Abbey and cooking for my friends. This looks like it would be fun. Thanks so much for offering this giveaway.
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!
If you mail me your very own copy, you can borrow it back!
gotta be honest never watched to program but my mom is huge fan and would love the cookbook!
Be still my heart! Downton Abbey!! I’ve even got my fiancé hooked!
This is brilliant!
I love Downton Abbey!!
This is awesome! I love Downton Abbey.
I love Downton Abbey!! I would love the cookbook,
would love this cookbook here’s my favorite Downton Abbey drawing: http://mattink.com/?tag=downtonabbey
What a great giveaway, I love Downton Abbey!
Would love to cook up some of Daisy and Mrs. Patmore’s recipes! Huge fan of Downton.
I love Downton Abbey! It would be so fun to cook from the show!
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!)
Does the cookbook feature the kidney souffle that was featured last night?
I am so glad that I don’t have to dress for dinner-sweatpants are much more comfortable than evening dresses.
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 :-)
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.
I love Downton and hope this cook book would do Mrs Patmore proud!
“I’m so sorry. I thought you were a waiter.”
Love it! Pick me!
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
Thanks for the chance to win. I just love cookbooks and British tv AND your blog.
Pleae enter me in your giveaway-The unofficial book sounds great
I’d love to try some recipes from this book. Thanks for the chance!
I was wondering when someone would publish a cookbook. Mrs. Patmore is an awesome cook :-)
Your vegan pumpkin-chocolate-chip muffins are total man bait. Proven fact.
Such a big fan of downton! Still recovering from Lady S. death
Oh my goodness, I love Downton Abbey!
Love Downton Abbey!!
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”!!
Awesome!
Love, the show… mostly just love Maggie Smith.
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
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!
I would love this! The food on the show always looks amazing, I’d love to see recipes based on it!